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INDUSTRY NEWS
Hunter Class Frigate Program rolls out first steel unit Over 28 tonnes of Australian steel rolled off the production line at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide in October with the completion of structural manufacture of the first steel prototype unit for the Hunter Class Frigate Program. The 217sqm unit, which has a bigger footprint than the average Australian house, was moved from the shipyard’s primary manufacturing hall into the next stage of production, to be outfitted and consolidated (with the addition of three more units) into the first prototyping block. The prototype unit is one of four in the first representative ship block and is the first to have been blasted and painted, cut and constructed in the new Shipyard. This particular unit and block are located in the middle of the ship and would contain the Officer’s Accommodation. BAE Systems Maritime Australia Managing Director, Craig Lockhart said: “This is a significant production milestone for the Hunter frigate program and an important start towards establishing shipbuilding capability across the Osborne Shipyard. Osborne is one of the world’s most technologically advanced shipyards, a purpose-built modern manufacturing facility built for the digital age to deliver next generation anti-submarine warships by a highly skilled Australian workforce equipped to use Industry 4.0 technologies.” BAE Systems Maritime Australia will build nine of the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Royal Australian Navy. The prototyping phase commenced in December 2020 and program mobilisation continues at pace with more than 1,300 people now working across the program including 35 apprentices and 26 graduates. The Hunter program will create and sustain 5,000 jobs over the life of the program. Steel for the prototyping phase of the Hunter program has already been procured from Bluescope AIS at Port Kembla, NSW and structural steel from Infrabuild in Whyalla, SA. The Hunter program has already placed around 40 contracts with Australian businesses
to support design and prototyping. Around 20 further contracts will be awarded to support prototyping, including ship outfitting, gaskets, wholeship eyeplates, insulation and deck coverings. Lockhart added: “Critically, the manufacture of the first unit has put into practice this step-change to shipbuilding programs of the past, as our employees test the full productive capacity of the yard maximising our ability to build high quality ships through our pulse line process utilising robotics that enable high quality welds and zero defects. This ensures an enduring and uniquely Australian sovereign industrial capability that supports Australia’s continuous naval shipbuilding strategy for future generations.” www.baesystems.com
Calling all Manufacturing Mates Mates in Manufacturing is a new suicide prevention program aimed at supporting the mental health of workers in the manufacturing industry. Suicide affects us all. The suicide of a friend, family member or workmate can be devastating across the whole community and particularly at work. More than 3,000 Australians die from suicide each year; of these 75% are men. It’s a leading cause of death for people in the 25-39 age group. The pandemic has brought mental health issues into the forefront. Despite the devastating number of workers infected with COVID-19 in workplaces, Safe Work Australia has reported that nearly one in every five COVID-related workers’ compensation claims were generated on mental health grounds. In manufacturing, with many predominantly male or multicultural workers, there have been barriers to discussing mental health as openly as possible. Mates in Manufacturing has been set up to remedy the challenges of suicide ideation and mental health more generally. Bringing together employers and unions and drawing on the expertise of the Mates organisation, Mates in Manufacturing will deliver critical workplace training, building a peer-based program within workplaces and developing knowledge within the industry to address these problems. Funding has been secured from both the NSW and Federal Governments for research by Western Sydney, Deakin and Melbourne Universities, to ensure
AMT DEC 2021
the programs are fit for purpose. Undertaken as a partnership between employers and unions in the sector, Mates in Manufacturing started its rollout in November ahead of its official launch on 10 December. Members of the steering committee overseeing the project come from manufacturing industry leaders like Downer Group, OPAL, UGL, Stramit and Thales. They are joined by the Australian Industry Group, with workers represented by the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) and the United Workers’ Union UWU. The partners recognise that suicide prevention and improving mental health support transcends traditional workplace issues and that by working together we stand a better chance of making positive change. If you and your company operate within the manufacturing industry and want to get serious about confronting suicide and mental health challenges, as part of an evidence-based industry partnership through this workplace program, the Mates in Manufacturing program would welcome your involvement as part of this process. To start a conversation, contact Dave Henry at matesinmanufacturing@gmail.com
