About the Job

Air Force Chaplaincy has a deep appreciation of human spirituality and seeks to work with others in ways that are meaningful to them. Air Force Chaplains understand and respect Australia’s culturally diverse society and are person-centred. By joining the Air Force Chaplaincy, you’ll recognise the inherent worth, dignity, and self-determination of all you serve.

As an Air Force Chaplain, you’ll:

  • Work within a Chaplaincy team that is accepting of different faiths, religious or philosophical views, sexuality, or gender.
  • Prioritise a person-centred approach above a religious framework.
  • Deliver spiritual or religious support and pastoral care to Australian Defence Force members and their families, and Defence civilians including those who demonstrate eclectic spiritual frameworks, philosophical or humanist values, traditional religious perspectives, or non-religious views.
  • Serve in your Commanding Officer’s support team and provide timely, accurate, and relevant advice on military matters relating to spiritual, religious, and pastoral wellbeing; personal morality; ethics; culture; character formation; esprit de corps; and morale.
  • Actively promote and support a culture of inclusiveness by using language that is inclusive and respectful, and displaying respect for differing beliefs, theological thought, and culture. In addition, you’ll always adhere to Defence Values and Behaviours.
  • Work side-by-side with people and religious leaders from all faith groups while in Australia and overseas.

As a Specialist Officer, you are also expected to:

  • Wear uniform and understand and adhere to military protocols.
  • Become well versed in Defence systems and processes impacting the wellbeing of people.
  • Prepare and deliver briefings, reports, plans, and audits.
  • Manage infrastructure.
  • Participate in ceremonies, services, or special events including family days, Unit activities, religious festivals, or similar.
  • Contribute to specialist interagency and interdisciplinary teams including other wellbeing providers, faith group leaders and community representatives, and Foreign Military personnel.

Air Force Chaplaincy is a specialised profession that upholds the dignity and respect of all individuals. Free from the responsibilities of executive command and privileged with insight into personnel concerns, you will stand in a unique position to exercise alternate points of view and provide guidance as a staff adviser to Command.


This entry method is currently not recruiting

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 Air Force 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.


Locations

You may be posted to most Air Force bases and other Defence establishments within Australia, however initial postings will generally be to Air Force bases including Amberley, Edinburgh, Wagga, or Williamtown.


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 three years, you can join at fifty-seven years.

Education & Experience

To be appointed as an Air Force Chaplain, you must:

  • Provide documented evidence of a minimum three-year degree at Bachelor level or Postgraduate level in either theology, ministry, pastoral care, or Chaplaincy (or equivalent discipline) which must include:
    • successful completion of at least one unit of pastoral counselling skills (minimum), and
    • successful completion of at least one unit of pastoral counselling theory (minimum).

Postgraduate qualifications in pastoral counselling skills and pastoral counselling theory preferred.

  • Provide documented evidence of successful completion of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Level 1 (or higher) or equivalence in supervised experience or other equivalent supervised programs.
  • Provide documented evidence of being a recognised faith group religious leader who has the invested authority to represent their faith group in Air Force.
  • Provide documented evidence of a minimum of three years full time recognised supervised pastoral care experience (preferably in Chaplaincy).

Pastoral care experience is where caring pastorally is a substantial part of your role, not a supplementary or secondary role and that pastoral care experience is full time, post degree and post being recognised as a faith group religious leader who has the invested authority to represent your faith group. Supervised pastoral care experience is formal supervision that includes regular feedback regarding skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours and support to develop self-reflective practices and maturing of Chaplaincy practices.

Applicants with recent experience in Chaplaincy related roles, relevant professional experience in multi-faith contexts, or Aboriginal and Torres Straits people’s engagement will also be advantageous.

If you are considering completing a training course advertised as ‘suitable for military Chaplaincy’ and would like some further guidance, please feel welcome to contact dgchapaf.recruiting@defence.gov.au.

Medical & Fitness

To be 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 may 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

A person appointed as an officer in the Air Force Specialist Reserve serves an initial appointment of five years (including a probationary period of two years) followed by extensions (subject to approval) of five-year periods.

Additional Requirements

An applicant for appointment as an Air Force Chaplain must:

  • Provide documented evidence of a current Working with Children’s Check (WWCC)/Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) as required for their current location.
  • Have documented endorsement of being a recognised faith group religious leader who has the invested authority to represent their faith group in Air Force.
  • Have documented evidence of a minimum three-years full time recognised supervised pastoral care experience (preferably in Chaplaincy).
  • Be deemed suitable for appointment by the Director General Chaplaincy Air Force.
  • Have documented endorsement from an Air Force approved endorsing authority e.g. Religious Advisory Committee to the Services (RACS).

Faith groups represented on RACS are: Anglican Church of Australia, Churches of Christ in Australia, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Lutheran Church of Australia, National Sikh Council of Australia, Presbyterian Church of Australia, Salvation Army Australia, Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Australia, Uniting Church in Australia, and Vishnu Hindu Parishad of Australia.

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.

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 East Sale, VIC
Duration: 5 days

The Specialist Reserve Officer Induction course provides theory instruction in general service knowledge including Air Force customs, Mess etiquette, Air Power studies and the organisation of the ADF. The course will also provide students with basic practical instruction in drill movements.

Employment Training

ADF Support Chaplaincy Course
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Defence Force Chaplaincy College (DFCC), Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), ACT

The ADF Support Chaplaincy Course is the Initial Employment Training (IET) for Chaplains, and it is structured as a distance learning and residential course which consists of four parts.

  • Part 1 - Introduction to Defence Chaplaincy. Provides context and understanding of Defence and Chaplaincy processes to support you in your career. This includes conducting or facilitating religious and secular observances/activities and effective administration and management. (Five-day equivalent ‘on the job’ over a six-month period in your posted location).
  • Part 2 - Pastoral Policy and Advocacy. Prepares you to provide support networks, pastoral care support, and to maintain pastoral care records. (One week at DFCC).
  • Part 3 - Character, Ethics, and Morality. Prepares you to provide timely and accurate advice to Commanders and Defence personnel on character development, personal morality, ethics, and military ethical decision making; and to develop and deliver educational programs. (One week at DFCC).
  • Part 4 – Pastoral Counselling: Mental Health Literacy and Wellbeing. Prepares you for mental health research, pastoral counselling, professional record-keeping and referral practices, and the requirements for your own professional supervision, self-care, and continuing professional development. (Two weeks at DFCC).

Further Training

As a Chaplain, you have the opportunity to complete additional training including youth safety, critical incidents, moral injury, key religious leaders, and community engagement.

DFCC provides ongoing training to prepare you for varying roles and increased responsibilities. There are currently two Chaplaincy career progression courses available. These are:

  • ADF Coordinating Chaplaincy Course for Chaplains posted into coordinating roles.
  • ADF Senior Chaplaincy Course for Chaplains posted into senior leadership roles.