Naval Doctor (ADF) Australia Full Time

ADF Australia

Take on new medical challenges and explore opportunities for specialist training—all in a flexible, part-time role where you’ll care for Navy personnel and support communities in need.

Job Description:

As a Navy doctor, you’ll play a vital role in keeping Navy personnel healthy and mission-ready. You’ll also have the chance to provide humanitarian aid and take part in defence operations both in Australia and around the world, working closely with the Army and Air Force.

Duties

Primary healthcare
Occupational medicine
Public health medicine
Medical administration
Emergency medicine.

Become an officer with your existing degree

Requirements and Training

Citizenship

You need to be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF, although permanent resident non-Australian citizens may be eligible to join.

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 57 years.

Education and experience

The minimum requirement for entry into this role is a Bachelor of Medicine and registration as a medical practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

If you’re a junior medical officer commencing your prevocational training, you must be following a general practitioner pathway to be eligible.

Please note: All methods of entry for the role of doctor in the Navy require your qualifications, including education, registration, and experience, to be endorsed by the Navy Employment Category Development Branch and the Medical 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.

Some degree-qualified officers will start their careers at one rank higher than non-graduate officers. Please speak to your careers coach for further information.

Health and Fitness

To enlist in the Navy, you will need to fulfill certain medical and physical fitness standards. Keeping regular exercise going before enlisting is also advisable, as physical fitness is an essential component of training and service life on a daily basis.

Once you’re on board, the Navy will aid your continued physical development. You’ll be able to make use of professional fitness trainers, state-of-the-art gyms, organized sports, and healthy meal provisions by chefs. As a part of your career, you’ll have to undergo an annual fitness test, consisting of a plank and one of a beep test, run/walk, or swim. This keeps you fit for duty and ready for the physical challenges of life in the Navy.

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.

Security requirements

All ADF members require a security clearance.

Military training

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.
Speciality 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) and effective oral and written communication methods.

After you complete NEOC successfully, you will proceed to your specialized employment training to get ready for your particular Navy position.

Employment training

Throughout your first posting, you’ll receive ground-level military and military medicine training to position you for your work as a Navy Doctor. This involves specialist training in fields like trauma management, underwater and aviation medicine, and aeromedical evacuation, enabling you to administer top-tier medical care in maritime and operational settings.

You will also have to undergo the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program. Prior to your first sea deployment, you’ll undertake a minimum of one basic term as part of this training program. This is in place to ensure you’re professionally supported and clinically prepared when moving into delivering care in a variety of dynamic environments.

Period of service

You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 3 years.

In-Service Information
In the Navy, this role is known as “medical officer.”
Title abbreviation: MO.

Officer Entry

Full-Time Service

Salary

$134,409 per annum

Plus generous superannuation of 16.4%