You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.

You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 60 years, less the Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS).

For this role, you’ll need an Australian state or territory full, provisional or probationary C Class licence. If your licence is suspended or cancelled, you won’t be eligible until that suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.

All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.

For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.

With Defence University Sponsorship (DUS), you won’t incur a HELP or HECS-HELP debt as the Air Force will cover the cost of your course up to the Commonwealth Supported Place amount. This may also cover any necessary equipment and education materials.

You can apply for DUS at any point during your degree (so long as you have an offer of placement from an Australian university for a degree that meets Air Force requirements), however, you’ll only have your study sponsored from your date of appointment into the Air Force.

If you’re in high school, it's best to apply in your final year of school, to maximise your sponsorship time. If you join after having started your degree, you are ineligible to have your degree back paid. If you’re out of high school, you should apply as early as you can so you can maximise the benefits of your sponsorship.

To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.

Female

• Sit-ups (feet held): 20
• Shuttle Run Score: 5.1.

Male

• Sit-ups (feet held): 20
• Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.

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.

You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS). Once you've graduated, your IMPS full-time service will be your number of years of university sponsorship plus one year (minimum of 2 years' service). Subsequent periods of service or open-ended appointment may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. There is a one-year grace period from appointment where you may resign, without obligation. Sponsored study of less than 2 years only has a grace period of 3-months. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.

You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.

Course: Undergraduate Familiarisation Course
Duration: 1 week
Location: Officers' Training School (OTS) RAAF Base East Sale, Vic

During your first year of sponsorship, you'll attend a one-week Familiarisation Course at RAAF Base East Sale, Vic. This will introduce you to basic military protocols and procedures. Following graduation, you’ll undertake the Initial Officer Course of 12 weeks duration. This is a live-in course completed at RAAF Base East Sale.

Course: Initial Officer Course
Duration: 12 weeks
Location: Officers' Training School (OTS), RAAF Base East Sale, Vic

Phase 1: Military Introduction. During this phase of training, you’ll be introduced to life in the military. The themes of values-based behaviour, self-leadership, team membership and followership are explored through collaborative problem solving, self-mastery and resilience building activities. Weapons qualification and martial skills are included in this phase.

Phase 2: Education. During this phase of training, you’ll be introduced to leading military teams, effectively managing a workplace and applying critical thinking skills. The themes of moral courage, moral judgement and social mastery are explored through scenario-based experiential learning opportunities and facilitated decision making. Air and space power immersion in the joint environment is included in this phase.

Phase 3: Application. During this phase of training, you’ll consolidate what you’ve learned so far and you will apply those skills in practical leadership exercises in a simulated combat environment. The themes of values-based behaviour and the development of Officer Qualities are explored through the application of transformational leadership.

You’ll be challenged early, well supported and physically prepared. Outside of the classroom you’ll participate in physical training, adventure training and visit other Air Force bases to contextualise what you have learnt. Upon graduation, you will undertake specialist employment training or proceed direct to your workplace.

Course: Operational Health Support Course
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Health Operational Conversion Unit (HOCU), RAAF Base Amberley, Qld

This course includes a 4-day field phase and will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to deploy an operational health support facility. Subjects include:

• Operational Health Support
• instruction on the various levels of health support available
• personal and collective preparation for deployment
• logistics and administrative considerations
• establishing and running a deployed health facility.

Course: Dental Officer Initial Course (DOIC)
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: ADF Dental School, HMAS Cerberus, Vic

The DOIC inducts newly appointed ADF Dental Officers. This course is designed to build on existing dental knowledge but also provide a number of additional skills required by a Dental Officer in the ADF. In this course you’ll learn:

• advanced life support
• manage relative analgesia
• maxillofacial trauma and eyelet wiring
• tri and single service briefs
• Junior Dental Officer administrative and documentation requirements
• infection control and bench top sterilising.

Course: Aviation Dental Officer (AVDO)
Duration: 4 days
Location: Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM), RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA

This course will provide you with the skills to be an Aviation Dental Officer (AVDO). You’ll become capable of assessing and managing the health of ADF aircrew, provide advice on aviation medicine topics, and health support to ADF flying operations.

As part of your ongoing professional development, as a newly graduated dentist you'll initially be classified as Competency Level 1. Following a structured program of training and mentorship by a senior dentist, you’ll be reclassified to Competency Level 2 usually around the end of your second year of practice.

Further development to Competency Level 3 will either be in the form of Fellowship in general stream of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons or in a clinical Graduate Diploma in selected fields based on Air Force needs. Attainment of Competency Level 3 is usually achieved after the fourth or fifth year of clinical practice.

You may have opportunities to complete further training as an officer and as a manager of people and finance. This training may include sponsored further tertiary study leading to formal qualifications in Management or Population Health.

Together, these skills will make you an extremely well skilled and versatile dentist, with a variety of work and life experiences which make you the envy of your civilian colleagues.