Thales Australia supporting the Navy Clearance Diver Trust

Members of Thales Australia’s Under Water Systems (UWS) business recently visited the Royal Australian Navy’s Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT1) at HMAS Waterhen in Sydney. The visit was facilitated byAUSCDT1 and the Navy Clearance Diver Trust (NCDT), which Thales Australia is a proud sponsor.

The visit started with a workshop walk through led by the AUSCDT1 team, highlighting the technologies and capabilities they utilise to conduct operations; and also showing some of the most recent acquisitions delivered by Thales under the Deployable Mine Counter Measures Program, SEA1778-1. 

Some of the AUSCDT1 team then demonstrated, wharf side, one of their four fields of expertise, Underwater Damage Repair (UDR), using Surface Supplied Breathing Apparatus (SSBA). Troy Stephen, Vice President, UWS said ‘we are always extremely grateful for demonstrations such as this are crucial to allow defence industry to appreciate some of the challenges and trials that face our military partners on a daily basis’.

Gavin Henry, Business Development Manager at Thales Australia and former Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer (MCDO), knows these vocational challenges first-hand, but also those invisible challenges that can be faced by Clearance Divers, both serving and ex-serving, as well as their dependents. “The Trust essentially fills any gaps that may eventuate due to timing or scope of support from the RAN and DVA, so as to negate any form of financial hardship. It also provides support programs designed to provide professional career coaching to transitioning or recently transitioned CDs”.

The tour also included a visit to the Mine Hunter Coastal (MHC) HMAS Yarra, which Thales built and has sustained for over 20 years at our Carrington site in Newcastle. The S2093 sonar, on board the MHC, has been wholly sustained by our Rydalmere site in Sydney, avoiding any lengthy supply chains and building the most competent workforce to support Navy’s future demands.  Thales Australia’s support of the NCDT is an activity championed by the Thales Australia Veterans Committee who represent the interests, wellbeing and priorities of veterans across the organisation. Denise Goldsworthy AO, Chair of the NCDT said of Thales’s support “that the NCDT could not do the vital work that they do without the support of industry sponsors like Thales.”

To learn more about Thales Australia’s commitment to veterans, visit: Our commitment to veterans.