Army
Reserve

Obstetrician Gynaecologist

Reserve
In-service title: Military Medicine Trauma Specialist - Obstetrics and Gynaecology

As a part-time Obstetrician Gynaecologist, you’ll have the opportunity to use your existing qualifications and skills in an exciting new way. This part-time, flexible position offers time commitments that fit around your lifestyle and schedule, where you’ll gain unmatched rewards.

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A female uniformed Army gynaecologist is seen making notes in a field medical environment.

What you'll do

You’ll be responsible for providing medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth. You’ll also diagnose, treat and help prevent illnesses related to female health, particularly those affecting the reproductive system.

You’ll work primarily in deployed health facilities during military operations, rather than providing routine care to military patients in Australia. This could be in communities the ADF supports on operations, where your patients may be refugees or people in disaster-affected areas.

Your duties may include:

  • performing caesarean sections or other surgical procedures to preserve patients' health and deliver babies safely
  • prescribing or administering therapy, medication, and other specialised medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease or injury
  • treating diseases of female organs
  • consulting with, or providing consulting services to, other physicians
  • planning, implementing or administering health programs for prevention and treatment of injuries or illnesses.

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.

The Army Reserve has units located all across Australia and offers you the flexibility to serve where you live. There are training locations in cities, small towns and regional areas. Even if there isn’t a unit close to you there may be other ways to serve. You’ll have a Careers Coach who you can ask about your options.

Specialist Medical Officers are generally posted to a Health Battalion located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney and Townsville. Support is available for you to travel to training activities from regional centres, if required.

Requirements and training

Part-time specialist role
Officer Entry: Specialist Reserve
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. 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.

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

The minimum requirement for entry into this role is as follows. You must be qualified and unconditionally registered as a medical practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in your specialisation. Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is also required.

Health and fitness

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.

Period of service

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.

Training
Military training

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.