NRAS Program Office
Curtin University is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and technological advancements in defence,
space, and national security. We welcome partnerships with industry, government, and research institutions to drive innovation and solve real-world challenges. With a diverse range of experience and unique capabilities,
Curtin is a trusted partner in the defence sector committed to addressing defence challenges and building further partnerships in emerging areas. The National Resilience and Security (NRAS) Program Office at Curtin University consolidates defence collaborations, creating a centralised hub for technological innovation and workforce development. Led by Director Gary Hale, NRAS focuses on fostering international partnerships, particularly around AUKUS, and shaping the narratives of defence, national security, and space in Australia. Curtin has DISP membership and offers a broad range of expertise spanning multiple disciplines, emphasising innovation and practical solutions.
Its research centres serve as invaluable resources for partners addressing complex challenges in defence, security, and national resilience to fulfill defence capability requirements.
Much has been made of the growing concerns in regional and global stability through the emergence of state-on-state conflicts not seen since the Korean war. Moreover the rise of greater military capability amongst nations particularly in our Indo-Pacific region focused the need for the 2021 Defence Strategic Review from which the acquisition of nuclear powered conventionally armed submarines through the AUKUS program, the refresh of the navy’s surface fleet through the surface combatant review, the refocus of the lens on our sovereign defence industrial base through the Defence Industry Development Strategy, and the 2024 announcement of the Henderson Industrial Consolidation program, all bode for greater opportunities for the active participation by academia.
Through the involvement of higher education and learning institutes can the needs of a future Australian Defence Force be met by pushing boundaries of knowledge, improve operational capabilities through advanced sciences and technologies and the development of advanced sovereign capabilities. The establishment of the National Resilience and Security (NRAS) Program Office at Curtin University is a significant investment to defence and the broader sovereign defence, national security and space industry. NRAS aims to consolidate Curtin’s defence collaborations, creating a centralised hub responsive to Australia’s defence challenges, including technological innovation and workforce development.
This initiative emphasises secure, collaborative programs of national and international importance, including fostering international partnerships, especially around AUKUS. Through NRAS, Curtin is set to leverage its interdisciplinary expertise and strategic partnerships to actively help shape the narratives of defence, national security and space in both Australia and WA, while also contributing to the nation’s economic prosperity.
