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 minimum requirement for entry into this role is a Bachelor or Master of Communications degree majoring in Public Relations, Journalism or corporate communications. You’ll also need a minimum of 3 years paid work experience post-degree completion.

Marketing degrees will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To be eligible, you’ll need at least 3 years paid work experience in corporate communications, journalism or public relations.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications will not be considered, as a high degree of critical thinking and analysis is required of Public Relations Officers. Internships do not count towards paid work experience.

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.

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: Military Public Affairs Officer Basic Course (MPAOBC)
Duration: 12 weeks
Location: Defence Command Support Training Centre (DCSTC), Simpson Barracks, Melbourne, Vic

This course is a blended learning course over a 12-week period consisting of 10 online sessions over 10 weeks followed by a 9-day residential phase.

This course will prepare ADF MPA specialists with the skills, knowledge and attributes to be an effective junior MPA Officer. Assessments focus on MPA planning and media engagement in addition to commanding a production capability in the field.

Course: Introduction to Joint Warfighting
Duration: Approximately 20 hours (4 days)
Location: Online

This course is a self-paced, student-directed online learning activity. You’ll have up to 28 days to complete the course within the course session dates per the course calendar.

The course provides a basic understanding of the ADF, the drivers and requirement for Joint Operations and the key major, supporting and enabling capabilities employed on Joint Operations.

Course: Military Public Affairs Officer Advanced Course (MPAOAC)
Duration: 12 days
Location: Defence Command Support Training Centre (DCSTC), Simpson Barracks, Melbourne, Vic

This course is a blended learning course of 6 online sessions over 6 weeks followed by a 6-day residential phase.

This course will prepare senior Military Public Affairs Officers with the theoretical and practical capability to work effectively and collaboratively with international partners and domestic stakeholders across the complex and dynamic information environment. Assessments focus on MPA planning and coordination, incident management, media embed coordination, and mentoring junior MPA personnel.

Course: Information Operations Staff Officer Course (IOSOC)
Duration: 10 days
Location: RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW

This course prepares you to plan and manage Information Operations (IO), both offensive and defensive and to coordinate IO activities with other agencies.

In addition, you may also have to complete the following courses once you’re posted to your unit:

• Unit Public Affairs Officer Course (UPAO)
• Joint Warfighting – Planning Foundations Course 113979
• Social Media Practitioners Course.