The position of an electrical fitter within the Navy is a long-distance and skills-oriented profession. It is meant for individuals looking for mastery in a field, true responsibility, and professional grounding within a highly organized environment. With this in mind and considering your position within the Royal Australian Navy as an electrical fitter, this profession primarily revolves around developing your future within the field of marine engineering and electricals and providing you with an opportunity to help enhance your nation’s maritime capabilities. a
This type of apprenticeship works particularly well for someone who enjoys hands-on work, working under team discipline, and continuing education. Whatever your level, whether it is starting fresh, working through an apprenticeship rank, or changing over from another trade, there’s paid training right from day one and a means to achieve nationally recognized qualifications with the Navy.
This type of apprenticeship combines military training with actual hands-on knowledge of engineering, providing not only security and steady financial growth but also actual opportunities to promote. Eventually, an individual with this apprenticeship will possess not only sophisticated knowledge in their field but also leadership skills to climb to higher-level positions in either ship or shore duties.
The role of the electric fitter involves the maintenance and operation of critical electrical and engineering systems that the naval vessels require for their operation. From the naval point of view, the role is referred to as the Marine Technician – Electrical and is a full-time position in the maritime defense community. The electric fitters get posted to various ships and bases in Australia, as the job and postings require.
As workers in the Royal Australian Navy, electrical fitters get involved in power generation, distribution, and control. This is crucial for keeping these vessels at sea. The trade requires carrying out practical work as well as other functions of the Royal Australian Navy. The primary goal of this trade is to get these vessels operational.
As an electric fitter, you’ll spend most of your workday ensuring that a variety of electrical installations are operating properly on a navy ship and in shore bases. This includes power generation and distribution equipment such as alternators, batteries, charging stations, switchboards, and lighting, in addition to anti-corrosion and auxiliary circuits that keep all of these running. You’ll also have to work around high-voltage machines, refrigeration units, and hydraulic installations, as well as new engineering controls.
There’s more to you being a sailor, however, and you play your part in making the ship as ready as possible through tasks such as ship security, firefighting, flood repair, first aid, and general seamanship. It’s certainly a varied role that requires your electrical skills but also your seamanship and, hence, your resilience.
To be an electrician, you have to have the following requirements:
You have to complete Year 10 and get a pass in English and math or have trades or business math. You have to meet the Australian Defence Force’s age requirement and pass the medical, fitness, and security tests.
The position is available to new entrants as well as to those with relevant trade skills. The required soft skills include problem-solving skills, attention to detail, teamwork, adaptability, and the right work ethic. The person required should be able to work within a disciplined environment and be ready to make an initial commitment of service.
Electrical fitters have a complete and free training process beginning from basic naval training and proceeding on to focused technical training. The recruits begin sessions at HMAS Cerberus in a course called the New Entry Sailor Course. Then they get into comprehensive on-the-job training and go through phases of technical training and an apprenticeship arrangement culminating in a Certificate III in Electrical Fitting.
This growth curve doesn’t end with the entry level but progresses into the service development levels, which involve opportunities for higher qualifications in Certificate IV and Diploma in Electrical Distribution, Instrumentation, Refrigeration, and Engineering Systems. With gained experience, the opportunity emerges for electric fitters to explore higher levels in the organization, perhaps in the area of supervising.
The electrical fitter role provides a good starting salary, which increases with your training, gaining qualifications, promotion, and years of service. Once fully trained, you will enter a very competitive annual salary range, further complemented by superannuation at a very healthy 16.4%. Added to this base package are allowances according to where you serve or what tasks you perform.
Aside from the money, there is a stable work life in the Navy, good healthcare support, paid leave, subsidized meals, gyms or fitness outlets, and constant opportunities for skill development. Benefits and allowances vary with experience, location, and service conditions, all of which help keep the role both financially and professionally viable for a considerable period into the future.
This role is appropriate for individuals who are hands-on and would like to have a direct and sequential path to career advancement. Electrical fitters would be an excellent opportunity for mechanically minded individuals looking to take on a challenge and eager to develop and learn within a disciplined and organized environment.
This would be a great match for anyone seeking stable, recognizable qualifications and the opportunity to advance into roles of senior management within the Navy.
“In general,” host Derek Maull says of his fellow veterans, “they appreciate a team-oriented work environment and want to be able to apply their skills.
People in this industry want to be able to help others, and military personnel have ample opportunity. It also attracts people who enjoy staying up-to-date in their field of expertise. This industry offers them the benefit of
Candidates are supposed to apply through an online form on the Australian Defence Force’s recruitment website and provide their basic information, educational qualifications, and jobs of interest. After submitting their application, candidates are subjected to aptitude tests to assess their potential for various jobs, an online information session, and a medical questionnaire.
The candidates who perform impressively are invited to an assessment day, which involves medical tests, psychological tests, and defence interviews. Based on individual situations, further fitness tests also follow. The whole procedure ends with the enlisting of candidates as they receive the formal job offer.
Before you even apply, get some knowledge of what an electric fitter does and what is expected of them on a day-to-day basis in the Navy. Catch up on basic math skills, basic knowledge of electricity, and overall fitness levels, which will all help you be more ready for training. Working on skills related to teamwork, communication, and problem-solving will help you succeed in tests and even after that in the Navy.
Physically conditioning yourself, especially in swimming and overall cardio health, is highly advisable. Being confident in safety procedures and techniques used in this line of work will certainly help your transition into training be easier.
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Q: What is the initial period of service for an electrical fitter?
The initial minimum period of service is generally three years, depending on entry method and training requirements.
Q: Is prior trade experience required to apply?
No, applicants can join with or without prior experience, as full training is provided.
Q: Will I be paid during training?
Yes, electrical fitters are paid from day one, including throughout all training phases.
Q: Where will I be posted after training?
Postings may be at sea or at shore-based Navy facilities across Australia.
Q: Are qualifications recognized outside the Navy?
Yes, training leads to nationally recognized trade qualifications.
Q: What are the working hours like?
Work hours vary depending on operational demands, including sea deployments and shore duties.
Q: Can existing qualifications be recognized?
Yes, eligible candidates may receive recognition of prior learning, subject to assessment.
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