Browse Navy jobs

It's not really any mystery what the navy does: Patrolling waters, performing rescues and, very, very occasionally, getting involved in sea battles. However, there are many jobs with the navy that don't fall into the obvious category of 'sailor'. From logistics to cooking, the navy, like the other armed forces, provides diverse career paths for people with all kinds of skills and qualifications, even if you're not sure which end the stern is (it's the pointy one, right?).

If you do become a sailor, there's pretty intense training involved, and you may be posted a considerable distance away from your family. There's also the risk of serious injury or even death, as well as long-term mental disorders. For this reason, it's not a decision to be taken lightly. As an active member of the navy, you may be station on ships, in submarines, at a naval base or even working as a pilot (yes, the navy flies, too).

Responsibilities & Skills

As stated above, there are probably hundreds of different careers that you might have working for the navy, all requiring a distinct set of responsibilities and skills. What they have in common is the armed forces focus on rigid discipline and hierarchies. You will be expected to receive and follow orders and there won't be a lot of room for making suggestions or asking questions. So, if you're a bit of a free spirit and don't like to be told what to do, the navy is probably not for you.

• You must be willing to take orders and follow them to the letter
• You must be able to make decisions under pressure and keep a cool head even in life-threatening situations
• You must be physically fit: Swimming in particular is an absolute necessity, for reasons which really ought to be obvious

Specific jobs within the navy may require specific qualifications (for example, to be any kind of engineer you will need an engineering qualification), but for recruitment purposes, the entry requirements are fairly low:

Required Qualifications

• You must have completed your training at either Recruit School or Naval College
• You must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident; in the latter case, you must apply for Australian citizenship once you are eligible or you will be discharged from the navy

Useful Links

• Official website of the Royal Australian Navy
• Recruit School Joining Instructions
• Naval College joining information