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. For Reserve service, the maximum age to apply is 60 years, with a Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) of 65. Candidates who wish to enlist into the Reserves beyond the age of 61 years will need further assessment to ensure they can complete all pre-requisite training in their chosen field prior to reaching CRA.

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 standard requirement for entry into this role is the following qualifications:

• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent
• registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) or the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). Recognition as a specialist by the Medical Board of Australia will also be considered.

You will also need the following experience:

• minimum 5 years’ experience as a clinically active Infectious Disease Physician with direct patient contact
• currently employed in your specialist field.

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.

There is no minimum number of years required in the ADF Reserve as service is voluntary. You can volunteer until the Defence Reserve retirement age of 65, subject to the requirements and your suitability for further service.

Reserve service is flexible and can fit around your family, life and work responsibilities. In your first year, you can choose to serve between a minimum of 20 and up to 150 days, which includes Initial Employment and Military Training. After that, you can choose to serve 20 to 150 days each year, with the potential to extend to 200 days. On training completion, you can serve from as little as one night a week, one weekend a month, or in consecutive weeks - in a way that suits your lifestyle.

In addition, you’ll need to demonstrate the following:

• operates with integrity
• demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills
• ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• provide timely and appropriate clinical advice to other medical practitioners commensurate with specialist qualifications, skillset and experience
• demonstrate an ability to lead and mentor in a team environment
• display and promote practice reflective of the Defence values through demonstrated behaviours and interactions with patients and staff.

You must not have any restrictions to practice that would prevent work in a Defence environment.

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: Logistic Officers Basic Course (LOBC) – Health
Duration: 14 days
Location: Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC), Bonegilla, Vic

You’ll undertake this course in the first 12 months of your appointment, where you’ll learn the fundamental skills required to operate in a deployed environment. The course includes theory, practical and simulated activities.

The LOBC aims to provide Logistic and Health Officers with corps and integrated skills and knowledge to fulfil a range of command and health specialised appointments at the rank of Lieutenant in a foundation warfighting environment.

Course: Medical Officers Introductory Course
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Army School of Health , Bonegilla, Vic

Completed in your first year as an Army Doctor, this course will assist you with assimilation into service life and your role as a doctor. Topics include:

• the organisation of the health services
• the medical classification system
• documentation, diseases of military importance, preventive medicine
• introduction to the duties of a Regimental Medical Officer (RMO).