Welcome to Women in the Australian Defence Force

The opening of all roles within the Australian Defence Force is a step closer with Army about to complete its Physical Employment Standards Project review of all employment categories.

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, said it’s a significant milestone in the ongoing project and means that very shortly Army will be prepared to open previously restricted roles to female applicants. Mr Snowdon was addressing the first Australian Conference on Physiological and Physical Employment Standards in Canberra, organised by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the University of Wollongong.

"The full review of more than 70 Army employment categories will be complete by month, including those categories which previously excluded women, but are now available to them," he said.

The Minister for Defence announced on 27 September 2012 that the Government had formally agreed to the removal of gender restrictions from Australian Defence Force combat roles.

The categories of Clearance Divers and Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officers in the Navy; Infantry, Armoured Corps, some Artillery roles, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Squadrons and Combat Engineer Squadrons in the Army; and Airfield Defence Guards and Ground Defence Officers in the Air Force will all be made open to women over the next five years. Women currently serving as members of the ADF will be entitled to apply for a career in a combat role from January 2013, provided they meet all the requirements, with direct entry recruitment expected to commence from January 2016.

The Army is now offering a range of jobs with only one year of commitment required. You could be doing anything from organising Army hardware, like Abrams Tanks and parachutes, to driving some of the most advanced transport vehicles in the world. There are a range of diverse and challenging roles available, so whatever direction you want to take, you'll find a one-year role that's right for you.