MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 30th April 2026
HEADLINE: WorkSec and AIDN Announce Strategic Partnership to Bolster Security Compliance for Australia’s Defence SMEs
CANBERRA, ACT — WorkSec, a leader in personnel security and DISP compliance solutions, and Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN), the peak national body representing Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the defence sector, are proud to announce a new strategic partnership.
This collaboration sees WorkSec supporting AIDN in its mission to help Australian SMEs navigate the complex defence landscape and the evolving security environment, ensuring they remain defence-ready.
DISP (Defence Industry Security Program) membership is now a mandatory prerequisite for most contracts, yet many SMEs struggle with the resource-heavy requirements of governance and personnel security.
For WorkSec Director, Trusted Workforce, Matt Kirk, this partnership comes at a critical time as the Australian Government increases its focus on sovereign capability, meaning the burden of security compliance is shifting significantly toward the supply chain.
“Our mission has always been to remove the friction from security compliance,” said Mr Kirk.
“By partnering with AIDN, we are providing their national membership with a direct pipeline to personnel who have a Baseline, NV1 and NV2 clearance sponsorship and to our ‘Security Officer as a Service‘ (SOaaS). We want to ensure that an SME’s focus remains on delivering world-class technology, not on managing administrative security backlogs.”
The partnership comes at a critical time for the industry, with the SAMS Act now in full effect as of August 2024; the legal risks associated with unauthorised training and knowledge transfer have never been higher.
For AIDN, this partnership reinforces its commitment to amplifying the power of Australian SMEs. By integrating WorkSec’s technical security expertise into the AIDN network, members gain a competitive edge when bidding for work with Defence Primes and the Department of Defence.
“AIDN is dedicated to ensuring our members have the tools they need to succeed in a high-security environment,” says Mike Johnson, CEO of AIDN National.
“AIDN is providing our members with access to Worksec’s services to promote further participation in Australia’s most sensitive defence projects. We will be rolling out specialised events with WorkSec, as AIDN works to ensure our members have access to the capability and capacity to respond to the rapidly changing security environment.”
Key benefits of the partnership for AIDN members include:
- Specialist Governance Support: Access to WorkSec’s expert team to advise on through-life compliance, including annual reporting and Change of Circumstance (CoC) filings.
- Educational Briefings: Joint webinars and seminars focused on the evolving threat landscape and legislative changes impacting the defence industry.
About WorkSec
WorkSec is an Australian-owned, DISP Level 3-accredited security firm specialising in personnel security, security clearance sponsorship, and compliance governance. Operating at Essential 8 Maturity Level 2, WorkSec provides the infrastructure and expertise required to build and maintain a “Trusted Workforce” for government and defence contractors.
About AIDN
The Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN) is the peak industry body representing the interests of SMEs in the defence and security sectors. With a national reach, AIDN works to foster collaboration, provide timely industry insights, and ensure the unique perspectives of Australian SMEs are heard by Federal and State governments.
For media inquiries, contact:
WorkSec
For all media enquiries, images, or interviews, please contact
Matt Kirk, Director Trusted Workforce e matt@worksec.au / m 0451 057 410
AIDN
John Kerin, Manager, Government Relations e [email protected] / m 0400 906 545
ENDS
