Job Details

Undergraduate, Graduate

The primary aim of nursing within the Air Force Health Service is to provide effective operational health support to meet ADF commitments and effectively manage health capability during peacetime or in deployed operations. Registered nurses applying to join the Air Force must be prepared to work in a variety of nursing environments ranging from fixed health facilities at operational bases to field deployable health facilities at expeditionary air bases. The Nursing Officer is required to exercise a high degree of initiative and flexibility in adapting to the dynamics of a remote locality, especially when employed in aeromedical evacuation duties, operational deployments, exercises and disaster situations.

At Air Force Health Squadrons, nursing duties generally equate to those practised at a community level but with a more operational/deployed focus.

Listed below are the areas in which Nursing Officer's skills could be employed: 

• General nursing duties; 
• Outpatient care; 
• Operating theatre; 
• Health promotion; 
• Aeromedical evacuation; 
• Operational deployments; 
• Medical assistant training in the training school and on-the-job continuation training;
• Nursing administration; and 
• Alcohol rehabilitation and education program. 

Graduate (Reserve)

Nursing Officers in the Royal Australian Air Force Active Reserve are trained in preparation for their role in one of the Air Force's Health Units. These units may include expeditionary health squadrons or higher command headquarters. Nursing Officers are initially posted to Reserve squadrons, which organise their initial officer training and on completion of initial officer training will be posted to an expeditionary health squadron for employment, including employment training either within the member’s squadron or in another Australian Defence Force organisation.

The primary aim of nursing within the Air Force Health Service is to provide effective operational health support to meet ADF commitments and effectively manage health capability during peacetime or in deployed operations. Registered nurses applying to join the Air Force Reserve must be prepared to work in a variety of nursing environments, many of which are not experienced in the civilian health service. The Nursing Officer is required to exercise a high degree of initiative and flexibility in adapting to the dynamics of a remote locality, especially when employed in aeromedical evacuation duties, operational deployments, exercises and disaster situations.

At Air Force Health Squadrons nursing duties generally equate to those practised at a community level but with a more operational/deployed focus.

Reserve Nursing Officers can be employed in the following areas:

• General nursing duties;
• Outpatient care;
• Operating theatre (if qualifications are held);
• Health promotion;
• Aeromedical evacuation; and
• Operational deployments.

The operational role of Nursing Officers will require knowledge of and the ability to work within a deployed health facility and to develop the specialised Ground Defence skills and knowledge needed to perform their duties in an operational environment.

Specialist Reserve

The Health element of the Air Force Specialist Reserve (AF SR) is designed to provide a broad range of health services which complement and supplement those maintained in the Permanent Air Force (PAF).

Nursing Officers in the Air Force Specialist Reserve are trained in preparation for roles in one of the Air Force's Health Units. These units may include expeditionary health facilities, higher command headquarters, and local health units.

The primary aim of nursing within the Air Force Health Service is to provide effective operational health support to meet ADF commitments and effectively manage health capability during peacetime or in deployed operations. Registered nurses applying to join the Air Force Specialist Reserve must be prepared to work in a variety of nursing environments, many of which are not experienced in the civilian health service.

The Nursing Officer is required to exercise a high degree of initiative and flexibility in adapting to the dynamics of a remote locality, especially when employed in aeromedical evacuation duties, operational deployments, exercises and disaster situations. Specialist Reserve nurses are expected to perform with a high degree of skill in their specialist area and are expected to remain current and competent in that area of practice to stay in the Reserve. At Air Force Health Squadrons, nursing duties generally equate to those practised at a community level but with a more operational/deployment focus.

Nurses therefore are expected to possess a post-graduate qualification and at least two years experience in that specialty to be considered for entry.

Vacancies may exist within the specialties of:

• Critical Care Nursing (including ICU, emergency);
• Perioperative Nursing;
• Burns/wound Nursing;
• Midwifery; and
• Mental Health Nursing.