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With the exception of a handful of combat and security roles, all ADF jobs are accessible to women such as Combat Systems Operator, Surveillance Aircraft Operator and Fast Jet Pilot.
Your careers counsellor can organise a referral to a serving Air Force female member in the career of your choice.
Yes. Promotions are based upon performance and qualifications gained. Selection for courses is based on performance and the availability of course positions.
Just about every role in the ADF gives you the opportunity to lead. Obviously, the more experience you gain progressing through the ranks, the more opportunities you will have to lead and manage people.
Regardless of the role you choose to pursue in the Navy, Army or RAAF, the personal qualities and professional skills you gain will be invaluable when you decide to establish a career outside the ADF. In particular, leadership, management and teamwork skills are developed from the moment you begin your training. Other skills that you will enhance or develop include self-discipline, time management and attention to detail. Training and skills you acquire during your time in the ADF will be recognised Australia wide and you will be appropriately awarded the equivalent civilian qualifications.
The ADF has established the Defence Assistance Study Scheme (DASS), which encourages members to learn and grow within the service. DASS can help cover the costs of studying at an Australian public education or vocational training institution - this includes public universities, institutes of technology, colleges of advanced education and secondary schools. DASS can provide study expenses up to a maximum of $4,000 per course.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is committed to promoting equality and diversity, both in the workplace, and in its management practices. An Equity Adviser Network supports Defence personnel at all levels to help maintain a working environment free of harassment and discrimination.
Equity and diversity principles apply to all ADF personnel. 'Equity and diversity' means fair treatment with everyone given equal opportunity to make the most of their talents and abilities. The ADF aims to achieve this through the application of the following principles:
There are currently over 10,000 women enlisted in the ADF, either as full-time or part-time members.
The ratio of women to men depends on the role of a particular unit. In some units, given the frontline nature of its mission, there won't be any women.
The current percentages of women in the ADF by service are:
The ADF expects its members to adhere to the following set of values:
If you would like further information on the values unique to each Service refer to the Navy , Army or Air Force values.
It varies from service to service. Before you join the ADF, you will undergo a pre-entry fitness assessment. Ask your Defence Recruiter for more details or call 13 19 01.
While carrying a pack can be challenging at times, it is by no means an unachievable task. It also differs between the services.
NavyAs a general rule, a pack is not worn. Packs may be incorporated into some aspects of physical fitness or adventure training. There are guidelines for personnel regarding lifting and carrying weights.
ArmyThere is a requirement to carry loads, such as packs, at certain times during your training. You will train to carry packs with loads that become progressively heavier throughout your course and your progress and abilities will be monitored closely. Depending on your career path, and your location of posting, you may be required to carry packs for short periods of time during activities such as exercises, deployments and physical fitness training.
Air ForceDuring stages of your training, you will be required to carry a pack. Prior to this you will be instructed on how to correctly set-up and wear your pack to minimise the risk of injury.
Essentially, yes, men and women complete the same basic fitness test for enlistment and undergo a fitness test annually. However, the required standards differ depending on age and gender.
Test requirements will vary between services and women will have slightly adjusted requirements for the number of repetitions for a particular activity or running and walking times during the assessment.
If you love sport, you'll love life in the ADF. Sport promotes teamwork and fitness - two powerful and invaluable qualities.
Just about every sport you can think of runs a social or competitive club you can join. Most bases have excellent facilities, such as football and cricket fields, golf courses, gyms, basketball and tennis courts, just to name a few.
The ADF has a number of teams representing it at various levels, including internationally. These teams include basketball, hockey, netball and soccer.
Being an ADF member does not restrict you from joining civilian, special-interest clubs. In fact, we encourage you to be an active member in your local community.
When you first enlist you will undergo 'recruit training', or 'initial officer training', and live at one of the three services' training bases. All of the amenities are comfortable and practical.
After your initial training, there will be opportunities to move off base. However, facilities that allow you to remain on base if you wish. This depends on where you have been posted, accommodation availability, your personal circumstances and rank.
During recruit training, or officer training, there will be a degree of communal living. For general entry recruits, you'll share a room with around four other female members. If you entered the ADF as a cadet officer, you will have your own room. Facilities such as shared bathrooms and living facilities are common. This varies from base to base. For Navy personnel, it goes without saying; you'll spend some time at sea. At sea, you stay onboard the ship in common areas called 'Messdecks'. While these mess areas are shared areas, sleeping facilities and amenities have been designed to give you the maximum privacy available.
In most cases you will be required to live separate from your partner and family during your recruit and initial officer training, however for courses longer than 6 months duration there are provisions to move your partner or family to the location of your training. Once posted after recruits and training you're eligible for one of three accommodation arrangements where you're welcome to live with your partner or family. For more information on the type and style of housing available, visit the Defence Housing Australia website.
