About the Job

The Australian Army employs a range of personnel in medical craft groups and specialisations. Qualified and registered medical practitioners are members of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC).
The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC) is tasked with providing quality health care to the Australian Army with the mission of ensuring the conservation of manpower through medical means.
Within the RAAMC, you will gain exposure to modern operating environments, advanced technology, equipment and materials as you would in a civilian practice. Due to the ever changing global situation you could be called on to provide specialist care in land, aviation or maritime/sea environments, urgent humanitarian disaster relief situations, major international activities and on overseas operations. Your patients may vary from fit, healthy adults to refugees (which may include children and the elderly) and battle casualties.
As a full time Doctor, your primary place of work will see you serve in one of Army's deployable health units. These units are primarily located in Adelaide, Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane, with limited appointments in Sydney.
As an Army Doctor you may deploy to the field environment to support domestic Army training or overseas for international engagement activities and operations. During your service, you will work in a combination of primary health care settings (health centres and clinics) and will be provided opportunities to undertake relevant clinical placements aimed at enhancing skills and attainment of Fellowship qualifications.

Key Information

Preparing for Your Recruitment Process

This document provides information that will assist applicants for roles in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including details about the recruitment process, how to prepare yourself for assessment, and what to expect if you are successful in joining the Australian Defence Force.

Salary & Allowances

In the Army you'll get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training.

In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.


For more details download our Salary Scales.


Locations

On appointment as a Doctor you will be posted to an Army Health unit at the Commissioned rank of Captain. The priority locations for junior Doctors are Darwin, Adelaide, Townsville and Brisbane and a typical posting covers a period of one to three years. As Doctors progress professionally they may post to other locations in support of niche Army capabilities such as Aviation, Special Forces, depending on their individual circumstances and service need.

Requirements

Age

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and able to complete the Initial Minimum Period of Service before reaching Compulsory Retirement Age (60).

Applicants will not be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age.

Education & Experience

To be appointed as a Doctor in the Australian Army, you must:

  • Possess a degree in Medicine from a recognised tertiary institution
  • Have completed Hospital Internship and
  • Be registered with AHPRA without conditions to practice as a Doctor in a State or Territory of Australia. Documentary evidence of registration must be provided.

Applicants may commence their application and be considered for entry during their Internship phase. Doctors are required to have a minimum of six months recognised experience in general practice. It is an advantage to also have experience in primary health care delivery

Medical & Fitness

To be enlisted or appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry to your chosen occupation. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You will also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment before appointment.

For further details on medical and physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF and Medical Process for Entry into the ADF.

Period of Service

You will be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of three years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You may tender your resignation at any time provided you do not have an outstanding Initial Minimum Period of Service obligation.

Your Careers Coach can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation.

Aptitude

The Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA) is completed as part of the application process to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Some jobs may also require you to complete a further evaluation at a later date.

The JOA is used by Defence to establish suitability for ADF entry, and then identify jobs that best match your abilities.

Further information about the JOA can be found in the Guide to the Job Opportunities Assessment for the ADF.

To get a feel for the types of questions that are used in the Job Opportunities Assessment and how they will look on your screen some examples can be found in the Job Opportunities Assessment Example Questions.

Citizenship

To serve in the ADF you must be an Australian Citizen.

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary deferral of the citizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian Citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.

Find out more in our Citizenship page or ask your local ADF Careers Centre.

Security Requirements

The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to obtain a security clearance appropriate to their avenue of entry.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and, as required, interviews enables the Regional Security Office to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.

Current policy requires applicants for this particular avenue of entry to have lived in Australia for the preceding 10 years, or have a checkable background for this period.

Training

Military Training

The Specialist Service Officer (SSO) course is conducted at the Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC) and provides full-time SSOs with fundamental knowledge of leadership, command and control, unit and personnel administration, basic military skills and the ideals of officer behaviour and attitudes necessary for future employment.

The full-time course is 42 days of training and currently conducted in the first half of the training year. 

Physical Fitness Levels
All trainees attending training at RMC are required to participate in an Initial Fitness Assessment (IFA) on arrival. This is an entry level requirement for all courses conducted at RMC. The IFA is based on a shuttle run, push ups and sit ups and is designed to determine whether trainees are at the minimum required standard to complete training at RMC. Due to the unique nature of training at RMC, trainees who do not demonstrate the base line levels of fitness may be withdrawn from training and returned to their unit.

For further details on physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF.

Employment Training

Following completion of Military Training, Doctors complete the Logistic Officers Basic Course, which includes a Special-to-Corps Phase.

Duration of the course: 4 Weeks

Location of the course: Army School of Logistic Operations, Army Logistic Training Centre, Bandiana, Victoria.

Employment as an officer in the RAAMC is diversified and interesting. As well as developing the management skills required to become an effective member of the healthcare team, RAAMC officers must be militarily competent. The Corps seeks a special class of officer, one who can temper military zeal and excellence with compassion for their fellow soldier.

Medical Officers Introductory Course

Duration of the course: 2 Weeks

Location of the course: Army School of Health Bonegilla, Victoria.

