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Defence Industry

Although Defence facilities in the Murray Riverina are predominantly centred around Wagga Wagga, there is a strong industry base in the Albury Wodonga region in advanced manufacturing, communications and technologies. Defence industry in the Murray Riverina is focused on military training, specialised contract engineering, propellant and military explosive manufacturing and includes;
  • Design
  • Specialised engineering and electronics
  • Technical, non-technical and recruitment training
  • Helicopter airframe structures, maintenance and component overhaul
  • Target technologies
  • Remote control systems manufacturing
  • Munitions disposal

Why focus on Defence and Defence Industry?

Defence investment is already one of the drivers of employment and economic growth in many regional centres. The defence industry is a major employer and attractor of skilled workers in regional NSW and the local economy also benefits from the movement of skilled workers out of Defence and defence industries into local education and technology-dependent sectors.


NSW is also critical to Defence. It has the industrial base, transport and communications infrastructure, workforce and world-class research and development establishments to support Defence, now and into the future.

What We Do

The Defence presence in Wagga Wagga consists of the RAAF Base Wagga (which includes the National Aerospace Training Centre, and aviation Initial Technical Training (ITT) for Navy personnel), and Blamey Barracks Base at Kapooka (which includes the national Army Recruit Training Centre). Defence also has presence in the wider region at Latchford and Gaza Ridge Barracks in North East Victoria.

RAAF Base Wagga is located in Forest Hill and is the major ground training base for RAAF. The Base delivers technical and non-technical initial employment and postgraduate training that is fundamental to the delivery of military air and space power in support of national objectives.
The Base supports four major training units:

  • No 1 Recruit Training Unit
  • the RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT)
  • RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training
  • The School of Postgraduate Studies

Since 1993, Navy Aviation Technician trainees have been undertaking Aviation Initial Technical Training at RAAFSTT at RAAF Base Wagga.

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Originally established in 1951 as the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, the Army Recruit Training centre has evolved since 1989 to become a world-class training establishment for all soldiers selected to join the Australian Army, The training the soldiers receive is world-class. The skills and knowledge gained in the Army begin with soldier training at the 1st Recruit Training Battalion. The barracks provide a variety of physical and academic training activities including the use of firing and weapons ranges, and fire training.

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Latchford Barracks is an Australian Army base in the suburb of Bonegilla, located about 8 kilometres to the east of Wodonga, Victoria. The barracks is the headquarters of the Army Logistic Training Centre.

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Gaza Ridge Barracks is an Australian Army base in the suburb of Bandiana, located about 5 kilometres to the east of Wodonga, Victoria. Part of the Army Logistic Training Centre is based there.

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