Adelaide Hydrogen Jobs Plan: New Training Roles Open

The South Australian government began the next stage of its hydrogen jobs plan this week with contracts awarded for two new training facilities tied to the AUKUS submarine program.

The timing matters because interstate migration has lifted Adelaide's population by 18,000 people in the past year, pushing demand for steady employment in the defence and clean-energy sectors at the same moment the state budget allocates extra funds to Lot Fourteen.

Training sites and neighbourhood links

One facility will sit on the edge of Lot Fourteen on North Terrace, the other at the Osborne Naval Shipyard precinct. Both locations sit within 12 kilometres of the central business district, meaning workers from Thebarton and Bowden can reach them by existing train lines without crossing the city. Local cafes on Hindley Street have already reported a 12 per cent rise in weekday lunch trade from site survey crews.

Residents in those inner-north suburbs stand to gain from shorter travel times and higher foot traffic along Port Road, where several small manufacturers supply components for hydrogen equipment.

Numbers behind the rollout

State records show the hydrogen plan has so far placed 1,240 people into roles since the first contracts were signed in March 2025, with median weekly earnings listed at $1,820. The latest round of tenders includes a $47 million allocation for skills courses that begin in September at the new Osborne site.

Community groups in Elizabeth and Salisbury have scheduled information sessions for the coming fortnight to explain how locals can apply and what transport subsidies are available through the existing Jobs Accelerator program.

Anyone wanting to register can visit the Department for Energy and Mining website or attend the session at the Elizabeth Community Centre on 22 July.