There are many pathways to a career in the defence industry, including through the Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP). The DIPP is a 12-month traineeship that combines TAFE-based education with ongoing work placements at leading defence companies such as Babcock.
Alanna was a member of the first cohort of DIPP trainees in Adelaide last year. She undertook her traineeship with Babcock and upon completion of the program earlier this year, Alanna is now employed as a Senior Project Administrator in our JP9101 Acquisition program. The JP9101 program is delivering the Commonwealth’s Enhanced Defence High Frequency Communications System, giving Australian and allied armed forces the ability to communicate securely from almost any location across the globe.
Alanna was named as PEER Trainee of the Year in 2025, a testimony to her dedication throughout the year.
We caught up with Alanna to chat about DIPP and her career change to the defence industry.
Share with us a little about your background and why you chose to participate in DIPP.
After graduating high school, I wasn’t sure what kind of career I wanted. I was accepted into UniSA’s Bachelor of Nursing, but after a year in the program I felt it wasn’t the pathway for me. After taking some time to travel, I worked at Coles and went through their leadership program to become a department manager. Fast forward 10 years, I had a successful career as a bakery manger but was seeking an opportunity to grow.
Scrolling on Seek one night, I saw PEER’s ad for the Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP). After a bit of deliberating, I decided to take a shot at something different and make a career change while I still could.
The fact the traineeship was paid on the job learning was a real draw card for me, along with the growing defence industry presence in SA. The opportunity to work across different business units and see what I might like to pursue career wise was a luxury I hadn’t had before, so I was keen to give it a go.
Tell us about the experience you gained during your rotations in different Babcock business units.
In the Talent and Experience team, I was able to shadow an experienced colleague in recruitment. I gained experience in tasks such as job advertisement writing, phone interviews and candidate compliance. A highlight was representing Babcock at career expos. I really enjoyed my time within this team and found a lot of value working side by side with my mentor.
While with the Office of the CEO, I worked closely with the Corporate Affairs and Marketing & Communications teams. The highlights for me were being involved in shooting Babcock’s corporate video and gaining insight into how much organisation goes into planning and executing an event.
Did you find Babcock and your colleagues to be supportive during your time as a DIPP trainee?
The team at Babcock really encouraged me to immerse myself in the business units I was placed with. I was included in team meetings and celebrations and really made to feel like one of the team.
My line managers for each rotation were readily available for any questions I had, and the wider teams were also really patient and welcoming. I was never made to feel like I was asking a silly question.
You were recognised as PEER Trainee of the Year in 2025 – what did that mean to you?
Receiving PEER’s Trainee of the Year was very unexpected but greatly appreciated. It reiterated to me that I had made the right choice in changing careers, and all the hard work and sacrifice was worth it!
What makes Babcock a good place to work?
Some of the reasons I find Babcock good to work for include:
- The potential for career growth and the in-house learning provided
- The culture within Babcock, and especially the JP9101 program, is extremely inclusive
- The flexibility to work across three office spaces in Adelaide and from home
- Regular communications from our CEO
What advice would you give to people looking at applying for DIPP?
Reach out to former DIPP trainees, as well as the team at PEER. The trainee experience is so different for each individual, as we are all placed within different businesses and different teams. It is important to stay open minded, embrace the program and say yes to new opportunities.
Overall, it is a unique experience, one I found to be extremely beneficial and worthwhile.
Learn more about DIPP traineeships
The Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways offers a unique opportunity to explore high-demand roles like manufacturing, engineering, computing, logistics and cybersecurity, while also allowing participants to gain competencies in less familiar ancillary defence industries that match their interests.
Our support of DIPP in South Australia, started in April 2025 following a long-standing association with the program in Western Australia.
Since 2021, Babcock has hosted 19 DIPP trainees at our Henderson (WA) location and in Adelaide we have hosted 14 trainees since 2025. We have retained 21 trainees in further employment across a range of disciplines including logistics, scheduling, payroll services and project administration.
The DIPP program is delivered in SA by Group Training Organisation, PEER, in partnership with TAFE SA as the Registered Training Organisation. The initiative is co-funded by the Commonwealth and South Australian governments. Learn more on the PEER website.