The Defence Industry Internship Program (DIIP) is funded by the Commonwealth Government, offering high quality work experience placements to university students.

The program’s purpose is to increase awareness of career opportunities within the Australian defence industry, by providing participants with the opportunity to gain meaningful, paid work experience through a 12-week (450 hour) internship in a growing and innovative sector. Internships are currently open to eligible third and fourth year undergraduate students studying degrees in engineering and technology disciplines. 

With thousands of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) supporting the Australian Defence Force, this group of employers has substantial demand for graduate talent, particularly in the engineering and technology disciplines. The DIIP provides the opportunity for defence industry SMEs to showcase graduate career paths by providing Interns with interesting and technologically advanced work-based experiences. Through the program, Interns are exposed to the skills, aptitudes and abilities required by defence industry employers, stimulating the desire to seek graduate roles within the sector. 

Each Intern and SME are carefully matched by the DIIP team, to ensure that both the student and the host organisation benefit from the experience. 

The Career Network (TCN) administers the DIIP on behalf of the Department of Defence, managing all operational aspects of the program and providing structured support to student participants and Defence Industry SME hosts.