ADF Careers launch

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present.

As the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, I also pay my respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have served our nation in the past and continue to do so today.

And I want to thank Corporal Taryn Roach for your Acknowledgement of Country.

Corporal Roach is a member of the Specialist Recruiting Team seeking to grow the number of indigenous Australians in the ADF, and her Team is doing great work;

Chief of Personnel, Lieutenant General Natasha Fox;

Director General Defence Force Recruiting, Commodore Jan Wiltshire;

Friends All,

Today marks a new beginning for ADF Careers.

We have a new approach, a new brand, a new partner in ADECCO and a huge mountain to climb: to grow the permanent ADF to almost 80,000 personnel by 2040.

That’s a 30 per cent increase on today.

Because that’s what we need to meet the challenges identified by the Defence Strategic Review…

To safeguard our oceans, defend our borders, patrol our skies and protect our interests in cyber and space.

This fantastic ADF Careers Centre is one of four new centres around the country.

With new centres in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth ….

And a mobile centre that will soon begin touring rural and regional Australia ….

We are reaching further than we ever have before, making sure that we’re taking Defence careers direct to prospective candidates no matter where they are across the nation.

Offering an open door to people looking to start a new career, to change careers, or return to a career in the ADF.

Most people are surprised to learn about the diversity of roles on offer in the Australian Defence Force.

There are more than 250 different types of roles across the maritime, land, air, space and cyber domains.

We need more sailors, soldiers and aviators…and not just in the roles people traditionally think of.

We also need those who want to become health specialists, mechanics and marine technicians, engineers and electricians, data specialists and drivers, cooks and carpenters.

People that want to be physically active out in the field, people who want to make the magic happen remotely from a dark basement in Canberra and everyone that enables everything in between.

And of course, there are the new exciting opportunities that come from becoming custodians of nuclear propulsion technology.

Defence is diverse, it is inclusive, and it is actively looking to better reflect the community we serve.

Because a diverse workforce is a strong workforce.

Whatever your story is, ADF Careers will be your guide to apply for a great career in Defence ….

How to do it full time or part time ….

You can learn about the free healthcare for you and your family…

It’s the adventure of a life time…

With world-class training and travel opportunities ….

And help to buy a house, plus a competitive salary, as you protect our national security.

In this competitive market, we need to be innovative and approachable.

And that’s what this new approach is all about.

We know Victorians, like many across the country, are keen to join the ADF.

There are more than 4,300 Victorian candidates in the current recruitment process.

And 23,000 candidates throughout Australia.

That’s fantastic.

But we need to move a lot faster to get these candidates assessed and approved ... we want them to have an ADF career and not find some other career in the meantime…, and that’s what streamlining the process really means. That is what we are doing.

I encourage anyone who is curious about embarking on a career in Defence to check out the website – www.adfcareers.gov.au  

And whether you are a school leaver, or thinking about a mid-career change, you are welcome to call or drop into an ADF Careers Centre – like this one – to chat about your career options.

There are people here to help you find the opportunity that best matches your skills and your goals in life.

It is now my pleasure to officially open the Melbourne ADF Careers Centre.

Thank you.

ENDS