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All Sailors will serve in fleet units (Cairns, Sydney) and shore establishments&nbsp;(Cairns, Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra) on a rotational basis.&nbsp;

You will 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 get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training. In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.

General Entry: Non-Technical

The Navy is currently investing significantly in the future of Maritime and Geospatial Warfare, as such there are opportunities to receive training from Navy, the wider ADF and recognised Industry partners. Examples of this training include the use of Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) as taught by the Australian Maritime College (Launceston, Tas), and the Geospatial Technician Course offered by the Australian Army which teaches geospatial analysis skills to satisfy the continual need for detailed mapping information for navigation and campaign planning.
<div class="p">Career Development:</div>
During your Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS), you will develop a comprehensive appreciation for the duties and postings associated with the Hydrographic Surveying workgroup. When you join the RAN you will conduct New Entry Sailor training, the Basic Seamanship Lite Course, the RHIB Coxswain courses and the Basic Hydrographic Systems Course where upon successful completion you can expect to be posted to an operational unit to consolidate your training.
Your first sea posting will more than likely be to a unit such as His Majesty&rsquo;s Australian (HMA) Ships Leeuwin or Melville (Leeuwin Class ships), where you will have plenty of supervision whilst you hone your skills as a Seaman Hydrographic Systems Operator (SMNHSO). Note that when posted to a Hydrographic Ship you are not always at sea on the ship, some activities are conducted in small boats and ashore. A survey period generally involves a Hydrographic Ship deploying to sea for approximately 8-12 weeks at a time, which is broken up by a port visit every 2 or 3 weeks. Time spent alongside in your homeport between survey deployments varies between 8-10 weeks.
As a SMNHSO at sea, the majority of your tasks will involve a mix of ship watch-keeping or small boat work combined with the data gathering, processing and validation using modern computer based systems. If, within the first 12 months of being a SMNHSO you have been well reported on (similar to a school report card), you can expect to be promoted to an Able Seaman Hydrographic Systems Operator (ABHSO).
As an ABHSO you may be required to complete additional courses such as Navigator's Yeoman, Gunner's Yeoman or Shipborne Lifesaving and Survival Equipment Maintainer to enable you to undertake further duties on a survey platform or in our survey teams. You will also see opportunities to be posted to our deployable unit which deploys both domestically and internationally in service of both military and civilian requirements (in support of humanitarian and disaster recovery activities e.g. post-natural disaster efforts).
If you are well reported on, you become eligible for promotion to Leading Seaman Hydrographic Systems Operator (LSHSO) towards the end of your IMPS. In order to prepare you for promotion to LSHSO, you will be placed on the Intermediate Seamanship (HSS) Course, Intermediate Hydrographic Systems Course and the Leading Seaman Leadership and Management Course. These courses will help you develop your leadership skills and prepare you for greater responsibility as a LSHSO.
Then if you are well reported on, you may become eligible for promotion to Petty Officer Hydrographic Systems Manager (POHSM). In order to prepare you for promotion to POHSM, you will be placed on the Advanced Seamanship (HSS/CSS) Course, H2 Hydrographic Surveying Course and the Petty Officer Leadership and Management Course. These courses will help you develop your leadership skills and prepare you for greater responsibility as a Senior Sailor.
<div class="p">Certification/Qualification:</div>
Upon completion of your H2 Hydrographic Surveying Course and Limited Navigation Training Course (LNTC), you become eligible for the internationally recognised&nbsp;FIG/IHO/ICA&nbsp;<a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fiho.int%2Fen%2Fcategory-b&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cdrjones%40dfr.com.au%7C2b2285a37e8f465e77f308da83d36571%7Cf6309f8a19544a8e93a65a32224a6c7d%7C0%7C0%7C637967241215612244%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=jL3K3vS5RGO0nOw6kT1SjLagKGCGrR077IxvaQrbTHA%3D&amp;reserved=0">Category B Certification</a>, and may also apply to be certified as a AHSCP Level 1 or 2&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://geospatialcouncil.org.au/hydrography/" target="_blank">Hydrographic Surveyor</a>.

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Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time. The primary purpose being for the safety of navigation and to support other marine activities, including economic development, security and defence, scientific research, and environmental protection.
In this role you will participate in the collection of environmental information (hydrographic, oceanographic, and meteorological data) within the maritime environment. When serving at sea or deployed, you will work from a Hydrographic Ship, or from a range of ships and locations as a member of a small deployable team. You will also provide specialist support from shore, working in the training environment or within the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation to support maritime operations. They assess the above and below water physical operating environment to determine how it can best be used to gain strategic, operational and tactical advantage.
When you join the Navy and successfully complete the recruit and initial workgroup training, you will be employed as a Hydrographic Surveyor (known in the Navy as a Hydrographic Systems Operator). You will then undertake tasks such as:
<ul>
 <li>The collection processing of environmental data utilising state-of-the-art computer systems and equipment such as multi-beam and single beam echo-sounders, sonar, robotic and autonomous systems, GPS and other navigation systems, </li>
 <li>The collection and analysis of oceanographic data by taking seabed samples, observing water clarity and temperature, measuring the speed of sound through water, and observing bioluminescence, </li>
 <li>Conduct tide camps, field operations, short notice, rapid data collection activities, and activities in support of the landing of logistical support during disaster relief operations (both home and abroad), </li>
 <li>Conduct seamanship evolutions including anchor work, rope work, small boat handling and operations, berthing, towing and deploying and recovering surveying equipment such as side scan sonars and moving vessel profilers, and </li>
 <li>Conduct watch-keeping duties at sea such as lookout, helmsman and survey systems operator. </li>
</ul>
Other tasks include:
<ul>
 <li>Form part of teams to fight fire, toxic hazards, floods and conduct casualty location and rescue, </li>
 <li>Form part of teams to conduct Force Protection to maintain the security of the ship at sea or alongside (against a full range of potential threats), and </li>
 <li>Keep duties that involve maintaining the security and integrity of the ship or base for a 24 hour period.</li>
</ul>

Plan, collect, review and distribute environmental data that aids the creation of nautical charts used in the maritime environment for safe navigation, pilotage, and shipping.

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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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