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About the Job
Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time.The primary purpose being for the safety of navigation and to support other marine activities, including economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection.
In this role you will participate in the collection of environmental information (hydrographic, oceanographic, and meteorological data) within the maritime environment. When serving at sea or deployed, you will work from a Hydrographic Ship, Survey Motor Launch, or from a range of ships and locations as a member of a small deployable team. You will also provide specialist support from shore, working in the training environment or within the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation to support maritime operations.
When you join the Navy and successfully complete the recruit and initial workgroup training, you will be employed as a Hydrographic Surveyor (known in the Navy as a Hydrographic Systems Operator). You will then undertake tasks such as:
- The collection processing of environmental data utilising state-of-the-art computer systems and equipment such as multi-beam and single beam echo-sounders, sonar, robotic and autonomous systems, GPS and other navigation systems,
- The collection and analysis of oceanographic data by taking seabed samples, observing water clarity and temperature, measuring the speed of sound through water, and observing bioluminescence,
- Conduct tide camps, field operations, short notice, rapid data collection activities, and activities in support of the landing of logistical support during disaster relief operations (both home and abroad),
- Conduct seamanship evolutions including anchor work, rope work, small boat handling and operations, berthing, towing and deploying and recovering surveying equipment such as side scan sonars and moving vessel profilers, and
- Conduct watch-keeping duties at sea such as lookout, helmsman and survey systems operator.
Other tasks include:
- Form part of teams to fight fire, toxic hazards, floods and conduct casualty location and rescue,
- Form part of teams to conduct Force Protection to maintain the security of the ship at sea or alongside (against a full range of potential threats), and
- Keep duties that involve maintaining the security and integrity of the ship or base for a 24 hour period.
Other Ranks - Non Technical
Join the ADF with appropriate high school passes
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.
National Qualifications
Upon completion of two years field experience and your H2 Grade Hydrographic Experience Log (completed after approx. 6-8 years of service), you become eligible for the internationally recognised FIG/IHO/ICA Category B Certification (link), and may also apply to be certified as a AHSCP Level 1 or 2 Hydrographic Surveyor (link).
Salary & Allowances
In the Navy 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
All Sailors will serve in fleet units (Cairns, Sydney) and shore establishments (Cairns, Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra) on a rotational basis.
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).
Note that while applicant will not be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age.
Education & Experience
The minimum educational standard for Hydrographic Surveying is the successful completion of Year 10 with mandatory passes in English, Mathematics and Science (preferably with a Physics component).
Medical & Fitness
To join the Navy, it's important that you meet the necessary medical and physical requirements. This is assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination. Regular exercise prior to joining will set you up for success as it is an important part of training and service life.
You must also pass the swim test and physical fitness test to graduate from your training.
Royal Australian Navy Swim Test (RANST):
The RANST is conducted early in your training to ensure the Navy's duty of care to all serving personnel, with respect to rudimentary swimming skills. The purpose of the RANST is to ensure fundamental water survival skills as a prerequisite to training such as survival at sea training. Individual components of the RANST are fundamentally related to the survival at sea scenario.
Competency in the RANST is achieved through completion of each component:
- Safety jump off a 3m tower
- 10m underwater swim
- 50m swim using survival strokes
- Treading water or floating for 15 minutes
Note: You will be wearing your Navy uniform during the swim test.
All personnel will undertake the RANST upon entry and competency is to be achieved before the end of your initial military training. You will find it much easier to pass the swimming test if you undertake swimming training before you join.
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 enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of two years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. 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 employees to have a security clearance appropriate to their employment.
A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and if required, interviews, enables the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.
The minimum security clearance level required is Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1), and current policy requires applicants to have a checkable background for the previous 10 years.
This means applicants must provide credible referees (non-family members) who are able to provide information about the applicant covering an extended period of time. Required information for an NV1 includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Residence
- Employment
- Education
- Financial information
- Travel
Some ADF jobs may require a higher level of security clearance such as Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV). Your individual circumstances will determine the number and complexity of the questions and the supporting documents required for these levels.
Australian Citizenship is a requirement for a security clearance and a clearance will only be granted to a non-citizen in exceptional circumstances.
The security clearance is critical to an applicant's successful progression through the recruiting process. It is strongly recommended that all applicants action the Security Clearance Package (ePack) and provide the required documentation without delay to provide the best opportunity to commence training and be employed in their preferred employment category.
For more detailed information on the security vetting process and specific clearance level requirements set by AGSVA, please refer to the AGSVA website.
Support will be provided by DFR during the initial application process.
Training
Military Training
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Victoria
All sailors who join the Navy will conduct their initial sailor training at the RAN Recruit School prior to commencing specific workgroup training. The NESC course is designed to prepare you to conduct basic duties as a sailor. Some of the key components of the NESC course are:
- Physical fitness: General fitness and the Navy swim test,
- Military life: General service knowledge, including drill and ceremonial procedures,
- Specialty skills: Weapons training, workplace safety, first aid and sailing,
- Navy skills: Seamanship, corrosion control, survival at sea and fire and flood control, and
- A one week sea familiarisation period.
