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Overseas Applicants

AIR FORCE

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) currently has a labour agreement with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). This enables the RAAF to provide sponsorship of Permanent Residency Visas for those individuals who are recommended for processing for appointment or enlistment.

The purpose of Lateral Recruitment

The purpose of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) lateral recruitment program is to address capability shortfalls within the Air Force that cannot otherwise be filled using Australian personnel. The program is aimed at serving or recently ex-serving foreign military personnel with specific qualifications and/or experience that are directly transferable to the RAAF, with no training, or conversion training that is very limited.

Non-Australian Citizen or Non-Permanent Resident without military experience

Foreign nationals who do not have military experience are not eligible for recruitment via the lateral recruitment program.

Vacancies

The RAAF works to vacancies or 'targets' set within Financial Years (FY) ie 01 July to 30 June of the following calendar year. Targets for FY 09/10 are anticipated for suitably qualified and experienced current or recent ex serving military personnel in the following specialisations (officers) and musterings (airmen), covered by the Labour Agreement:

Officers

Airmen

Application Timings
Whilst Expressions of Interest (EOIs) can be submitted at any time, formal applications are normally reviewed around March of each year, for vacancies or targets that are anticipated during the following FY year. Candidates being considered for a vacancy must be available for enlistment on or before 30 June of the relevant FY.

Entry Requirements

Officers and airmen will be assessed on a number of requirements including security, medical, family/social considerations and military background. The following requirements must be met to satisfy entry into Australia under the Labour Agreement:

Officers

To be eligible for sponsorship for immigration purposes, an applicant for a position as an officer must:

Possess a qualification equivalent to an AQF 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 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).

Airmen

To be eligible for sponsorship for immigration purposes, an applicant for an airmen position will:

Possess a qualification equivalent to an AQF 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 DIAC to be equivalent to an Australian post-secondary qualification requiring at least three years full-time study;
Or
Have completed relevant specialist Defence Force training courses and experience equivalent to at least three years full-time study (following the completion of education equivalent to an Australian Secondary School certificate (year 10);
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).

Education documentation

If a formal application is invited, copies of relevant educational and trade documentation are normally required. 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 the services of AEI-NOOSR, as well as links to other assessing agencies, please refer to the AEI website.

General entry requirements

Age
Due to immigration regulations the maximum age on appointment/enlistment is 44 years. Only in exceptional cases can this be waived.
Employment restrictions / Mobility
Applicants must not have any employment or locality restrictions. All applicants must be prepared to serve anywhere in Australia or overseas at short notice.
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.
Service history
Applicants must have an above average Service history. Officer candidates must hold minimum rank of Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) or equivalent, while airmen must hold minimum rank of Leading Aircraftman (LAC) or equivalent with significant experience.
Availability
In general, applicants who accept an offer of employment must be available to join the RAAF within 12 months.

General Information

Immigration
The RAAF 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.

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 Air Force).
Security
Applicants must hold an appropriate Australian Defence Force (ADF) security clearance (minimum of 'secret' for officers and 'confidential' for airmen) 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 verification of applicants who have been living in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States.

Applicants from other countries require more specific and lengthy vetting procedures, which may preclude their appointment being considered.

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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.

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