The Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme, or DIVES for short, is a scholarship program funded by the WA state government and supported by the WA defence industry. This article explains what it covers, who’s eligible, what you can spend it on, and how to transition into a civilian career.
What does DIVES cover?
DIVES helps cover the practical cost of turning your defence experience into a civilian career, not just the study itself. It can go toward:
- Vocational education and university study costs relevant to defence-industry careers — tuition, compulsory fees, textbooks and equipment
- Career planning support, to help identify the right training, further study and career pathway
Combining a DIVES scholarship with Recognition of Prior Learning for Defence members and veterans means your defence experience does double duty: RPL turns what you’ve already done into recognised competency, while DIVES helps fund whatever study still stands between you and the qualification.
Who’s eligible
DIVES is open to WA residents who are either:
- ex-serving Australian Defence Force members, or
- currently serving ADF members who are transitioning or separating from the ADF within the next six months.
DIVES is aimed squarely at people mid-transition. Whether you’ve recently left the ADF or you can already see your separation date from here, DIVES is built for the practical reality of building a new career while that clock is running.
You don’t need to have already decided on a direction, since part of what the scholarship supports is exactly that career-planning step. DIVES is an initiative of the Defence Industry Skills Centre of Excellence, backed by the WA State Government.
How can you apply for DIVES?
Applications go through the Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre, who manage DIVES on behalf of South Metropolitan TAFE. They’ll talk you through your defence-industry career options, help identify what training or study you actually need, and confirm whether DIVES is the right fit before you apply.
If you’re eligible, they’ll support you through the whole application. From there, pairing your DIVES scholarship with a free RPL appraisal through Churchill means you can move on both fronts at once — funding for study, and formal recognition for what you’ve already done.
What you can put it towards
DIVES funds training and study across a defined list of WA defence-industry occupations, from engineering roles (Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Software Engineer, Naval Architect) through to trades and operations (Fitter and Machinist, CAD Designer, Quality Assurance Officer, Production Manager).
How to transition from a defence career to a civilian career
Making that shift usually follows a similar shape, wherever you’re headed:
- Start with a free RPL appraisal. Churchill’s assessors map your defence experience — leadership, logistics, safety, technical trades — against the units of a civilian qualification, so you know where you stand before you commit to anything.
- Identify the study gap, if there is one. Most veterans already hold most of what a qualification asks for; DIVES can help fund whatever training closes the rest.
- Apply for DIVES alongside your RPL assessment, so both the recognition and any remaining study are covered.
- Finish with a nationally recognised qualification that translates your service into a language civilian employers already understand.
“In the military, you learn to lead, adapt, and make decisions quickly, skills that stay with you for life.” — Graham, who used RPL to move from 30 years of ADF service into a compliance and aviation consulting career
For more transition stories and ideas for where defence experience can lead, see 10 Alternative Careers for Military Personnel and Military Career Change: A Step-by-Step Guide.