Recruits, who successfully complete all components of the course will participate in a Graduation Parade to mark the occasion. Recruits will have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade.
On completion of NESC course, all sailors will proceed on to their respective employment training specific to their workgroup. For further information, please see the RAN Recruit School Joining Instructions Navy Recruit School website.
Employment Training
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: HMAS Cerberus, VIC
Course: Combined Jet RHIB Coxswain / 4.7m Leg RHIB Course
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: HMAS Cerberus, VIC
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: HMAS Penguin, Middle Head, Sydney, NSW
This course includes the following subjects:
- Introduction to the Hydrographic Service, mathematics, the nautical chart, maps, projections and units of measure, science refresher training; boat handling (theory and practical), principals of the echo sounder (theory and practical), and electronic surveying equipment,
- Satellite (GPS) position fixing systems, installation of permanent survey marks, tidal theory and measurement, optical and mechanical surveying equipment and observations, construction of campsites (theory and practical),
- Survey records, survey computer systems, hydrographic surveying systems, oceanographic equipment and obtaining marine samples, sonar theory and operation,
- Land surveying techniques (angle and distance measurement), and
- Geospatial data manipulation, ARCGIS and other geospatial software for the production of Geospatial Information related to products for the end user.
Further Training
The Navy is currently investing significantly in the future of Maritime and Geospatial Warfare, as such there are opportunities to receive training from Navy, the wider ADF and recognised Industry partners. Examples of this training include the use of Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) as taught by the Australian Maritime College (Launceston, Tas), and the Geospatial Technician Course offered by the Australian Army which teaches geospatial analysis skills to satisfy the continual need for detailed mapping information for navigation and campaign planning.
During your Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS), you will develop a comprehensive appreciation for the duties and postings associated with the Hydrographic Surveying workgroup. When you join the RAN you will conduct New Entry Sailor training, the Basic Seamanship Lite Course, the RHIB Coxswain courses and the Basic Hydrographic Systems Course where upon successful completion you can expect to be posted to an operational unit to consolidate your training.
Your first sea posting will more than likely be to a unit such as His Majesty’s Australian (HMA) Ships Leeuwin or Melville (Leeuwin Class ships), or HMA Ships Shepparton or Benalla (Paluma Class ships), where you will have plenty of supervision whilst you hone your skills as a Seaman Hydrographic Systems Operator (SMNHSO). Note that when posted to a Hydrographic Ship you are not always at sea on the ship, some activities are conducted in small boats and ashore. A survey period generally involves a Hydrographic Ship deploying to sea for approximately 8-12 weeks at a time, which is broken up by a port visit every 2 or 3 weeks. Time spent alongside in your homeport between survey deployments varies between 8-10 weeks.
As a SMNHSO at sea, the majority of your tasks will involve a mix of ship watch-keeping or small boat work combined with the data gathering, processing and validation using modern computer based systems. If, within the first 12 months of being a SMNHSO you have been well reported on (similar to a school report card), you can expect to be promoted to an Able Seaman Hydrographic Systems Operator (ABHSO).
As an ABHSO you may be required to complete additional courses such as Navigator's Yeoman, Gunner's Yeoman or Shipborne Lifesaving and Survival Equipment Maintainer to enable you to undertake further duties on a survey platform or in our survey teams. Whether you continue your sea posting on a Paluma Class or a Leeuwin Class Ship, your primary focus will be to complete your Basic Hydrographic Experience Log to ensure you are deemed competent to conduct all the duties associated with being an ABHSO. Experience at sea and progression of your Log will also see opportunities to be posted to our deployable unit which deploys both domestically and internationally in service of both military and civilian requirements (in support of humanitarian and disaster recovery activities e.g. post-natural disaster efforts).
If you complete this Basic Experience Log and are well reported on, you become eligible for promotion to Leading Seaman Hydrographic Systems Operator (LSHSO) towards the end of your IMPS. In order to prepare you for promotion to LSHSO, you will be placed on the Intermediate Seamanship (HSS) Course, Intermediate Hydrographic Systems Course and the Leading Seaman Leadership and Management Course. These courses will help you develop your leadership skills and prepare you for greater responsibility as a LSHSO.
Then, if you complete your Intermediate Hydrographic Experience Log and are well reported on, you may become eligible for promotion to Petty Officer Hydrographic Systems Manager (POHSM). In order to prepare you for promotion to POHSM, you will be placed on the Advanced Seamanship (HSS/CSS) Course, H2 Hydrographic Surveying Course and the Petty Officer Leadership and Management Course. These courses will help you develop your leadership skills and prepare you for greater responsibility as a Senior Sailor.
Upon completion of two years field experience and your H2 Grade Hydrographic Experience Log, you become eligible for the internationally recognised FIG/IHO/ICA Category B Certification, and may also apply to be certified as a SSSI Level 1 or 2 Hydrographic Surveyor.