Navy
The purpose of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) overseas recruitment program is to assist in addressing capability shortfalls within the Navy that cannot be solved using Australian personnel. The program is aimed at serving or immediately ex-serving (not greater than 3 years since separation from military service) foreign naval military personnel, with specific qualifications and / or experience that are directly transferable to the RAN with very limited extra training.
This program is not for personnel wishing to transfer to the Royal Australian Naval Reserves (RANR) however you may apply for enlistment through Defence Force Recruiting, once you have satisfied normal Australian permanent residency requirements. Applications will only be processed once you are in country.
Non-Australian Citizen or Non-Permanent Resident without military experience
Foreign nationals who do not have military experience are not eligible for recruitment via this program. However you may apply for enlistment through Defence Force Recruiting, once you have satisfied normal Australian permanent residency requirements.
The RAN has limited vacancies for qualified and experienced current serving or ex-serving officers and sailors of Foreign Naval Military Forces, which are covered by the Labour Agreement as follows:
The RAN has moved to calendar based recruitment with revised occupational priorities. Applications will be processed according to workforce priorities and available funds. Applications will be processed for personnel seeking relocation within 18 months:
Officers
Lieutenant Commander and Lieutenant
Sailors
Chief Petty Officer
To find out about the experiences of a sailor who used this opportunity, read his testimonial.
If you are interested, you should send an e-mail to the address below providing full details of your qualifications and Service / ex-Service history to ascertain if vacancies exist in your specialisation.
Ensure your email contains the information under Entry Requirements and any additional information you think may assist us in the processing of your enquiry; a CV is mandatory.
Post this to:
LCDR Terry George
Staff Officer Overseas Appointments
DNOP
R8-4-038
Russell Officers
Canberra, ACT 2600
Australia
Officers and sailors will be assessed on a number of requirements including security, medical, family/social considerations and military background. The following requirements must also be met to satisfy entry into Australia under the Labour Agreement:
Officers
An applicant for an agreed occupational position as an officer must:
Possess a qualification equivalent to an AQTF 2007 bachelor degree (or higher level qualification) requiring a minimum of three years full-time study in an appropriate discipline;
- Or
- Possess experience and/or training that can be readily assessed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to be equivalent to an Australian post-secondary qualification requiring at least three years full-time study;
- And
- Possess a minimum of three years relevant post-qualification experience in work of the kind to be performed in the position;
- And
- Be assessed as having a minimum of vocational proficiency in English (as defined in the Migration Regulation 1.15B).
Additional education information
Australian Education International (AEI), through the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR), provides official information and advice on the comparability of overseas qualifications with Australian qualifications. This aims to help overseas qualified people work and study in Australia. NOOSR assessments are not RPL assessment.
AEI is part of the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). AEI uniquely integrates the development of international government relations with support for the commercial activities of Australia's education community. To do this, AEI liases with all sectors of the education and training industry and all levels of government.
AEI-NOOSR does not assess secondary school qualifications (these are normally assessed by State/Territory education authorities) or trade qualifications (which can be assessed by Trades Recognition Australia).
For further information about AEI services, as well as links to other assessing agencies, please refer to the AEI website.
- Age
- Due to immigration regulations the maximum age on appointment/enlistment is 44 years. Only in exceptional cases will this be waived by immigration.
- Employment restrictions
- Applicants must not have any employment or locality restrictions. All applicants will be required to serve for a period of six years and must also be prepared to serve anywhere in Australia, at sea or overseas at short notice.
- Medical
- RAN and Foreign Naval Military Forces medical standards differ significantly and personnel who do not satisfy RAN medical entry standards are unable to be appointed.
- Resignation
- Applicants must have resigned from their parent Service (including release from all Reserve Service obligations) before appointment. Applicants cannot be appointed whilst on terminal leave. Proof of discharge will be required prior to appointment.
- Service history
- Applicants must have an above average Service history. Officer candidates must hold minimum rank of Lieutenant (LEUT) or equivalent, while sailors must hold minimum rank of Able Seaman (AB) or equivalent with significant RAN position experience.
- Availability
- Applicants who accept an offer of employment must be available to clear immigration visa requirements and to join the RAN within 18 months.
- Immigration
- The RAN currently has a labour agreement to permit sponsorship of visas for those individuals who are recommended for processing for appointment or enlistment. Those applicants approved for sponsorship are responsible for obtaining a permanent resident visa. The applicant and each dependent family member must hold a permanent resident visa before appointment. The visa is the trigger for all authorisations and individuals should not make lifestyle changes until visas are formally issued.
Additionally, applicants must make a written undertaking that they will apply for Australian Citizenship as soon as they are eligible (normally after three months service in the Permanent Navy).
- Security
- Applicants must hold an appropriate Australian Defence Force (ADF) security clearance (minimum of 'secret' for officers and 'secret' or 'confidential' for sailors) before appointment or enlistment. Australian security arrangements require that applicants have a background of at least 10 years, which can be directly verified by the Defence Security Agency. Current international agreements permit security clearances to be transferred for active military personal subject to verification procedures for applicants who have been living in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.
Applicants from other countries require more specific and lengthy vetting procedures, which may impact on their eligibility.
- English Language
- International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) In accordance with the Migration Regulations 1994 – REG 1.15B. Applicants from non-English speaking background must have a minimum of vocational proficiency in English and must have an IELTS test score
- Application Timings
- Expressions of Interest (EOI) may be submitted at any time for anticipated vacancies or targets. Candidates being considered for a vacancy must be available for appointment /enlistment in August, January and June of the relevant FY. Applications will be processed for personnel seeking relocation within 18 months.
Start your application
Candidates who consider that they meet the entry requirements and are in the occupations covered by the Labour Agreement are welcome to enquire about opportunities in the ADF.