This course is completed in the first year as an Army Doctor and is designed to assist with the Doctor's assimilation into service life and their role as a Doctor. Topics include the organisation of the health services, the medical classification system and documentation, diseases of military importance, preventive medicine and an introduction to the duties of a Regimental Medical Officer (RMO).


Key Information

Preparing for Your Recruitment Process

This document provides information that will assist applicants for roles in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including details about the recruitment process, how to prepare yourself for assessment, and what to expect if you are successful in joining the Australian Defence Force.

Salary & Allowances

In the Army you'll get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training.

In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.


For more details download our Salary Scales.


Locations

On appointment as a Doctor you will be posted to an Army health unit at the Commissioned rank of Captain. The priority locations for junior Doctors are Darwin, Townsville and Brisbane. As Doctors progress professionally they can expect to post to other locations in support of niche Army capabilities. Doctors can expect to be posted to a diverse range of posting locations depending on their individual circumstances and service need. Doctors can expect to remain in a posted locality for one to three years.

Requirements

Age

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and able to complete the Initial Minimum Period of Service before reaching Compulsory Retirement Age (60).

Applicants will not be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age.

Education & Experience

You must have completed an appropriate undergraduate degree, which may include humanities related degrees such as BA, BBus or BEd. In addition, you must have successfully completed the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT) and been accepted by an Australian university of your choice. Applicants may be sponsored from commencement of the four-year degree.

You may attend an Officer Selection Board pending receipt of an offer to attend your chosen university.

The ADF will also accept applications from unencumbered (not bonded) or full-fee paying students. Full-fee paying university students will be reimbursed the equivalent amount of HELP scheme entitlement for that degree stream. The refund will be the highest amount specified in the government-approved, student contribution range for each degree stream.

Failure during Degree Studies: If you fail an examination and are unable to progress to the next academic year or graduate, your appointment may be terminated (recovery of costs including fees, salary and books would usually be initiated in these cases). Approval may be given for the student to repeat the year at the member's or ADF expense, provided that the failure was not due to a lack of application on the part of the student.

During your first posting you will also undergo training in trauma management and occupational medicine.
There is an expectation that all GMS sponsored officers will apply for acceptance into either the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) or Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRMM) in order to progress along a General Practice or Rural and Remote Medicine pathway. This is to ensure that all Doctors' have the requisite primary health care skills to support the Army workforce.
Progression through GP or ACRMM training pathway is required for progression from Medical Level (ML) 2 to ML 3. There may be limited scope for registration with other colleges, however, this will need to be discussed and approved through the RAAMC Career Advisor.

Medical & Fitness

To be enlisted or appointed, you must be medically and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You will also be required to pass a physical fitness assessment before appointment.

For further details on medical and physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF and Medical Process for Entry into the ADF.

Period of Service

Graduate program applicants will be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of the period of sponsorship times two, plus an additional 365 days, or until the expiry of the members Return of Service Obligation (ROSO), whichever is the greater. Pay-back of ROSO starts following completion of any period of residency.

Aptitude

The Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA) is completed as part of the application process to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Some jobs may also require you to complete a further evaluation at a later date.

The JOA is used by Defence to establish suitability for ADF entry, and then identify jobs that best match your abilities.

Further information about the JOA can be found in the Guide to the Job Opportunities Assessment for the ADF.

To get a feel for the types of questions that are used in the Job Opportunities Assessment and how they will look on your screen some examples can be found in the Job Opportunities Assessment Example Questions.

Citizenship

To serve in the ADF you must be an Australian Citizen.

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary deferral of the citizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian Citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.

Find out more in our Citizenship page or ask your local ADF Careers Centre.

Security Requirements

The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to obtain a security clearance appropriate to their avenue of entry.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and, as required, interviews enables the Regional Security Office to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.

Current policy requires applicants for this particular avenue of entry to have lived in Australia for the preceding 10 years, or have a checkable background for this period.

Training

Military Training

The Specialist Service Officer (SSO) course is conducted at the Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC) and provides full time SSOs with fundamental knowledge of leadership, command and control, unit and personnel administration, basic military skills and the ideals of officer behaviour and attitudes necessary for future employment.
The full time course is 42 days of training and currently conducted in the first half of the training year.
Physical Fitness Levels
All trainees attending training at RMC are required to participate in an Initial Fitness Assessment (IFA) on arrival. This is an entry level requirement for all courses conducted at RMC. The IFA is based on a shuttle run, push ups and sit ups and is designed to determine whether trainees are at the minimum required standard to complete training at RMC. Due to the unique nature of training at RMC, trainees who do not demonstrate the base line levels of fitness may be withdrawn from training and returned to their unit.

For further details on physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF.

Employment Training

Following completion of Military Training, Doctors complete the Logistic Officers Basic Course, which includes a Special-to-Corps Phase.

Duration of the course: 4 Weeks

Location of the course: Army School of Logistic Operations, Army Logistic Training Centre, Bandiana, Victoria.
Employment as an officer in the RAAMC is diversified and interesting. As well as developing the management skills required to become an effective member of the healthcare team, RAAMC officers must be militarily competent. The Corps seeks a special class of officer, one who can temper military zeal and excellence with compassion for their fellow soldier.

