Defence Primes
Defence primes carry the weight of Australia’s sovereign capability. With major contracts in hand, compliance isn’t just internal; it extends across your entire supply chain.
WorkSec helps you meet that responsibility. From our Security Officer as a Service (SOaaS) and DISP PERSEC governance through to security cleared trusted insiders and SME uplifts, we deliver consistent personnel security quality assurance across your Trusted Workforce and partners.
The Challenge for Defence Primes
Secure your Trusted Workforce. Strengthen your supply chain security.
As DISP members, Defence Primes already meet stringent compliance requirements – but the scale and complexity of prime contracts creates unique challenges:
- Heavy compliance load – Ongoing governance across thousands of security clearance holders, with constant reporting obligations.
- Supply chain responsibility – Primes must ensure their subcontractors and SMEs meet DISP standards and are audit-ready.
- Surge requirements – Large projects often demand rapid onboarding of security cleared personnel beyond internal capacity.
- Audit scrutiny – With stricter assurance frameworks in place, both prime and supply chain compliance are under the spotlight.
WorkSec helps Defence Primes overcome these challenges, ensuring your own compliance is maintained while also uplifting security across your supplier base.
The ANAO 2021-22 audit found that Defence had not established fit-for-purpose arrangements to monitor DISP compliance, limiting the program’s effectiveness as a security control.
Defence has since responded with stricter audits, reporting, and enforcement measures.
According to the Australian Government December 2024 Update to the Joint Standing
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade report.
Why Now? Stricter DISP Assurance
The compliance landscape for DISP members is shifting rapidly. The 2021–22 ANAO audit found that Defence’s administration of DISP obligations was only “partially effective,” with gaps in contract oversight, compliance monitoring, and non-compliance management. Defence agreed to six key recommendations, all aimed at tightening assurance, documentation, and enforcement.
Fast forward to 2024: Defence has acted.
New systems, including the DISP Membership System (DMS) and CRM platforms, now provide accurate, auditable records of DISP members and contracts. Audit frameworks, mandatory training, and escalation pathways for non-compliance have been embedded. Defence has confirmed that DISP contract clauses, monitoring, and annual reporting are now subject to closer scrutiny and continuous improvement cycles.
For Defence primes, this means:
- Contract governance – DISP clauses are embedded in more contracts, with monitoring across prime and supply chain activity.
- Assurance & audits – Annual Security Reports, deep dive audits, and ongoing suitability assessments are now standard practice.
- Supply chain accountability – Primes are expected to ensure subcontractors and SMEs meet DISP obligations.
- Escalation risks – Non-compliance can result in suspension or cancellation of DISP membership.
In short, DISP compliance is actively enforced – not just for primes, but across their entire supply chain.
Our services
How We Support Defence Primes
WorkSec provides a complete personnel security solution, designed to reduce the compliance load on your business while ensuring assurance across your supplier network.
Risk-based screening & assessment in alignment with AS 4811:2022.
Baseline, NV1 & NV2 sponsorship for eligible & suitable individuals.
Outsourced personnel security governance for Defence & Government contractors.
Recruitment referrals to skilled, security-cleared Government & Defence-ready personnel.
Employment Suitability Checks
The foundation of supply chain assurance.
Employment Suitability Checks aren’t just mandatory for your own staff – primes must also ensure subcontractors and SMEs meet the requirements under the PSPF. WorkSec delivers screening aligned with AS4811:2022, strengthening governance across your entire supply chain.
- Non-negotiable obligation – DISP mandates risk-based screening before any security clearance nomination to AGSVA for sponsorship can be initiated.
- Confidence in your supply chain – Ensure every subcontractor and SME is eligible and suitable to work on Defence programs.
- Risk-based approach – Screening depth is matched to the sensitivity of each role, from prime contractors to SMEs.
- Audit-ready – Documented results you can rely on for DISP annual reports, client assurance, and Defence audits.
Learn more about our Employment Suitability Check services.
Security Clearance Sponsorship
A Security Cleared and Trusted Workforce keeps your major programs moving.
A security cleared workforce is essential to deliver large Defence contracts, but the administration can quickly overwhelm in-house teams. WorkSec sponsors and governs Baseline, NV1, and NV2 security clearances for both prime staff and subcontractors, ensuring your supply chain is security clearance-ready.
- Mandatory for delivery – Many Defence contracts require nominated staff to hold active security clearances.
- Reduce delivery risk – Prevent project delays by ensuring your Trusted Workforce and suppliers remain security clearance-compliant.
- Flexibility – From reactivating dormant security clearances to upgrading to NV1 or NV2, we keep projects moving.
- Trusted DISP sponsor – DISP Level 3 accredited in Governance & Personnel, with proven experience across Defence and industry.
Learn more about Security Clearance Sponsorship.
Security Officer as a Service (SOaaS)
Governance at scale, without the overhead.
Large programs mean significant governance obligations under the DSPF & PSPF – for both primes and their supply chains. WorkSec’s SOaaS model delivers outsourced, scalable personnel security management that reduces the compliance load.
- Outsource complexity – We manage through-life governance, reporting, and training for you and your suppliers.
- Continuous compliance – Security briefings, overseas travel (AB644), security incident reporting (XP188), spot checks & inspections, CoCs, RNIs, ongoing compliance and security awareness training.
- Supply chain uplift – Extend assurance to SMEs and subcontractors, strengthening your entire delivery network.
- No-gap service – 7-day support ensures obligations are never missed.
Learn more about Security Officer as a Service.
Cleared Talent Referrals
Rapid access to security cleared professionals.
Defence primes often face surge requirements when scaling up for new projects or milestones. WorkSec’s security cleared talent pool provides immediate access to skilled personnel at Baseline, NV1, and NV2 levels.
- Pre-vetted workforce – All candidates meet DISP and PSPF standards.
- Faster onboarding – Access staff who are already security cleared and Defence-ready.
- Support surge needs – Scale quickly to meet project deadlines and contract milestones.
- Reduced risk – Every referral is compliance-assured, lowering onboarding and delivery risks.
Learn more about Cleared Talent Referrals.
Why WorkSec
Why Defence Primes Choose WorkSec
Assurance Across Your Supply Chain
From SMEs to subcontractors, we help uplift and govern your supply chain so you can focus on delivery.
Scalable Security Expertise
Outsource governance or surge capacity as projects ramp up, without the overhead of expanding in-house teams.
Proven DISP-Level Capability
As a DISP PERSEC Level 3 member, we’ve managed thousands of security clearance sponsorships and supported hundreds of organisations.
Audit-Ready Confidence
Our systems, reporting, and oversight ensure your Trusted Workforce and supply chain records stand up to scrutiny every time.
Ready to strengthen your workforce and supply chain?
WorkSec helps Defence primes maintain compliance at scale, uplift their supply chains, and access security cleared talent when projects demand it. From ESCs to governance, sponsorship, and surge support, we provide the assurance you need to deliver major Defence programs with confidence.
