Recruitment Centre

The purpose of the Australian Army's overseas transfer program is to address capability shortfalls within the Army that cannot be solved using Australian personnel.

Who is eligible?

The Australian Army can sponsor serving or ex-serving foreign military personnel for service in the Army.

Foreign nationals who do not have military experience are not eligible for sponsorship via this program. However you may apply for enlistment through Defence Force Recruiting once you have satisfied normal Australian permanent residency requirements.

What jobs are on offer?

The Army has nominated a series of appointments and trades as occupations that are considered suitable for sponsorship. Occupations have been broadly grouped into Officer and Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) categories. The NCO category includes personnel of Warrant Officer rank. Personnel sponsored from overseas under the auspices of the Labour Agreement must be sponsored to an occupation as defined in the Agreement.

The Australian Army may sponsor an Officer deemed suitable for service, providing that the following key criteria are met:

The individual possesses experience and/or training assessed as being equivalent to an Australian tertiary qualification requiring a minimum of three years full-time study;
The individual possesses experience and/or training that can be readily assessed by Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to be equivalent to an Australian tertiary qualification requiring at least three years full-time study. In military terms, the individual must have completed the following minimum equivalent full-time study;
Successful completion of a level of education equivalent to an Australian Higher School Certificate;
Successful completion of a level of military commissioning training equivalent to the Royal Military College Duntroon;

In military terms, the individual must have completed the following minimum equivalent full-time study:

Successful completion of a level of military education equivalent to a Regular Officer Basic Course;
Successful completion of a level of military education equivalent to the Intermediate Staff Course;
Successful completion of specialised training and experience so that the Officer is fully qualified for employment in the appointment that the Officer is to be allocated to;
If from a non-English speaking background, the individual has a minimum vocational proficiency in English (as defined by DIAC).

The Australian Army may sponsor an Officer deemed suitable for service, providing that the following key criteria are met:

As a minimum, have successfully completed a level of education equivalent to an Australian Secondary School certificate (Year 10) and have completed relevant specialist Defence Force training courses and experience equivalent to at least 3 years full-time study, so that the nominee is fully qualified for employment in the occupation in which they have been nominated within Army (see below under the heading 'Education').

Possess a minimum of three years relevant post-qualification experience.
If from a non-English speaking background, the individual has a minimum vocational proficiency in English (as defined by DIAC).
The Soldier possesses a rank of at least Sergeant.

All overseas qualifications submitted must be accompanied by an assessment of Australian equivalencies. This is to be undertaken at the applicant's cost.

Qualifications recognition

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.

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.

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.

Contact details

Further information can be obtained from:

Officer contacts

Lateral Recruitment
Selection Board Cell
Directorate of Officer Career Management - Army
R8-8-036
Russell Office
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Phone: +61 262653220
E-mail: lateralrecruitment.docm@defence.gov.au

Non-commissioned Officer contacts

Transition
Soldier Career Management Agency
PO Box 225
Fort Queenscliff
QUEENSCLIFF VIC 3225

E-mail: scma.osenlist@defence.gov.au