Nurse
As an acute Medical/Surgical, Perioperative, Intensive Care or Emergency Nurse, you’ll be a key part of a multi-disciplinary team ensuring the health of all Navy members.
What you'll do
You’ll regularly work alongside Army and Air Force colleagues in land-based facilities, both in Australia and overseas. You’ll provide expert care in potentially challenging circumstances, often with minimal support in a variety of well-equipped Defence facilities.
Your duties may include:
- acute medical/surgical care
- perioperative
- intensive care
- emergency care
- primary healthcare
- trauma.
If you’re posted to a Navy ship, you will be required to keep Officer of the Day (OOD) duties. As the OOD, you are directly responsible to the Commanding Officer (CO) for the safety and security of the ship and personnel aboard for a 24-hour period.
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 an officer. As you progress, the Navy 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 Navy allowing you to face any challenge, either at sea or ashore.
You’ll be encouraged to maintain and advance your clinical skills with the potential to complete postgraduate studies as part of your career development.
As an officer in the Navy, 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, Nursing Officers are typically posted to the Maritime Operational Health Unit based at HMAS Penguin, Sydney, NSW. You could also serve in fleet units and shore establishments around Australia based on service need. Individual preferences for posting location will be considered where possible.
Discover where the Navy operates across Australia on our major base locations map.
I'm a theatre nurse but also do triage, primary healthcare and teach - things I wouldn't do if I was a nurse in a hospital.
I'm a theatre nurse but also do triage, primary healthcare and teach - things I wouldn't do if I was a nurse in a hospital.
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 Bachelor of Nursing and registration as a Registered Nurse (RN) Division 1 with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), with a specialisation in one of the following areas:
- Emergency Care
- Intensive Care
- Perioperative Care
- Anaesthetic and Recovery
- Mental Health.
You should also have 2 years of recent post-registration experience as a RN in adult acute care with the ability to demonstrate currency of practice.
Please note: All methods of entry for the role of Nurse in the Navy require your qualifications to be endorsed by the Navy Employment Category Development Branch and the Nursing Officer Head of Professional Requirements to ensure you meet the minimum requirements. Your Careers Coach will arrange this process for you and advise you of the outcome.
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 appointed 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 and provide a minimum of 3 months’ notice.
Course: New Entry Officers' Course (NEOC)
Duration: 18 weeks
Location: HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay, NSW
You’ll begin your career by completing NEOC immediately upon entry into the Navy. NEOC is conducted in January and July each year at the Royal Australian Naval College. This is designed to teach the knowledge, skills and attributes required to be an effective junior naval officer.
NEOC course
- Physical fitness: General fitness, adventure training and the Navy swim test.
- Military life: Discipline, mannerisms, uniform procedures and Defence studies.
- Specialty skills: Small arms weapons training, first aid and survival at sea.
- Navy skills: Drill and ceremonial procedures, officer of the day duties, rank structure and Naval history.
- Leadership skills: High Functioning Teams Training and Military Resilience Training.
- Personal development: Leadership and management (including practical exercises), effective oral and written communication methods.
On completion of your NEOC course, you’ll proceed to your respective employment training.
Course: ADF Extended Practice Nursing Course 1
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: Army School of Health, Albury/Wodonga
This course focuses on primary healthcare delivery in a military environment that will provide you with the advanced skills you’ll need as a clinician within Defence and on operations.
Course: ADF Extended Practice Nursing Course 2
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: Army School of Health, Albury/Wodonga
You’ll learn advanced skills in patient assessment and management in trauma and resuscitation.
Course topics include:
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
- ALS2
- Emergency Management of Severe Burns (EMSB) course
- Major Incident Medical Management (MIMM)
- Immunisation accreditation.
You’ll also complete:
- Rotary Wing Aeromedical Evacuation Course
- Helicopter Underwater Escape Training
- Trauma Nursing Core Course.
These courses teach valuable primary healthcare and trauma skills. You’ll also be required to maintain Advanced Life Support qualifications.
As a Nursing Officer, you’ll be encouraged to maintain and advance your clinical skills with the potential to complete postgraduate studies as part of your career development. Areas may include Intensive Care, Emergency Department, Perioperative and health management.