Defence Community Organisation

Overseas lateral recruitment is managed by the individual Services of the ADF (Navy, Army and Air Force) through their respective career management agencies. The intake periods for the Services varies, but typically takes between 12 and 24 months from the time you’ve lodged an expression of interest to your arrival in Australia.

The standard steps (or phases) for overseas lateral recruitment are:

1. Your application (or expression of interest)
2. Selection process
3. Letter of offer
4. Appointment or enlistment
5. Relocation
6. Arrival in Australia
7. Induction

The scheme seeks to attract foreign military nationals (who have been separated from their service for no longer than three years) to address critical skill shortages. It is aimed at those who can directly transfer their job and life skills to whichever Service they join, with limited training and preparation.

Each application is carefully considered on its merit. Your experience, qualifications and claims against the requirements of the role to be filled—by appointment, rank, trade or profession—and the standards for entry and service in the ADF will be considered.

If your application is successful, a letter of offer for appointment or enlistment to a particular vacancy will be sent to you. This offer will contain conditions of service that are based on the assessment of your individual skills, qualifications and alignment to ADF workforce requirements.

This means your offered rank on entry may not align to what you hold or held within your original country’s military Service. Your remuneration package (salary and entitlements) will reflect your specific placement within the relevant ADF occupational workgroup.

When applying for a position in the ADF it is important to understand that joining the ADF is not an extension or transfer of your existing military career, but the commencement of a new career with the ADF. The processes and the ADF culture may also be different from what you are used to.

Phase 1 – Application/Expression of Interest

• Applicant submits Expression of Interest (EOI)

• EOI reviewed by Service representative

Exit: If EOI is not successful the applicant will be notified and does not progress to next step

Phase 2 – Selection Process

• Successful applicant invited to submit full application

• Candidate (and partner) participate in Defence Community Organisation telephone interview

• Selection activity undertaken

Exit: If unsuccessful at any stage in Phase 2 the candidate will be notified and does not progress to next step

Phase 3 – Letter of Offer

• Letter of Offer to successful candidate

• Candidate (and partner) participate in second telephone interview with Defence Community Organisation

• Application for Immigration, Visa processing

• Medical clearance, security clearance and visa granted

Exit: If unsuccessful at any stage in Phase 3 the candidate will be notified and does not progress to next step.

Phase 4 – Appointment/Enlistment

• Successful candidate appointed or enlisted into ADF

Phase 5 – Relocation

• Member/family commences relocation process to Australia

Phase 6 – Arrival in Australia

• Member/family arrive in Australia

• Member/family introduced to Defence Community Organisation representative

Phase 7 – Induction

• Induction and integration into the ADF