Weld Australia has signed an agreement with the Australian Academy of Welding Technology (AAWT) to make the Academy’s new Adelaide facility its primary training site in South Australia.
The purpose-built facility, developed by Global Welding Technologies Group Pty Ltd (W.E.S.S.) and supported by Defence grant funding, is due to open on 5 October. It is described as a hire-based training venue with welding bays, Industry 4.0 welding technology, digital monitoring and traceability systems, fume extraction, and a classroom for up to 20 students.
Weld Australia said the partnership expands its training footprint in South Australia amid an expected shortage of skilled welders over the coming decade, with demand linked to major defence and infrastructure projects including the AUKUS submarine program at Osborne, the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project and Northern Water.
“This partnership gives Weld Australia access to a genuinely world-class training environment, right in the heart of the state where demand for skilled welders is acute,” said Ben Mitchell, Director, Strategic Partnerships at Weld Australia.
“South Australia is home to some of the largest Defence and infrastructure projects in the nation’s history. Between AUKUS, T2D and Northern Water, the state will need thousands of additional qualified welders, and they need to be trained to exacting international standards. The AAWT gives us the modern equipment, technology and infrastructure to deliver high-quality, industry-relevant training at scale, without compromise.”
Mitchell said the agreement was intended to address skills shortages through “industry-led solutions”, including access to newer welding equipment and monitoring systems.
Weld Australia also acknowledged W.E.S.S. and Defence grant support for the Academy’s development.
David Wilton, Managing Director of W.E.S.S., said the company welcomed the agreement. “We are delighted to have an agreement with Weld Australia to utilise our new AAWT, state-of-the-art training facility and together support Australia’s industrial, manufacturing and vocational education sectors,” Wilton said.
Weld Australia said it will begin delivering training programs at the AAWT from October 2026, with the training schedule to be expanded in line with demand.
