A brief dive with nuclear powered submarines

Partner nuclear-powered submarine have already undergone maintenance at HMAS Stirling in WA – a first for Australia – and the construction, sustainment and skills pipeline has national implications.

This two-day program gives you a clear, practical picture of what nuclear-powered submarines mean as a sovereign capability: the strategic rationale, the diplomatic and security dimensions, and the real-world realities of acquiring, regulating, supporting and operating them – with implications that reach well beyond Defence.

Why this program, why now?

• Unclassified – no security clearance required. Understand the breadth of opportunities and challenges nuclear submarines represent for government, business and society.
• Direct access to people close to the program, explained in plain language.

What you will take away

• A working grasp of nuclear-powered submarines as a sovereign capability, and why they matter to Australia's long-term posture.
• The strategic drivers behind AUKUS – and what they mean for all governments (Commonwealth, State and Territory and Local), sectors or business.
• Foundational literacy in nuclear technology, safeguards, governance and the regulatory frameworks behind the program.

Who should enrol?

This program is designed to build national security literacy and is suited to:

• Policy professionals, across all levels, seeking a working understanding of AUKUS and its implications for national security settings.
• State and territory officials seeking to understand how AUKUS will shape workforce, infrastructure, and long-term strategic planning across jurisdictions.
• Industry and practitioners seeking a contemporary and practical overview of AUKUS, including the opportunities and challenges it creates for investment, workforce development, compliance, and sovereign capability.

Professional development program: for more details or to enrol please email epd.nsc@anu.edu.au.