April 15, 2019. Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews says the federal government will invest $55 million in advanced communications and earth observations from space with a new industry-led cooperative research centre in South Australia. The SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre will support the next wave of growth in Australia's critical industries like agriculture, transport, logistics, communications and mining, generating high-tech jobs and strengthening national defence and security. "The coalition government federally has committed to growing the space sector to $12 billion with an additional 20,000 people by 2030," she says during a media stand up on Monday. (AAP VIDEO/Tim Dornin)

High school students will get hands-on experience in SA’s emerging space sector, as companies hope to inspire a new generation into becoming the workforce of the future.

Premier Steven Marshall has announced a plan to give students in Years 10 to 12 the opportunity of work experience in a “pilot” scheme set to take off later this year.

Ten firms have already joined the program, but the State Government says it will be a case of “the more the merrier” as others join over time.

The new announcement follows Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s commitment for SA to host the national space agency and mission control, as well as State Government’s creation of a special traineeship in cyber security skills.

Mr Marshall said getting to students at a young age could inspire them about the opportunity in a major new industry.

He returned last week from a visit to the US that included meeting with NASA’s associate administrator for international relations, Al Condes, about possible partnerships.

“We have been inundated with expressions of interest from space companies around the world to find out what is going on here and look at the investment opportunity,” Mr Marshall said.

“Now the ball is in our court. We have got to make sure we have got the skilled people in this state to actually work in the space sector going forward, so that’s what we’re doing.”

Silentium Defence chief executive James Palmer said businesses had as much to gain from the plan as the students.

“We are building a company here in SA in space and defence, and we really do recognise that to have a long-term successful future, we need a talent pipeline,” he said.

“Programs like this that will actually get students engaged and thinking about these careers, I really do see as a long-term investment in making sure that we have got the workforce of the future.

“It’s actually about giving the students a positive career experience. We want to show that having a career in space, which really is an economy of the future, is something that is going to be viable for them.”

The announcement was made at Norwood Morialta High, which Mr Marshall described as one of the most successful science schools in SA.

Year 10 student Jasreen Kaur, 15, said she was weighing future career options and it was exciting to be shown the opportunities in space.

“It’s a very great way to just explore stuff,” she said.

“For someone who doesn't know what they are going to do in the future, I think it’s a great pathway to look at.”

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said his party built SA’s first space school at Hamilton and “supports any measures” which help our students pursue a career in the growing sector.