Key Information

Preparing for Your Recruitment Process

This document provides information that will assist applicants for roles in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including details about the recruitment process, how to prepare yourself for assessment, and what to expect if you are successful in joining the Australian Defence Force.

Salary Information

In the Army you'll get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your salary increases as you progress through training.

In addition to your salary you could receive a variety of allowances specific to your service - plus superannuation at a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.

Your starting salary

When you first join the Army and while studying for your degree at the university of your choice, you will be paid:

With 4 years to graduation: $35,326 per year
With 3 years to graduation: $41,606 per year
With 2 years to graduation: $47,886 per year
In final year: $54,166 per year
1st postgraduate medical year: $79,939

Your salary on completion of military and employment training will be: $118,940 per year.

Your salary will continue to increase based on your rank and the number of years of service completed in that rank. Your pay grade may also increase following the acquisition of additional skills and completion of further training.

In addition to this package you will receive free medical and dental care, substantial housing and accommodation subsidies.

Refer to the Salary Scales for further details.

Locations

On appointment as a Doctor you will be posted to an Army Health unit at the Commissioned rank of Captain. The priority locations for junior Doctors are Darwin, Townsville and Brisbane. As Doctors progress professionally they can expect to post to other locations in support of niche Army capabilities. Doctors can expect to be posted to a diverse range of posting locations depending on their individual circumstances and service need. Doctors can expect to remain in a posted locality for one to three years.


Requirements

Age

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and able to complete the Initial Minimum Period of Service before reaching Compulsory Retirement Age (60).

Applicants will not be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age.

Education & Experience

To be eligible for Army Undergraduate sponsorship, you must have completed Year 12 with passes in English and three other academic subjects and successfully completed at least two years of a five or six year full-time degree at a faculty of Medicine.

Full fee paying students can apply for Army Undergraduate Scheme and GMS entry, however sponsorship funding is limited to the equivalent of full time student contribution band rate for a Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) only. The remainder of the cost of a full fee degree is the member’s responsibility.

Medical & Fitness

To be enlisted or appointed, you must be medically and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You will also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment before appointment.

For further details on medical and physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF and Medical Process for Entry into the ADF.

Period of Service

Undergraduates will be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of the period of sponsorship times two, plus an additional 365 days, or until the expiry of the members Return of Service Obligation (ROSO), whichever is the greater. Pay-back of ROSO starts following completion of any period of residency.

Aptitude

The Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA) is completed as part of the application process to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Some jobs may also require you to complete a further evaluation at a later date.

The JOA is used by Defence to establish suitability for ADF entry, and then identify jobs that best match your abilities.

Further information about the JOA can be found in the Guide to the Job Opportunities Assessment for the ADF.

To get a feel for the types of questions that are used in the Job Opportunities Assessment and how they will look on your screen some examples can be found in the Job Opportunities Assessment Example Questions.

Citizenship

To serve in the ADF you must be an Australian Citizen.

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary deferral of the citizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian Citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.

Find out more in our Citizenship page or ask your local ADF Careers Centre.

Security Requirements

The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to obtain a security clearance appropriate to their avenue of entry.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and, as required, interviews enables the Regional Security Office to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.

Current policy requires applicants for this particular avenue of entry to have lived in Australia for the preceding 10 years, or have a checkable background for this period.

Training

Military Training

The Specialist Service Officer (SSO) course is conducted at the Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC) and provides full-time SSOs with fundamental knowledge of leadership, command and control, unit and personnel administration, basic military skills and the ideals of officer behaviour and attitudes necessary for future employment.
The full time course is 42 days of training and currently conducted in the first half of the training year.
Physical Fitness Levels
All trainees attending training at RMC are required to participate in an Initial Fitness Assessment (IFA) on arrival. This is an entry level requirement for all courses conducted at RMC. The IFA is based on a shuttle run, push ups and sit ups and is designed to determine whether trainees are at the minimum required standard to complete training at RMC. Due to the unique nature of training at RMC, trainees who do not demonstrate the base line levels of fitness may be withdrawn from training and returned to their unit.

For further details on physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF.

Employment Training

Following completion of Military Training, Doctors complete the Logistic Officers Basic Course, which includes a Special-to-Corps Phase.

Duration of the course: 4 Weeks

Location of the course: Army School of Logistic Operations, Army Logistic Training Centre, Bandiana, Victoria.

Employment as an officer in the RAAMC is diversified and interesting. As well as developing the management skills required to become an effective member of the healthcare team, RAAMC officers must be military competent. The Corps seeks a special class of officer, one who can temper military zeal and excellence with compassion for their fellow soldier.

Medical Officers Introductory Course

Duration of the course: 2 Weeks

Location of the course: Army School of Health, Bonegilla, Victoria.
This course is completed in the first year as an Army Doctor and is designed to assist with the Doctor's assimilation into service life and their role as a Doctor. Topics include the organisation of the health services, the medical classification system and documentation, diseases of military importance, preventive medicine and an introduction to the duties of a Regimental Medical Officer (RMO).