Media Release – 30 November 2018
PROMOTING CAREERS IN SUBMARINES
The Submarine Institute of Australia (SIA) is helping to promote careers in submarines and the submarine industry by supporting the 2018 Subs in Schools National Final, which starts this weekend in Sydney.
Subs in Schools is an initiative of the Re-Engineering Australia Foundation, of which the SIA is a gold sponsor and members of the SIA are judges for the final.
“Our support of the Subs in Schools National Final is another way the SIA is actively encouraging young Australians to pursue submarine careers at what is one of the most exciting times for submarines in Australia’s history,” said SIA Executive Committee member and former Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Australian Navy, Errika Meades.
“It’s vital that school-age children who might be interested in a submarine career are provided with information about how to pursue such an opportunity.”
Ms Meades, who has led a pilot submarine careers program on behalf of the SIA in four schools on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, is an outstanding example of a person who was attracted to submarines in her youth and went on to serve in the Royal Australian Navy for 12 years.
“I remember as a 15-year-old my father took me to see an Oberon class submarine which had docked in Newcastle and from that point on, I wanted to join the navy,” Ms Meades said.
“Through the work I did as an integrated support engineer and the work I do now as part of the SIA committee, I’m keen to help other children – and girls in particular – take up similar opportunities.
“School children of today can look forward to serving in the new Future Submarines when they start entering service in the mid-2030s.
“The Subs in Schools National Final is a superb promotional vehicle for careers serving in submarines.”
The 2018 Subs in Schools National Final runs from Sunday until Tuesday at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.
