Navy
Full Time

Musician

Full Time
In-service title: Musician

Period of Service requirements: General Entry Sailor roles now have an Initial Minimum Period of Service of either 2 or 3 years for all applicants.

As a Musician in the Navy, you’ll get paid to play and promote the Navy around Australia and overseas as a professional musician part of the Royal Australian Navy Band.

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Musicians in a field in Navy dress uniform playing didgeridoo, drums and range of brass instruments.

What you'll do

The Royal Australian Navy Band utilises Parade, Concert, Rock, Big Band, Jazz and Chamber ensembles which require Jazz, Classical and Commercial specialists.

For this role you’ll need to audition with the Navy’s Director of Music and play one of the following instruments:

  • Brass: trumpet/cornet/bugle, French horn, euphonium, trombone, bass trombone, tuba/sousaphone
  • Keyboard: piano/keyboard
  • Strings: bass guitar/double bass, guitar
  • Woodwind: flute/piccolo, oboe/cor anglais, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone
  • Percussion: percussionist (tuned and untuned), drum kit
  • Vocals.

As a Navy Musician you’ll plan, rehearse and perform:

  • for ceremonial occasions and parades
  • at important community and high-profile public events
  • at official Navy and ADF functions.

You'll also perform additional general duties that support the whole ship, including:

  • ship 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.

Following training, you’ll initially be located at either HMAS Kuttabul, NSW , HMAS Cerberus, Vic or HMAS Coonawarra, NT. On occasions, you may be temporarily attached to a ship at sea for ceremonial and musical duties.

Discover where the Navy operates across Australia on our base locations map.

Requirements and training

About entry methods
Use your qualifications
General Entry: Qualified
Requirements
Citizenship

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.

Age

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 58 years.

Licences

You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.

Security requirements

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.

Education and experience

Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) education required with passes in English and Maths.

To enter the Navy as a qualified musician, you’ll need to have one of the following qualifications.

  • Qualified Entry Sailor - non degree (QES - non degree) – equivalent to an Associate in Music, Australia (AMusA) diploma or Industry Standards.
  • Qualified Entry Sailor - degree (QES - degree) – have a degree from a recognised institution, such as Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education or Bachelor of Arts (Music).

Your qualifications will need to be endorsed by the Directorate of Navy Workforce Management.

Health and fitness

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.

Period of service

You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 2 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.

Additional requirements

You’ll perform an audition for the Navy's Director of Music, who will be looking for a demonstration of high musical ability on your instrument, a reasonable knowledge of the theory of music and the ability to read music.

The minimum standards acceptable for competitive audition as a Qualified Entry Sailor (QES) are:

  • QES (non-degree) – a standard commensurate with, but not exclusively aligned to, an Associate in Music, Australia (AMusA) diploma with professional level industry experience
  • QES (degree) - a standard commensurate with their degree.
Training
Military training

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.

Employment training

Course: Musician Initial Employment Training (MIET)
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: Defence School of Music, Simpson Barracks, Macleod, Vic

MIET is conducted using a combination of online and face-to-face instructor/mentor learning.

The course components include:

  • develop aural skills
  • develop harmonising skills
  • bump-in/bump-out
  • perform music
  • customs and traditions
  • marching band
  • drum corps.