Statement - DST workforce

The Government is committed to building Defence capability and ensuring our men and women in uniform have the best capability.

More, together: Defence Science and Technology Strategy 2030 released earlier this year outlines the Government’s focus on ensuring Australia maintains a regionally superior Australian Defence Force (ADF) with the highest levels of military capability and scientific and technological sophistication. The Government is investing $270 billion in defence capability over the decade to achieve this.

As all organisations must do, managing their workforce is essential. Defence Science and Technology Group (DST) has commenced a process to reshape its workforce in line with its new strategy, and the 2020 Defence Strategic Update. DST has reviewed their structures and capabilities, and relationships with clients and stakeholders. Reducing staffing in lower priority areas will allow targeted growth in higher priority areas, including to meet technology and other research requirements in accordance with the Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy and 2020 Strategic Update. 

This process is in line with the Defence Enterprise Agreement. It will assist DST to build its capability in priority areas for the future needs of the Department and the broader Australian community. Defence recognises that our people are our greatest asset, and we must continue to invest in their development. As part of the DST Strategy 2030, Defence is working with the education sector to ensure we are able to recruit the right people with the right skills for the future, with the overall number of Australian Public Service (APS) staff in Defence increasing.

Under the 2020 Force Structure Plan, the future demands on Defence has identified the need to grow the ADF and APS workforce to meet capability requirements. From 2021-2024, the ADF will grow by around 800 personnel and the APS will grow by around 250, which will provide the skills to support the new capabilities being acquired for the ADF.