You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.

You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. For Reserve service, the maximum age to apply is 60 years, with a Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) of 65. Candidates who wish to enlist into the Reserves beyond the age of 61 years will need further assessment to ensure they can complete all pre-requisite training in their chosen field prior to reaching CRA.

For this role, you’ll need an Australian state or territory full, provisional or probationary C Class licence. If your licence is suspended or cancelled, you won’t be eligible until that suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.

All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.

For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.

The minimum requirement for entry into this role is a documented 3-year bachelor’s degree or postgraduate level in theology, ministry, pastoral care or chaplaincy, with at least one unit of pastoral counselling skills and one unit of pastoral counselling theory.

Postgraduate qualifications in pastoral counselling skills and pastoral counselling theory preferred.

You’ll also need to provide:

• documented completion of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Level 1 (or higher) or equivalence in supervised experience or other equivalent supervised programs
• documented evidence of being a recognised faith group religious leader with the invested authority to represent your faith in the Air Force
• documented evidence of a minimum of 3 years full-time supervised pastoral care experience (preferably in chaplaincy).

Pastoral care experience can either be when pastoral care is a substantial part of your full-time role, post degree or supervised pastoral care that includes formal supervision and regular feedback regarding skills, knowledge and attitudes.

Recent experience in chaplaincy related roles, relevant professional experience in multi-faith contexts, or engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait people is also advantageous.

If you’re considering completing a training course advertised as ‘suitable for military chaplaincy’ and would like some further guidance, please feel welcome to contact dgchapaf.recruiting@defence.gov.au.

To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.

Female

• Sit-ups (feet held): 20
• Shuttle Run Score: 5.1.

Male

• Sit-ups (feet held): 20
• Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.

For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.

There is no minimum number of years required in the ADF Reserve as service is voluntary. You can volunteer until the Defence retirement age of 65, subject to the requirements and your suitability for further service.

Reserve service is flexible and can fit around your family, life and work responsibilities. You choose your level of commitment ranging from a minimum of 20 days and up to 150 days per year, with the potential to extend to 200 days. In your first year, this includes both Initial Employment and Military Training. On training completion, you can serve from as little as a couple of days a week, one weekend a month or in consecutive weeks - in a way that suits your lifestyle.

To be an Air Force Chaplain, you’ll also need the following:

• a current Working with Children’s Check (WWCC)/Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) as required for your current location
• be a recognised faith group religious leader who has the invested authority to represent your faith group in Air Force
• a minimum 3-years full-time recognised supervised pastoral care experience (preferably in Chaplaincy)
• be deemed suitable for appointment by the Director General Chaplaincy Air Force
• endorsement from an Air Force approved endorsing authority e.g. Religious Advisory Committee to the Services (RACS).

Faith groups represented on RACS are:

• Anglican Church of Australia
• Churches of Christ in Australia
• Executive Council of Australian Jewry
• Lutheran Church of Australia
• National Sikh Council of Australia
• Presbyterian Church of Australia
• Salvation Army Australia
• Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Australia
• Uniting Church in Australia
• Vishnu Hindu Parishad of Australia.

Course: Specialist Reserve Officer Induction Course
Duration: 5 days
Location: RAAF Base East Sale, Vic

This course will provide you with general service knowledge, including:

• Air Force customs
• mess etiquette
• air power studies
• organisation of the ADF
• basic practical instruction in drill movements.

Course: ADF Support Chaplaincy Course
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Defence Force Chaplaincy College (DFCC), Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), Canberra, ACT

This course is structured as a distance learning and residential course that consists of 4 parts.

• Part 1 Introduction to Defence Chaplaincy (5-day equivalent ‘on the job’ over a 6-12 month period) – includes conducting or facilitating religious and secular observances/activities and effective administration and management.
• Part 2 Pastoral Policy and Advocacy (one week at DFCC) – prepares you to provide support networks, pastoral care support and maintain pastoral care records.
• Part 3 Character, Ethics and Morality (one week at DFCC) – prepares you to provide timely and accurate advice on character development, personal morality, ethics, military ethical decision making and to develop and deliver educational programs.
• Part 4 Pastoral Counselling, Mental Health Literacy and Wellbeing (2 weeks at DFCC) – prepares you for mental health research, pastoral counselling, record-keeping, referral practices and the requirements for your own professional supervision, self-care and professional development.

You’ll have the opportunity to complete additional training including youth safety, critical incidents, moral injury, key religious leaders and community engagement.

The Defence Force Chaplaincy College (DFCC) provides ongoing training to prepare you for varying roles and increased responsibilities. There are currently 2 Chaplaincy career progression courses available. These are:

• ADF Coordinating Chaplaincy Course for Chaplains posted into coordinating roles
• ADF Senior Chaplaincy Course for Chaplains posted into senior leadership roles.