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About the Job
To be an effective force the Navy needs all its personnel to be fit and healthy. Doctors (known in the Navy as Medical Officers) are responsible for the general health of all personnel and may become involved in specialist areas such as Emergency Management Severe Trauma, Underwater Medicine and Aviation Medicine.
The type of doctor the Navy is looking for is someone who can practice medicine for a sea going community. We are looking for people who can practice high standards of care under adverse conditions with minimal support. You will serve in a variety of well-equipped facilities in Australia and can also expect to serve at sea. Navy Doctors regularly work alongside their Army and Air Force colleagues in land-based facilities under canvas both in Australia and overseas.
Navy will consider any appropriately trained and qualified Doctor wishing to join the Navy Reserve. Specific demand exists for Doctors fully qualified in General and Orthopaedic Surgery (Trauma), Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, General Practice and Public Health.
In addition to their normal duties, all Navy Officers will be designated as Divisional Officers throughout their career. This involves the leadership, management, administration and career advice to junior sailors and Officers within their Division which may involve up to fifty junior sailors and Officers.
All junior Officers onboard RAN vessels will be required to keep Officer of the Day (OOD) duties. The OOD is the Commanding Officers (CO) representative for a 24 hour period and is directly responsible to the CO for the safety and security of the Ship and personnel onboard.
They'll also be engaged in managing the general maintenance and upkeep of their Navy vessels and equipment as part of the larger team.
Graduate - Reserve
Make the most of your relevant degree in an exciting part-time career challenge
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 Navy 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 be aged between 17 and 60 years of age inclusive on entry.
Education & Experience
To be appointed as a Doctor in the Navy Reserve, you must be registered as a Medical Practitioner with AHPRA, have two years of hospital residency experience and either hold a Fellowship in an ADF approved specialty or have the requisite experience to be credentialed as a General Duties Doctor (Medical Level 2). Further information on these requirements can be obtained from the Directorate of Navy Workforce Management which your Case Manager can arrange for you.
Navy will, in some circumstances, consider applicants for the Navy Reserve who are engaged in a formal registrar training program that will lead to award of a Fellowship in an ADF approved specialty. Further information can be obtained through the Directorate of Navy Workforce Management which your Case Manager can arrange for you.
All applicants applying for this role require your qualifications to be endorsed by the Directorate of Navy Workforce Management. If found satisfactory through this process, your Case Manager will be advised that you satisfy the minimum standards and your application will be progressed. Your Case Manager will arrange this process for you.
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
There is no Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) for Reserve 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
The Reserve Entry Officers Course is structured into four phases of training to accommodate the shorter-term availability of Navy Reserve (NR) Officers. The phases consist of:
Duration: 2 weeks (residential)
Includes issue of uniforms and Navy ID card. Subjects covered during the period include: Leadership and Management, Drill, Swim Test, Fitness Test, Equity and Diversity and Security.
Duration: 12 months (by distance learning)
Completion of 8 modules via distance learning packages. Modules are Navy Organisation, Defence Writing, Contemporary Warfare, Navy History, Officer of the Day, Divisional Officer, Defence Force Discipline Act and Maritime Doctrine.
Duration: 2 weeks (residential)
Duration: 2 weeks (residential)
Consisting of a two-week training deployment on a Royal Australian Navy ship at sea and completion of task book. Officers joining the Navy Reserve must successfully complete each phase within the following time frames:
- Phase 1: within 12 months of appointment
- Phase 2: within 12 months of completing Phase 1
- Phases 3 and 4: Pre-Sea Training and Sea Deployment within two years of joining.
These time frames are considered to be maximum periods. Extensions may be approved for Officers prevented from progressing their training for medical or employment reasons. Documentary evidence must accompany applications for extensions to these time frames. Other special circumstances for extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. However, the maximum time frame to complete the initial training requirements is two years from date of appointment as an Officer in the Navy Reserve.
The purpose of this course is to give new entry Officers a sound understanding of the Royal Australian Navy and what it means to serve as a Navy Officer. The Sea Training Deployment offers a unique opportunity to experience first-hand the life that our sailors lead at sea and gives the new Officer a solid introduction to the Royal Australian Navy maritime environment.