Medic Submariner
As a Medic Submariner, you’ll provide medical care to support and maintain the health and wellbeing of your fellow submariners in an environment completely unlike anything you’d find in a civilian role.
What you'll do
In this role, you’ll be responsible for administering advanced first aid, nursing care, emergency medical care, managing medical supplies and more onboard a submarine.
You’ll care for the sick and wounded and be exposed to both conventional and unconventional injuries and illnesses in a variety of situations.
Your duties may include:
- medical, surgical and infectious wound nursing
- pre-hospital medical and emergency care
- emergency patient evacuation
- advanced first aid
- life support
- nursing care
- clinical services and assessment (primary healthcare)
- patient comfort and welfare
- managing medical supplies
- medical administration and documentation.
As a submariner, you'll also perform additional general duties that support the whole submarine, including:
- emergency response (damage control)
- submarine security, firefighting and replenishment at sea
- boarding party, first aid, flood repair and flight deck
- assisting with medical, ammunitioning or ceremonial duties
- shift work, or on-call duties as required.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Navy 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 will set you up to run a highly skilled team of sailors in a variety of tasks, both at sea and ashore.
When not at sea, you’ll usually be based out of HMAS Stirling, Garden Island, close to Fremantle WA. There are also several other shore postings available at various locations around Australia.
Some Submariners live alongside their friends on base, while others choose to live in one of the lively suburbs around Perth. If you’re currently single with family based outside of Perth, the Navy will support you to make trips home throughout the year.
Discover where the Navy operates across Australia on our major 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.
Completion of Year 11 (or equivalent) education required with passes in English and Biology (for WA students: any human biological science discipline) and Year 10 Maths (minimum Maths standard). Completion of Year 11 Chemistry is highly desirable. If you haven't completed Year 11 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.
To join the Navy, it's important that you meet the necessary medical and physical requirements. Regular exercise prior to joining will set you up for success as it is an important part of training and service life.
Once you join, Navy will support your physical conditioning to ensure you're prepared to serve. You'll also have access to chef-made meals, gyms, sports and fitness sessions run by physical training instructors. Throughout your Navy career, you’ll be expected to conduct an annual fitness test which includes a plank as well as either a beep test or run/walk or swim.
During the application process you’ll be assessed through a questionnaire about your medical history and a physical examination.
The Navy swim test
During Navy Military Training, whether heading to the New Entry Sailor Course (Recruit School) or the New Entry Officer Course, you'll need to pass a swim test wearing your uniform to graduate. This includes:
- safety jump off a 3m tower
- 10m underwater swim
- 50m swim using survival strokes
- treading water or floating for 15 minutes.
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 3 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.
For this role, you’ll require a Negative Vetting 2 (NV2) Security Clearance.
Course: New Entry Sailor Course (NESC)
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Vic
You’ll conduct your initial sailor training at the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Recruit School prior to commencing specific category training. The NESC course is designed to prepare you to conduct basic duties as a sailor.
NESC Course
- Physical fitness: General fitness and the Navy swim test.
- Military life: General service knowledge including drill and ceremonial procedures.
- Specialty skills: Weapons training, workplace safety, first aid and sailing.
- Navy skills: Seamanship, corrosion control, survival at sea and fire and flood control.
After successfully completing all components of the course, you’ll participate in a Graduation Parade to mark the occasion. You’ll have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade.
On completion of your NESC course, you’ll proceed to your respective employment training.
Course: Joint Medic Training Course
Duration: 18 months
Location: ADF School of Health, Bonegilla, Vic
You’ll complete comprehensive employment training from both military and civilian contracted staff.
The course will include:
- an overview of the history and structure of the ADF health services
- Geneva Conventions
- health logistics
- infection control principles and practice
- primary health care
- resuscitation bay duties
- pre-hospital clinical care
- ADF health documentation
- specific treatment protocol policies
- tactical combat casualty care
- other micro skills associated with health care delivery within the military.
The training will lead to a Diploma in Nursing (Enrolled/Div 2) qualification and national registration as an Enrolled Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Experience: On-the-Job training
Duration: 6-12 months
Location: Joint Health Command Unit
You’ll operate in Joint Health Commands ashore for a minimum of 6 months to consolidate your Joint Medic Course skills and gain experience in clinical placements to complete your Clinical Readiness Journal.
Course: Maritime Operational Health Course
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: HMAS Penguin, Sydney, NSW
This course enhances the application of primary health care and medical skills in shore and maritime environments for dedicated sickbay role management and functions.
Experience: Maritime Foundation Role
Duration: 12 months
Location: Maritime environment
On completion of the Maritime Operational Health Course, you’ll complete a minimum 12-month healthcare role in the maritime environment and consolidate your training on a major fleet unit under the supervision of a Clinical Manager.
Course: Initial Collins Class Course (ICCC)
Duration: 5 weeks
Location: HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA
You’ll complete a series of computer-based and instructor-based modules that introduce you to the systems and construction of the submarines and undertake Submarine Firefighting and Submarine Escape courses.
Course: Submariner Sea Qualification Experience
Duration: 3-6 months
Location: HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, WA
You’ll be posted to an available training billet onboard a submarine to undertake the Submarine Sea Qualification (SMSQ) task book. The task book will consolidate all your knowledge to earn the submarine sea qualification and be awarded the Dolphins badge you can proudly wear on your uniform.
As a Medic Submariner, you may undertake further medical training which can include management courses and category specialisation courses for promotion, including:
- Extended Care Medic Course
- Underwater Medicine Clinicians Course.