2026 Defence Industry Leadership Program Application
The Defence Industry Leadership Program (DILP) is a nationally accredited, nine-month leadership development program tailored for emerging leaders in Australia’s defence industry.
Delivered by the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC) in partnership with Skills Lab (RTO), DILP combines experiential learning, industry engagement, and formal leadership training to equip participants with the skills, confidence, and connections needed to thrive in the complex defence environment.
Through workshops, industry visits, one-on-on leadership coaching and a team-based industry research project, participants will:
- Strengthen their leadership practice across four pillars: self, organisation, industry, and community
- Build a deeper understanding of the defence sector and its unique leadership challenges
- Develop the skills and confidence to lead in complex, fast-evolving defence industry environments
- Graduate with a nationally recognised Diploma of Leadership and Management and lifelong membership to the DILP Alumni network
DILP offers a unique, immersive experience where participants grow alongside a diverse peer cohort, gain access to senior leaders, and build valuable, cross-industry relationships that extend well beyond the program.
For further details regarding the course structure, please refer to the DTC website.
Who is it for?
The Defence Industry Leadership Program is designed for emerging leaders working within Australia’s defence ecosystem, and those looking to transition into the sector. Participants come from diverse backgrounds, and bring a wide range of qualifications and experiences, creating a rich learning environment grounded in real-world perspectives.
This program is ideal for individuals who are:
- Taking on increased leadership responsibility within their organisation
- Leading teams, projects, or initiatives that contribute to defence capability
- Seeking to broaden their understanding of the defence sector, policy landscape, and government–industry collaboration
- Looking to strengthen their leadership practice and expand their professional network within the defence ecosystem
Participants typically come from defence industry primes, SMEs, professional service providers, academia and government-related organisations supporting defence capability.
Whether your focus is engineering, project management, business development, strategy, or operations, DILP offers the leadership tools, sector insights, and connections to support your next step.
If you're ready to grow as a leader, build meaningful connections across the defence industry, and deepen your impact in the sector, we encourage you to apply.
Course Fees
DTC Member
- DTC Member working or residing in SA: $10,400 ex GST*
- DTC Member working or residing interstate: $18,000 ex GST
DTC Non-Member
- Non-Member working or residing in SA: $11,445 ex GST*
- Non-Member working or residing interstate: $19,445 ex GST
Eligibility (*)
To be eligible for the Government subsidised SA rate, participants must:
- reside or work in South Australia; and be an Australian or New Zealand citizen; or
- be a permanent Australian resident; or
- hold a State sponsored visa on a pathway to permanent residency; or
- hold a humanitarian temporary visa of a class specified by the Minister from time to time.
The course fee includes all course materials, catering at workshops, site tours, field trips, entry to networking events, graduation, Diploma of Leadership & Management, and complementary ticket to the DTC's Defence Industry Dinner & Awards Ceremony in Adelaide.
Exclusions
- Airfares for any interstate field trips are not included in the course fee and must be covered separately by the participant.
- Interstate travel to participate in the program in Adelaide is at the cost of the participant.
Entry Requirements
There are no course pre-requisites to apply for the program.
All applicants must be nominated by their employer before submitting their course application.
Please note: Self-employed applicants are not required to submit an Employer Nomination Form. Instead, you may be asked to provide an alternative reference.
As positions on the program are highly sought after, the competitive selection process aims to assemble a diverse yet balanced cohort that will enrich the participant experience and improve course learning outcomes.
Application
Please work with your employer to complete the application form.