Aviation Australia welcomes the Queensland Government’s announcement that it has been awarded $3 million through the Sovereign Industry Development Fund, supporting a $6 million co-investment to develop advanced aviation and Defence training capabilities in Townsville.
Announced by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, the funding will support the development of next-generation rotary maintenance, simulation and virtual training solutions designed to meet the increasing complexity of modern aviation and Defence platforms.
The investment will accelerate Aviation Australia’s transformation from a training academy to a Centre of Excellence, strengthening Queensland’s sovereign aviation and Defence capability while positioning Townsville as a leading hub for advanced aviation maintenance training.
As aviation and Defence technologies continue to evolve, so too must the methods used to train and prepare technical workforces. Advanced simulation environments, dedicated training systems and virtual learning technologies are becoming essential components of modern technical training, enabling learners to develop skills more efficiently, safely and effectively.
Chief Executive Officer Glenn Ryan said the investment marked a significant milestone for Aviation Australia and the future of aviation training in Queensland.
“The investment today of nearly $6 million moves us from a training academy to a training centre of excellence,” Mr Ryan said.
“The complexity of modern platforms means that new training solutions, advanced training solutions, are needed. That $6 million will be invested in advanced rotary maintenance training solutions, virtual training solutions and systems training solutions, which means that the most complex systems can be trained and we can grow that sovereign workforce here in Queensland.”
The project represents a co-investment of approximately $6 million, with $3 million provided by the Queensland Government and a matching $3 million contribution from Aviation Australia.
A key feature of the project will be the introduction of dedicated training systems and advanced simulation technologies that provide learners with hands-on experience beyond what is traditionally possible using retired aircraft alone.
By combining physical training devices with immersive virtual environments, Aviation Australia will be able to deliver high-fidelity training experiences that improve learning outcomes, accelerate skills acquisition and support training on increasingly complex aviation systems.
Mr Ryan said the investment would establish Townsville as a leader in rotary-wing maintenance training, both nationally and throughout the wider region.
“At the conclusion of this project, Aviation Australia will be able to bring its expertise with the simulation solutions to provide the most advanced rotary wing maintenance training facility in the nation, but also within the region from South Asia through to the South West Pacific, bringing more work here to Townsville.”
The investment will also support capability development through the Townsville Aviation Training Academy, reinforcing North Queensland’s role as a strategic aviation and Defence hub.
“Townsville is a strategic aviation and Defence hub, and the Townsville Aviation Training Academy is uniquely positioned to support workforce growth through enhanced hands-on training that accelerates skills acquisition and builds capability for Defence aviation maintenance engineers,” Mr Ryan said.
The Sovereign Industry Development Fund investment highlights the Queensland Government’s commitment to growing sovereign industry capability and supporting innovation in aviation and Defence. Aviation Australia looks forward to working with government and industry partners to deliver advanced training solutions that strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability and establish Townsville as a leading aviation training Centre of Excellence.