Public Relations Officer
As a member of the Australian Army Public Relations Office, you’ll become part of a small but dynamic team of public affairs specialists supporting the Army.
What you'll do
You'll play a critical role to support Army activities, undertaking a broad spectrum of public affairs functions, including issues management, strategic development and media liaison.
During your career, you'll complete various postings throughout Australia, either in a formed public affairs unit, as a staff advisor on a formation headquarters or at Australian Defence Headquarters in Canberra.
Your duties may include:
- leading Army public affairs teams in support of Army activities (including exercises and operations)
- providing public affairs and issues management advice to Army commanders
- developing and implementing strategic, operational and tactical communication strategies
- undertaking effective media liaison, escort and support duties
- preparing media releases
- conducting media awareness training for Army personnel
- overseeing the gathering, management and quality of Army public relations materials (including photo and video libraries and articles for Army publications).
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career as an officer. As you progress, the Army will provide you with leadership, management, and specialist skills training to develop your ability to effectively manage your teams. You’ll also be provided with training opportunities to further develop your role-related expertise. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and enable you to become an influential leader in the Army.
As an officer in the Army, you may also undertake a posting to an Any Officer role during your career, such as instructor/training roles and staff officer roles. This experience helps you broaden your skill set and prepare for more senior roles.
Following training, you’ll typically be posted to a formation headquarters in Brisbane, Darwin, Sydney or Townsville or to the 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit in Canberra to gain experience. Posting locations will depend on service needs and may not necessarily be in your home location.
Discover where the Army 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 57 years.
You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.
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.
The minimum requirement for entry into this role is a communication-related tertiary graduate qualification in Public Relations, Journalism or Corporate Communications (Bachelor or Master).
Marketing degrees other than those listed will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Upon appointment, you’ll also need 3 years’ work experience in your discipline.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications will not be considered for this role due to the high degree of critical thinking and analysis required. Internships do not count towards paid work experience.
Degree qualified officers normally start their careers at one rank higher than non-graduate officers.
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.
Male
- Push-ups: 8
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
Female
- Push-ups: 4
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 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) of 4 years. 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 and provide a minimum of 3 months’ notice.
Course: Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (SSO FAC)
Duration: 25 days
Location: Royal Military College - Duntroon, Canberra, ACT
You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of:
- leadership and military justice
- weapons handling
- command and control
- unit and personnel administration
- basic military skills
- the ideals of officer behaviour
- attitudes necessary for future employment.
This course is delivered in 2 parts for both full-time and part-time (Reserve) Officers.
- Part 1 - 10 days
- Part 2 - 15 days.
Course: Military Public Affairs Officer Basic Course (MPAOBC)
Duration: 20 days
Location: Simpson Barracks, Melbourne, Vic
This course is a blended learning course of 10 online sessions over 10 weeks followed by a 10-day residential phase.
Course: Military Public Affairs Officer Advanced Course (MPAOAC)
Duration: 12 days
Location: Simpson Barracks, Melbourne, Vic
This course is a blended learning course of 6 online sessions over 6 weeks followed by a 6-day residential phase.
Course: Information Operations Staff Officer Course (IOSOC)
Duration: 10 days
Location: RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW
Course: Introduction to Joint Warfighting
Duration: Approximately 20 hours (4 days)
Location: online
This course is a self-paced, student-directed online learning activity that will take you approximately 20 hours (4 days) to complete. You’ll have up to 28 days to complete the course within the course session dates per the course calendar.
You may be selected to attend civilian seminars to keep up to date in all aspects of public relations, media and journalism.
In addition to your Initial Employment Training, you may have to complete the following courses once you’re posted to your unit:
- Course: Unit Public Affairs Officer Course (UPAO)
- Course: Joint Warfighting – Planning Foundations Course 113979
- Course: Social Media Practitioners Course.