Growing Victoria’s defence supply chain and jobs

The Supply Chain Uplift Program is helping more local defence supply chain businesses:

• create high-skilled jobs
• attract future investment to Victoria.

Round 6 of the program is awarding around $1.1 million to 17 Victorian companies so they can compete for contracts with Hanwha Defence Australia and other major defence businesses.

This round of funding is expected to create 72 new jobs. It highlights the growing importance of the defence sector to Victoria’s economy. The sector contributes around $10.9 billion each year and employs more than 29,000 people across the state.

Among the recipients is one of Australia’s leading composite technology organisations, Advanced Composite Structures. They will use the funding to purchase new equipment to expand their operations, creating 21 new jobs.

Since 2022, our Supply Chain Uplift Program has provided $3.2 million to 44 Victorian small and medium sized businesses across 50 projects.

Victoria’s status as Australia’s land system state has been further boosted with the Victorian Government securing the 2028 Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition. This will return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 12-14 September 2028.

Learn more about the Supply Chain Uplift Program on the Business Victoria website.