Musician
As an Air Force Musician, you’ll enjoy opportunities not available to other musicians in Australia, including amazing musical variety, professional development and job security. You’ll perform in the Air Force Band, which provides the Air Force with a powerful public relations medium. The band fosters Defence partnerships with government organisations, industry partners, the wider Defence Force community and Australian and international communities.
With genres ranging from chamber music and ceremonial repertoires to the very latest chart music, you’ll perform at the highest levels, both domestically and internationally. You’ll represent both the Air Force and Australia, with the added opportunity to entertain and support personnel serving their country on deployments overseas.
What you'll do
You’ll enrich Air Force culture and promote the Air Force throughout Australia and overseas. You'll have the opportunity to perform in a variety of musical bands depending on requirements, such as ceremonial marching band, symphonic wind band, big band, brass quintet, fanfare team, drum corps, wind quintet and clarinet quartet.
As an Air Force Musician, you’ll need to play one of the following instruments:
- Brass: euphonium, French horn, trombone, bass trombone, trumpet/cornet/bugle, tuba
- Keyboard: piano/keyboard
- Percussion: drumkit, orchestral percussion, rudimental drumming
- Strings: bass guitar, guitar
- Woodwind: bassoon, clarinet (including Eb and bass clarinet), flute/piccolo, oboe (including cor anglais), saxophone (alto, tenor and baritone)
- Vocals: female, male.
Vocalists, guitarists and keyboard musicians may also be required to perform, to an acceptable standard, an instrument suitable for ceremonial band commitments.
Your duties may include:
- ADF ceremonial occasions
- parades
- commemorative events
- conferences
- formal dinners
- military and state funerals
- the ADF community
- festivals
- public concerts
- school concerts
- charity events
- engaging with the community via social media platforms.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Air Force will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training within your chosen role. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and help you to lead teams of aviators in future.
If you pursue a career in Air Force music, the rank structure provides opportunities for promotion to non-commissioned officers (Corporal, Sergeant, and Flight Sergeant) and Warrant Officer, based on merit.
Following training, you’ll be posted to the Air Force Band, RAAF Williams, Laverton, Vic.
Discover where the Air Force operates across Australia on our base locations map.
Requirements and training
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 59 years.
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.
As Air Force musicians are trade qualified, you’ll start on a full salary (rather than a trainee salary) at Number 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU). You’ll undergo an audition (Music Performance Skills Assessment) prior to enlistment and be assessed to determine your pay grade.
- Musician 2 Pay Grade 4 – proficiency P124860 (RAAF Musician Basic), which include achieving a rating of 'Adequate Standard ' in all skills elements of the Performance Skills Assessment via either desktop assessment or live assessment
- Musician 3 Pay Grade 5 – proficiency P142859 (RAAF Musician Advanced) which includes completion of a music Performance Skills Assessment PSA to an 'Excellent Standard' via either a desktop assessment or live assessment.
You’ll also need to display evidence of being university degree qualified on the relevant instrument or have equivalent relevant industry experience in a resume check as well as demonstrate compatibility with military ethos and suitability for representational roles in an interview.
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 enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of one year. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. 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.
Selection Requirements
Positions in the Air Force Band are limited and entry is via a competitive audition. When there is a vacancy, you’ll submit a cover letter, resume and recording(s) in line with the role guidelines. If selected to progress to audition, you’ll be expected to attend a 'Your Opportunities Unlimited' (YOU) session at an ADF Careers centre prior to audition.
For details about current vacancies and upcoming competitive auditions, please contact:
Audition Coordinator – Air Force Band
RAAF Base Williams, Laverton, Vic, 3027
Email: airforce.band@defence.gov.au
Course: Air Force Recruit Course
Duration: 11 weeks
Location: RAAF Base Wagga, NSW
During this training, you'll 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.
The major elements of the course include:
- personal development and teamwork
- parade drill
- weapon handling and firing
- airfield defence
- fire fighting
- physical fitness
- Air Force history, customs and traditions
- military law.
The Air Force does not provide any formal employment training for this position.
There are opportunities to undertake further study with external organisations under Air Force assisted study schemes as well as the opportunity to develop your skills in broader music industry roles within the band.
You’ll also have the opportunity and training to become a Musical Director, as well as other career paths within the ADF.