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Eligibility Checklist

Before you apply, make sure you meet the basic role requirements. You'll find detailed information on the <a href="?tab=ways-to-join">Ways to join</a> tab.

Join without qualifications
There are many excellent career options in the ADF that generally don&rsquo;t require experience or qualifications. You&rsquo;ll receive all the training you need and be paid while you train.
Who it&rsquo;s for:&nbsp;Those seeking general roles and career opportunities.

You'll be paid while you train, and on completion of your Initial Military Training and Employment Training, you’ll earn at least:

Training

Your starting salary

Trained

Your salary once trained

In the Navy you'll be paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications.

General Entry: Non-technical

Upon completion of your H2 Hydrographic Surveying Course and Limited Navigation Training Course (LNTC), you’ll be eligible for the internationally recognised International Federation of Surveyors/International Hydrographic Organization/International Cartographic Association (FIG/IHO/ICA) Category B Certification, and may also apply to be certified as an Australasian Hydrographic Surveyors Certification Panel (AHSCP) Level 1 or 2 Hydrographic Surveyor. 

The Navy is currently investing significantly in the future of Undersea Geospatial Warfare Capability and, as a result, you’ll receive specialised training from both Navy and industry partners such as the Australian Maritime College in the operation of emerging Robotic and Autonomous Systems. Currently, these systems include autonomous underwater vehicles and the unmanned surface vessels system. When you’re identified for further career advancement and promotion, you’ll be provided with intermediate and advanced level training to prepare you for supervisor and manager roles.

Key Information

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As a Hydrographic Surveyor, you’ll contribute to the Navy’s understanding of the maritime environment. You’ll participate in the collection of hydrographic, oceanographic, and meteorological data within the maritime environment to enable the safe navigation of Navy vessels.

When serving at sea or deployed, you’ll work from a Hydrographic Ship, or from a range of ships and locations, as a member of a small team tasked with collecting and analysing hydrographic data. You'll be trained to operate cutting-edge sensor technology, including some of the most advanced Autonomous systems in the world. As a team member of the Deployable Geospatial Survey Team, you’ll operate the latest Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS). You’ll also provide specialist support from shore, working in the training environment or within the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) to support maritime operations. AGO assesses the physical operating environment, above and below water, to determine how it can be best used to a gain strategic, operational or tactical advantage. 

Your first posting will likely be to a unit such as HMAS Leeuwin, Qld, or to a deployable specialised team known as the Maritime Geospatial Warfare Unit who conducts a range of Geospatial Military Survey Exercises and Operations where you’ll hone your skills as a surveyor. A typical survey period generally involves deploying to sea on a Hydrographic Ship for approximately 8-12 weeks, which is broken up by a port visit every 2 or 3 weeks. In between survey deployments, you’ll also work in your home port for periods of 8-10 weeks.

Ensure safe navigation by delivering Geospatial Warfare effects in the maritime environment by collecting, reviewing and distributing environmental data to create nautical charts.

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Hydrographic Surveyor

Find out what it’s like

Benefits you won't see anywhere else

You’ll enjoy the following:

Great salary from day one, which increases with experience

Generous superannuation of 16.4% – a huge 4.9% over the Australian standard

Help to buy a home, a subsidised home loan or rent allowance

Free medical and dental for you, and subsidised healthcare for you and your family

Fully paid training

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