Building the industry workforce


nbnTM Australia

nbn is driving a significant technical skills training program in the Australian telecommunications industry, aiming to create an industry-based, sustainable, and multi-technology capable workforce in cooperation with our Delivery Partners.

To build, operate and maintain the nbn™ network, we estimate the skilled workforce available to our Delivery Partners may need to increase by more than 4,500 roles – almost doubling the current external workforce actively engaged on the nbn™ project.

Industry Workforce Development Program

Opportunities exist for active job seekers at various levels in their careers from experienced telecommunications workers to people looking for a career change.Read more about how you can get involved

Career Start Program

Our Career Start Program is designed for individuals with minimal previous work experience for the roles of Telecommunications Linesworker and Cable Jointer. Read more about the Career Start Program

Industry Workforce Development Program

Over the next 10 years our Delivery Partners will need thousands of employees to design, build and operate the nbn™ network. nbn is keen to help candidates build the skills needed to get involved. Our Industry Development Workforce Program has been developed to help fill the skill gaps for key occupations.

The Industry Workforce Development program includes the following key activities:

  • Facilitating recruitment with our Delivery Partners – referring candidates who complete an expression of interest to work on the nbn™ network to our Delivery Partners for their consideration and recruitment
  • Technical skills training – subsidised training programs for individuals to gain the skills needed to work on the nbn™ network in key occupations
  • Accreditation – requiring that all individuals working on the nbn™ network are accredited for the relevant technical skills, and for nbn mandated health, safety and environment requirements

You could be eligible for the Industry Development Workforce Program if you are:

  • A career starter wanting to build a career in the telecommunications industry.
  • An experienced telecommunications worker, with vital skills and knowledge of the existing copper network;
  • A general job seeker, with work experience in a different industry and wanting to transition to the telecommunications industry; or
  • Currently employed by one of our Delivery Partners or subcontractors, working on the nbn™ network or telecommunications activity and you are ready to be cross-skilled into an adjacent occupation;
  • Currently employed with one of our Delivery Partners or subcontractors, working on non-telecommunications activity and you are ready to be up-skilled with the required knowledge and skills to work on the nbn™ network;

How does it work?

What are the career opportunities?

We have identified the following key occupations to currently have the highest shortages in connection with the roll out of the nbn™ network:

  • Telecommunications Technicians
  • Telecommunications Fibre Splicers
  • Telecommunications Linesworkers
  • Telecommunications Copper Cable Jointers

If you have vital skills and knowledge of the existing copper network or other telecommunications experience, but aren’t currently working in the field, we want to hear from you. Read more about how you can get involved