About the Job

If you’re looking to make a difference, experience adventure and make mates for life, the Army Reserve has an exciting opportunity that can work around your lifestyle.

As a part-time Public Relations Officer in the Army Reserve, you’ll have the opportunity to use your existing qualifications and skills in challenging new environments.

In this position, you will play a crucial role in developing, implementing and monitoring communication strategies that have an important impact on how the Army is perceived. And this is no ‘office job’. You’ll have the education, character and potential to excel in a variety of challenging environments, including combat zones.

Some of the tasks you’ll be responsible for include:

  • Leading Army public affairs teams in support of Defence activities, including military exercises and operations at home and overseas
  • Providing public affairs and issues management advice to Army commanders
  • Developing and implementing strategic, operational and tactical communication strategies
  • Undertaking effective media liaison, escort and support duties
  • Preparing and distributing media releases
  • Conducting media awareness training for Army personnel
  • Overseeing the gathering, management and quality of Army public relations product (including stills and video imagery, and articles for Army publications)

This is an opportunity where you can challenge yourself and work in exciting new environments without compromising your current career goals.

Not only will you find giving back to the community extremely rewarding, you’ll get the chance to broaden your knowledge across a range of disciplinary areas, acquiring new skills to further develop professionally in your civilian role.

Just give as little as one night a week, one weekend a month or a few weeks a year – and you’ll get a world of new experiences back.


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

Most Reservists join the Australian Defence Force for the exciting work, the friendships and the lifestyle. But there are many other benefits too, including financial ones.

The pay you receive in the Army Reserve goes straight into your pocket with no deductions for tax, and it increases as you gain seniority and experience.


For more details download our Salary Scales.


Requirements

Age

Applicants must have reached 17 years of age on entry.

Applicants will not normally 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.

The Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) for Reserve Service is 65 years. Candidates applying for Reserve Service must be under the age of 61 years, which is open for all employment categories. Candidates who wish to enlist into the Army Reserve beyond the age of 61 years will need to be further assessed to ensure that they would be feasibly able to complete all obligatory pre-requisite training in their chosen area of employment prior to reaching CRA.

Education & Experience

For this role, you’ll need an appropriate tertiary graduate qualification that is related to communications i.e. a university issued Bachelor or Master’s degree. You will also need a minimum of 3 years paid work experience post degree completion of their degree majoring in one of the following disciplines:

  • Public Relations
  • Journalism
  • Corporate Communications

Marketing degrees will be considered on a case by case basis. To be eligible to start an application, you must hold minimum 3 years paid work experience post degree completion in corporate communications, journalism or public relations.

Note: A candidate can appoint to the Army after 3 years’ work experience.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications will not be considered as a high degree of critical thinking and analysis as is required of the Army Public Relations Officer. Internships do not count towards paid allied work experience.

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 test 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 can work from as little as one night a week, with your first year of service involving between 35-70 days (including IET and Military Training). Each year following you’ll need to commit to between 20-70 days.

Members may transfer out of the active Army Reserve at any time.

All candidates who are appointed or enlisted into the Army Reserve may undertake volunteer service until the age of 65 (Compulsory Retiring Age) subject to the requirements of the Army and suitability for further service.

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

Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (Parts 1 + 2) 
Location: Royal Military College – Duntroon, Canberra, ACT. 
Duration: 25 days 

You will learn 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.

Employment Training

Once you have completed your initial training, you will be required to complete the following training courses within your unit:

  • Defence Public Affairs Officer Introductory Course
  • Unit Public Relations Officer Course
  • Defence Public Affairs Team Leaders Course
  • Defence Media Escort Officer Course
  • Public Comment by Defence Personnel
  • Social Media Awareness