The Defence Work Experience Program provides opportunities to explore what a job in Defence might look like. It`s all about hands on learning. You'll get to dive in to real world activities that can help you decide if a Defence career is for you.
Whether you're interested in the Australian Defence Force or the Australian Public Service, this program lets you try out different roles and see what fits.
About the program
Real experiences
Defence Work Experience Program Returns to HMAS Stirling
Twenty Western Australian high school students gained a firsthand look at life in the Royal Australian Navy as the Defence Work Experience Program (DWEP) returned to HMAS Stirling following a 12-month pause.
The three-day program, held from 9 to 11 June 2026, welcomed students aged 15 to 18 from schools across Western Australia.
As part of Defence’s commitment to increasing opportunities for First Nations Australians, DWEP removed barriers for five Indigenous students from Laverton School to participate, supporting the objectives outlined in the Defence First Nations Commitment.
Throughout the program, students took part in tours and activities across a range of departments at HMAS Stirling, providing insight into the diverse career pathways available within the Navy. They also had the opportunity to speak directly with serving Navy personnel, gaining valuable firsthand perspectives on service life, training and career development.
The reinstatement of DWEP marks an important step in reconnecting Defence with young Australians interested in exploring future career opportunities. By exposing students to the breadth of roles available across the Navy, the program aims to inspire the next generation of Defence personnel while strengthening engagement with communities across Western Australia.
Tasmanian students get hands-on ADF experience
Senior secondary students from across northern Tasmania were given a behind-the-scenes look at life in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), as part of the recent Troops and Tides Defence work experience program in Launceston.
The two-day program brought together Year 10 to 12 students from Launceston, Devonport, Burnie and surrounding areas, offering hands-on exposure to career pathways across the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army.
Personnel from the 12th/40th Battalion, the Royal Tasmania Regiment, at Paterson Barracks displayed Army vehicles, equipment and operational gear. Students were able to handle ration packs, try on protective equipment including vests and helmets, and participate in simulator activities.
Students also met soldiers from the Royal Australian Artillery, who demonstrated the role of drones and emerging technologies in modern Defence operations.
The Navy component of the program focused on maritime operations at the Australian Maritime College, where students explored Navy careers through a series of hands-on activities. These included a boat-building engineering challenge, a survival-at-sea exercise in a controlled pool environment, and the opportunity to captain a Navy patrol boat.
Defence’s Director of Youth Policy and Programs David Atkins said the initiative was designed to provide regional students with opportunities to engage with Defence, which may not be otherwise available.
“Programs like Troops and Tides gives young people an invaluable chance to spend time with Australian Defence Force members at their place of business and learn about the jobs they do and the culture we have – something many students wouldn’t normally experience first-hand,” Mr Atkins said.
“It’s incredibly important that students in places like Tasmania have the same opportunities as those on the mainland.
"This program helps bridge that gap, showing young people in regional and remote communities that a potential career in Defence is both accessible and achievable.”
Defence Work Experience Program Returns to HMAS Stirling
Twenty Western Australian high school students gained a firsthand look at life in the Royal Australian Navy as the Defence Work Experience Program (DWEP) returned to HMAS Stirling following a 12-month pause.
The three-day program, held from 9 to 11 June 2026, welcomed students aged 15 to 18 from schools across Western Australia.
As part of Defence’s commitment to increasing opportunities for First Nations Australians, DWEP removed barriers for five Indigenous students from Laverton School to participate, supporting the objectives outlined in the Defence First Nations Commitment.
Throughout the program, students took part in tours and activities across a range of departments at HMAS Stirling, providing insight into the diverse career pathways available within the Navy. They also had the opportunity to speak directly with serving Navy personnel, gaining valuable firsthand perspectives on service life, training and career development.
The reinstatement of DWEP marks an important step in reconnecting Defence with young Australians interested in exploring future career opportunities. By exposing students to the breadth of roles available across the Navy, the program aims to inspire the next generation of Defence personnel while strengthening engagement with communities across Western Australia.
Tasmanian students get hands-on ADF experience
Senior secondary students from across northern Tasmania were given a behind-the-scenes look at life in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), as part of the recent Troops and Tides Defence work experience program in Launceston.
The two-day program brought together Year 10 to 12 students from Launceston, Devonport, Burnie and surrounding areas, offering hands-on exposure to career pathways across the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army.
Personnel from the 12th/40th Battalion, the Royal Tasmania Regiment, at Paterson Barracks displayed Army vehicles, equipment and operational gear. Students were able to handle ration packs, try on protective equipment including vests and helmets, and participate in simulator activities.
Students also met soldiers from the Royal Australian Artillery, who demonstrated the role of drones and emerging technologies in modern Defence operations.
The Navy component of the program focused on maritime operations at the Australian Maritime College, where students explored Navy careers through a series of hands-on activities. These included a boat-building engineering challenge, a survival-at-sea exercise in a controlled pool environment, and the opportunity to captain a Navy patrol boat.
Defence’s Director of Youth Policy and Programs David Atkins said the initiative was designed to provide regional students with opportunities to engage with Defence, which may not be otherwise available.
“Programs like Troops and Tides gives young people an invaluable chance to spend time with Australian Defence Force members at their place of business and learn about the jobs they do and the culture we have – something many students wouldn’t normally experience first-hand,” Mr Atkins said.
“It’s incredibly important that students in places like Tasmania have the same opportunities as those on the mainland.
"This program helps bridge that gap, showing young people in regional and remote communities that a potential career in Defence is both accessible and achievable.”
