The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, today announced a new partnership agreement to enhance the military education provided to mid-career military officers in the Australian Defence Force.

The 10-year partnership agreement has been signed between the Australian Command and Staff College and the Australian National University (ANU).

Mr Snowdon joined Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, and Vice-Chancellor of the ANU, Professor Ian Young, to launch the partnership.

“The Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) has delivered a Command and Staff Course for mid-career military officers and Australian Public Servants for the past 11 years,” Mr Snowdon said.

“The Command and Staff Course focuses on the operational and strategic interface, preparing graduates for operational command roles or challenging staff officer roles .

“Whilst providing an excellent education package, the part-time nature of such university involvement has not allowed course members to gain university postgraduate qualifications, without putting in extra work outside the course curriculum,” he said.

Mr Snowdon said the new partnership arrangement will take the course from part time university involvement to a learning model based on the ANU’s Masters of Military Studies program.

“The ANU will fully integrate with course military, civilian teaching and support staff to provide world’s best practice mid-career military and university education.”

Four academics and two administrative staff from the ANU will be permanently on campus at the Australian Command and Staff College, ensuring those undertaking the course receive support throughout the year.

“This partnership offers an improved educational model with a world-class university and aligns the Australian Command and Staff Course with the world’s best practise command and staff course standards,” Mr Snowdon said.

Topics of the new course include; strategy, operational art, expeditionary operations, complex operations, joint operations, Australian strategic policy, Defence organisation and military capability.

ACSC website: http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/centres/acsc/acsc.html

Media contact: Marcus Butler (Minister Snowdon) 02 6277 7820

Defence Media Operations: 02 6127 1999