DECNet Defence Infrastructure Roundtable Series 2025
Roundtable 5: Workforce Constraints, DCAC Delays, and Offshoring Opportunities
Date: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Time: 10:00 am–12:00 pm (AEST)
Format: Online event
Cost: Free for Defence Staff and DECNet Pro Members, $110 (excl GST) for Non-Members
Synopsis:
The Defence infrastructure sector faces persistent workforce challenges, especially pronounced in Northern Australia and South Australia. Delays associated with the Defence Common Access Card (DCAC) process, required for workers accessing Defence bases, further complicate timely project delivery. Additionally, critical skills shortages within the domestic workforce necessitate significant reliance on international labour.
This extended two-hour roundtable will provide stakeholders with an in-depth exploration of these pressing workforce issues. The event is divided into two focused halves. The first half will investigate opportunities to leverage offshoring to access skilled knowledge workers, filling critical skills gaps, reducing costs, and accelerating timelines, particularly during project planning phases. The second half will concentrate on the challenges and improvement strategies related to DCAC processes and broader domestic workforce constraints.
Key topics to be addressed:
First half (10:00–11:00 am): Expanding Offshoring Opportunities
- The potential for offshoring knowledge-intensive tasks to address critical skills shortages
- Cost and time-saving benefits associated with offshoring, particularly in project planning
- Practical considerations, risks, and successful models of offshoring knowledge work within Defence infrastructure
Second half (11:00 am–12:00 pm): DCAC and Domestic Workforce Challenges
- Impact of DCAC processing delays on project timelines and associated costs
- Strategies for domestic workforce training, upskilling, and sustainable skill development
- Recommendations for enhancing DCAC efficiency and responsiveness
Goals of this roundtable:
- Provide clarity and practical insights into leveraging international knowledge workers through offshoring
- Identify effective strategies to mitigate domestic workforce shortages and streamline the DCAC process
- Enhance collaboration between Defence and industry to proactively address workforce and operational challenges
Who should attend:
- Defence estate and infrastructure decision-makers
- Industry contractors, project managers, and workforce specialists
- Human resources and labour management professionals
- Government representatives involved in Defence workforce policies, offshoring practices, and skills training initiatives
Outcomes:
- Recorded session and comprehensive summary of recommendations published on DECNet
- Formally presented actionable insights and strategies to Defence’s Security and Estate Group for evaluation and potential implementation
Have your say:
- Submit your question or suggestion for discussion via this form.