About the Job

Plant Operators provide civil/earthwork construction support to the Air Force's infrastructure. The Plant Operator's role involves the operation of various items of heavy earth moving equipment (dozer, excavator, dump truck etc) in the construction and maintenance of pavements and site excavations and also in emergency/battle damage repair activities. Plant Operators may be required to work shifts or participate in deployed operations with the Army in remote areas located within or external to Australia.

Principal duties concentrate on deployed conditions both within Australia and overseas. These roles are performed regularly on deployments to temporary and permanent airfields in support of expeditionary air operations. Such activities could also be undertaken at any of the major RAAF Bases and at isolated temporary RAAF airfields or construction sites within Australia. Plant Operators receive training in general and specialist heavy vehicle and plant operation and are required to support other trades (Plumber, Carpenter, Electrician) in the performance of their duties. Plant Operators also participate regularly in ground defence exercises and are required to provide temporary construction services. Working conditions vary from an office environment to the field.

Plant Operators are trained to perform their role through a combination of on the job training and various intensive courses. Plant Operators are able to progress to the rank of Corporal and then apply to become Works Supervisors where they can then follow a career path up to Warrant Officer.


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

National Units of Competency may be awarded after successful completion of courses within individual training pathways in accordance with Trade Employment Profiles.

Salary & Allowances

In the Air Force 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

Plant Operators may be employed at various units and bases within Australia, such as:

  • RAAF Base Townsville, QLD
  • RAAF Base Richmond, NSW
  • Delamere Air Weapons Range, NT
  • Evans Head Air Weapons Range, NSW

Plant Operator Corporals can also be employed at the School of Military Engineering (SME) as an instructor at Holsworthy Barracks, NSW.


Requirements

Age

You can start your application at sixteen and a half years, but you must be at least seventeen years on the day you join the Air Force.

The maximum age that you can join is sixty years, minus the period of obligation.

For example, if your obligation is six years, you can join at fifty-four years.

Education & Experience

Trainee Entry

You are required to have successfully completed Year 10 of a Year 12 Board developed Course (or state equivalent), with passes in English and Mathematics.

Note: Consumer Maths, Maths in Society and similarly modified mathematics subjects are not suitable.

If you are unable to provide evidence of educational attainment, education equivalency assessments are available to ascertain your ability at the required education level for this mustering.

Applicants without the minimum educational qualification may be considered if they possess relevant work experience or tertiary qualifications.

Medical & Fitness

To be enlisted, 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 enlistment.

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

Your obligation will be for six years. However, there is a grace period where you can choose to resign from the Air Force up until the time you become eligible to graduate from your initial employment training.

Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service.

Additional Requirements

Special Requirements
Licence Requirements

At a minimum, candidates must hold a valid Australian State or Territory provisional/probationary C Class Drivers Licence upon enlistment/appointment. Candidates with suspended or cancelled licences will not be eligible to join until the suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.


Entry Requirements

Applicants must hold a provisional/probationary or full Australian C Class (or equivalent) motor vehicle licence for a vehicle with a manual transmission for 12 months. Applicants must be free of traffic infringements and/or offences that may result in future cancellation of the licence, or prevent the issue of and ADF Drivers Licence.

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 JOA 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 your ADF Careers Centre during the initial application process.

Training

Military Training

Location: RAAF Base Wagga, NSW
Duration: 9 weeks

During this training you will transition from civilian to Service life, acquiring the basic knowledge, skills and physical fitness required for your role; and learning to become an effective and productive member of the Air Force.

Follow the link to learn more about what to expect at No. 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU)

Employment Training

Trainee Entry

After completing your Initial Military Training at RAAF Base Wagga, Plant Operator trainees will be posted to the School of Military Engineering at Holsworthy Barracks, NSW for a period of 6-12 months to complete the following courses:

  • Military Engineer Course: This 5 week course is designed to train you in the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to undertake basic military engineering tasks within the ADF.
  • 40M Operator course: This 5 week course trains you in the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to operate the 40M Medium Rigid Vehicle.
  • Civil Construction Plant Course (CCPC): This 4 month course is designed to train you in the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to conduct and operate a variety of earthmoving and material handling tasks in support of ADF operations. This course will provide license codes in the following earthmoving equipment:
    • Backhoe Operator
    • Excavator Operator
    • Grader Operator
    • Front End Loader Operator
    • Roller Operator
    • Dozer Operator
    • Skid Steer Loader Operator
    • Material Handling Equipment

After completion of this training, you will proceed on posting to 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron located at either Townsville or Richmond. Further Airfield Engineering and Military specific training will be undertaken throughout your career.

Further Training

Additional Employment Training

There are a number of specialist Airfield Engineering courses that will provide you with further training across a variety of subjects to provide skill sets in order to meet operational requirements. As a Plant Operator, you will also be required to undertake core training courses required for your career progression.