On completion of the associated Competency Log (completed at the Nowra squadrons) all eligible personnel will receive a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics) which is a nationally recognised qualification.

Personnel are required to have completed four years from commencement of Employment training to be eligible.

Primarily posted to HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales. All sailors will serve in fleet units and shore establishments around Australia based on Service need. Individual preferences for posting location will be taken into account where possible.

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, depending upon the capacity of their local recruiting centre.

For the General Entry Avionics Technician Sailor Category, the minimum educational standard to be eligible to apply for entry is the completion of study at Year 10 level, with passes in English, Mathematics and Science.

Note: Consumer Maths, Maths in Society and similarly 'modified' maths are not suitable for this job.

For Qualified Entrants

Entry to this trade is also open to qualified or partially qualified applicants.

Suitable trade qualifications include:

Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics) or similar

You should present your trade paperwork at the recruiting interview to ensure the Recognition of Prior Learning/Recognition of Current Competencies process can commence prior to entry. Due to the unique nature of naval aviation maintenance in the maritime environment most qualified applicants will require additional training to gain specific Units Of Competency (UOC) required for this trade. Applicants should also be prepared to provide any trade journal work history to provide evidence of industry experience.

Also refer to Recognition of Prior Learning for further details.

To be appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry into the ADF. 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 more details on medical and physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF, Medical Process for Entry into the ADF and Physical Employment Standards once you're in the ADF.

You must also pass the swim test and physical fitness test to graduate from your Navy Training and to proceed to the Safety of Life at Sea Training that is a requirement for Recruit School and Officer training.

Royal Australian Navy Swim Test (RANST)

The RANST is conducted 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 successful completion of each component comprising:

• A safety jump off a 3m tower in overalls
• A 10m underwater swim in overalls
• A 50m swim using three safety strokes
• The ability to tread water or float for 15 mins (removal of overalls optional)

Note: You will find it much easier to pass the swimming test if you undertake swimming training before you join.

All personnel will undertake the RANST upon entry and competency is to be achieved within 15 weeks from commencement of initial training. Failure of any one component will constitute failure of the entire RANST and no waivers will be granted.

You will be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of six years. On enlistment if you elect to serve an open ended enlistment, you will be able to serve until retirement age, subject to your continued suitability for service. If you elect to serve for a fixed period of service, 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.

If you are female and keen to join the Navy as an Avionics Technician, you have the option of applying for a two-year role.

The application process to join the Australian Defence Force requires you to complete a series of aptitude tests which may include verbal, spatial and numerical ability and a general maths test. Some jobs may also require you to complete additional testing at a later date.

Psychology support staff will explain what is involved with each test.

The aptitude tests provide information about your suitability for the Defence Force and for particular jobs. Defence Force Recruiting can then help you identify jobs that best match your abilities.

Further information on the aptitude testing requirements can be found here.

Only Australian Citizens are permitted to serve in the ADF.

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary waiver 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 Defence Force Recruiting Centre.

The security clearance is critical to an applicant’s successful progression through to Navy employment and training. It is strongly recommended that all applicants provide the required documents as early as possible in the recruiting process to avoid any delays in their training and employment.

Details regarding the security requirements for all Navy jobs can be found here.

Duration: 11 weeks

Location: Crib Point, Victoria

The Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus is situated on Western Port Bay, Victoria about 70 kilometres south east of Melbourne. The school has its own administration building, accommodation blocks and classrooms and operates as an independent unit within the greater training environment of Cerberus.

The eleven week recruit course is designed to give you sufficient knowledge and skills on which to base your navy career. The course includes both classroom and practical activities. Most subjects are individually tested. Examinations are set to ensure recruits are sufficiently prepared to undertake further specialist training at category schools. Private study areas are available in the school and a Duty Instructor is available for assistance during non-instructional hours.

This information is also available by accessing the Navy recruit school web site.

Recruits, who successfully complete the course including the Navy Swimming Test , participate in a Graduation Parade, which is normally held on the Friday of the last week of training. Recruits will have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade.

After graduation, personnel will be posted to category schools at Cerberus or at other training establishments throughout Australia.

During Military (Initial Recruit) Training and Initial Employment Training (IET), members may be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities, depending on a number of factors.

Duration: 53 Weeks

Following completion of Military (Recruit) Training and a Sea Survival and Ship Safety Course of one week you will complete Avionics Technician Avionics training.

The Avionics Technician Avionics training component of the apprenticeship is conducted at the Royal Australian Air Force's Technical Training Facility (RAAF Base Wagga Wagga , NSW) and consists of theory and practical instruction in workshops and laboratories.

The course content has been designed to meet the Navy requirements for an Avionics Technician Sailor, who is capable of commencing aircraft equipment application courses for employment in an operational squadron at the Navy Air Station at HMAS Albatross (Nowra, NSW).

Naval training fully embraces the National Aerospace curriculum and includes some Navy specific modules where appropriate. Graduating students will have received academic training encompassing:

• The full range of competencies to obtain a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics)
• A number of competencies (not the full range) from Avionics 'workshop' stream and
• A number of competencies (not the full range) from the 'Mechanical' stream as cross trade training