When joining the ADF, you should be aware that you might need to move frequently during your career. For some people, this is part of the attraction of joining! The ADF understands postings need to be long enough for our personnel to develop an understanding of their job, achieve job satisfaction, as well as maintain domestic stability. The ADF posting policy aims to achieve postings of a minimum of three years duration.
A member is entitled to salary for up to 14 weeks of her maternity leave once she has completed 12 months qualifying service. She is then entitled to a subsequent 38 weeks of non-paid maternity leave, whereby then she may return to her previous job. A member may substitute recreation leave or long service leave for unpaid maternity leave.
Yes, you will. However, you will be afforded leave, removal assistances and financial assistance in moving your family. There are also services provided to assist in schooling requirements, spouse employment assistance and settling into a new community. For more information visit the Defence Community Organisation website.
The Defence childcare policy recognises the distinction between work-related childcare provided by the employer directly for the benefit of employees and other childcare services that cater for a wider range of childcare needs. There is an interrelationship between work-related and these other childcare services. The policy places emphasis on work-related childcare, but also recognises that the mobility of some personnel and their families, particularly members of the ADF, may create a requirement for other forms of childcare, which may not be available or accessible in the general community. Defence are working towards providing childcare services in locations of high need, however where these services are not currently provided, external childcare services will be required. It is the responsibility of the serving member to ensure appropriate childcare services for their family are in place.
Regional Education Liaison Officers are employed throughout Australia to:
Part time work has been introduced for permanent members of the ADF as a means of assisting personnel to meet changing personal circumstances at different stages in their careers.
By increasing employment flexibility, valuable members who might otherwise have chosen to leave the ADF, may be retained. Through a reduced number of working days in any fortnightly pay period, Part Time Leave Without Pay (PTLWOP) enables Permanent ADF members to:
Yes. Provided it is appropriate for a military environment, female members when in uniform can wear makeup. Each service has clear guidelines for what is appropriate within its environment.
Yes. You are allowed to wear minimal jewellery on most occasions, when safety is not an issue.
Watches of subdued colour and practical design can be worn when in uniform, except under certain safety, operational or ceremonial circumstances.
Necklets and chains are not permitted.
ADF members are not permitted to wear any body piercings (visible or not), including nose, tongue, eyebrow, navel and nipple rings.
However, females are permitted to have their ears pierced and wear approved earrings in accordance with single Service dress regulations.
Depending on what Service you are in, you may wear plain gold or silver studs, providing they are less than 4mm in diameter or plain sleepers of 1cm diameter.
Each service has clear guidelines and policy on appropriate hairstyles. However, in general hair is to be neatly groomed at all times. It should not fall below the eyebrows or extend below the lower edge of a button-up shirt collar or sweep across the shoulders.
Essentially, hair colour should be complementary to yourself and the ADF's military image and be kept relatively natural. Extreme hair colourings or vast combinations of colour are not permitted.
Hair ornaments such as ribbons, headbands or scrunchies cannot be worn while in uniform. Hair accoutrements are to be plain pins, combs or hairnets, similar in colour to your hair. Black rubber bands and tortoise shell or clear hair sides are also permitted. During physical activity, bun pieces and scrunchies can be worn.
Long hair should be tied back in a bun or worn braided, in a single plait, in a way that secures the hair to the head (i.e. French braid, roll or bun). This should be pinned so as not to extend below the top of your collar.
During field exercises or deployments, you can wear your hair in a braid, plait or bun.
The ADF has a strict policy on tattoos and body piercing. Tattoos and/or brands are prohibited on the face of candidates wishing to enter the Navy, Army, or Air Force. For Navy candidates, the face includes the scalp, ears and neck. For Army candidates, tattoos are prohibited on the face (which includes the scalp ears and neck) and the hands. Air Force candidates are prohibited from having or obtaining tattoos on the face excluding the scalp, ears and neck.
Additionally, female candidates are permitted to have tattooed eyebrow forms (excluding eyeliner) providing it follows the natural arch line of eyebrows and is of a natural colour that matches the colour of the hair. Females may have lip tattooing to enhance the outline of the lips providing it does not look unnatural ie. is not outlined in black, is not a non-flesh colour and does not change the natural shape of the lips.
Apart from the face (and hands for Army candidates), tattoos and/or brands are permitted on other parts of the body, unless the tattoo or brand is considered offensive and undermines the dignity and authority of The Australian Defence Force. Further guidance on this policy can be provided by contacting Defence Force Recruiting.
Candidates who have tattoos for religious reasons which are in those areas prohibited above, are advised that Defence Force Recruiting is required to seek approval from the appropriate single Service authority prior to applicant appointment or enlistment.