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Five RMIT aviation students have become the first recipients of a new Leidos scholarship.
Amber Kennett (pictured), Ashwini Fredrick, Kynan Munday, and India Wallace, as well as one other student who requested not to be named, will receive additional training in specialised piloting skills including search and rescue.
First announced in February, Leidos is providing $120,000 worth of scholarship funding to final-year students completing aviation degrees at RMIT. One student, 20-year-old Amber Kennett, said it will open doors for her and the other recipients.
“The scholarships’ focus on special mission training will provide extremely valuable expertise, endorsements and a specialised skillset that will enhance my piloting capabilities,” she said.
“The mentorship program offered in the scholarship will enable a greater career preparedness and the training offered by Leidos will enable me to become more proficient, flexible, focused, and competent as a pilot, helping establish a strong foundation for my aviation journey.
“Opportunities to conduct specialised training with the Leidos Dash 8 fleet will greatly underpin my progression in the aviation profession and the future opportunities in Search and Rescue will continue to foster my passion for jet aircraft and desire to help others.”
Speaking in February, RMIT Aviation Academy director Lea Vesic said that with skills shortages in the sector, there will be a “critical demand for skilled pilots over the next 20 years”.
“As a national leader in aviation education and with the largest university owned aviation fleet in the country, the RMIT Aviation Academy is well placed to respond to these challenges and will play a critical role in training the next generation of aviators,” Vesic said.
“Partnerships like this are critical not only for supporting new pilots to enter the workforce but to make sure they develop the skills and can obtain the practical experience required to ensure they are job ready.
“The scholarship funding from Leidos includes support for recipients to complete additional training, focusing on the specialised pilot skills Leidos requires for its unique and diverse operations, meaning students conclude their training ready for a career in special mission flying.”
According to Leidos Airborne Solutions Australia vice president James Woodhams, the company is committed to addressing the skill shortage by supporting a future workforce.
“We know that there are high barriers to entry to becoming a pilot, including the cost associated with flight training. We want to provide students with not only financial support, but with opportunities to learn about the flying experiences available to them beyond airline careers,” he said.
“We do very specialist flying to save lives and protect national interests, and we want to contribute to building the skills required for these missions.”
