30 Jul 2014

When you picture your dream career, what do you see? Adventure? Security? Passion for what you’re doing? For most of us, that career is going to take up a large chunk of our lives, which makes it hugely important that we find a job that we love.

Now picture the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Do you see a boy’s club dominated by brawny males dressed in Army print, weapons strapped to their backs, fighting on the front line? These are some of the most common misconceptions about the ADF, and these stereotypes are keeping women in particular at a distance. Isn’t it time we chucked those preconceived ideas out the window and decide exactly what we want to do? Because, you know all those things you wanted in your dream career? They are right there, waiting for you in the Australian Defence Force.

The ADF has a range of jobs available to suit what you want out of a career and the best part is that they can offer you competitive pay, job security, some incredible benefits and opportunities, and provide you with qualifications that will set you apart from the pack. Women are quickly gaining a significant presence in the Australian Defence Force ranks, undertaking all kinds of skilled roles that showcase just how awesome we really are.

Take Rachel Chipman. As a young girl growing up in Kenya, Rachel never really considered the Defence Force as a career option but shortly after high school, Rachel joined the Australian Army as a General Service Officer. “I thought ‘what is the coolest thing a girl could do?’ So I applied for a logistics area where you can go parachuting,” Rachel said. Now she gets to do work that she loves whilst travelling and encountering situations that many others would never dream of. As an Air Dispatcher in the Royal Australian Corps of Transport (RACT), Rachel works in a role not many would consider a traditional career option.

And then there’s Karen Dwyer, who gets to use her skills as a Maritime Logistics Officer in the Royal Australian Navy where she provides linguistic support both ashore and at sea. Karen loves how much variety is involved in her job and says that “I love that there’s always something different going on and that there’s no such thing as a ‘typical day’. I consider myself very lucky to be able to say that I actually love my job.”

These are just some of the remarkable opportunities available to women in the ADF, but there are countless other career paths on offer. There is even a personalised job finder on the ADF website, so you can search for jobs that are tailored to your interests.

On top of these services, both women and men can reap the rewards that come with a career in the ADF, even if you have no previous experience and are just starting out as an apprentice or trainee. Pay for a recruit undergoing basic training starts at $33,000 per year, and as you work your way through the ranks, you’ll see your salary increase. Women receive the same opportunities for promotion as men and share the same ability to progress into leadership roles, so your pay packet will reflect your competence, not your gender.

The Australian Defence Force is determined to ensure women get the most out of their careers, so they have a number of support systems in place to help if it’s time to start a family. Paid maternity leave is available to ADF members, and there are a wide range of services provided to families to alleviate the stresses of being away from home, including education assistance for children, childcare and emergency support.

Other benefits of Defence Force life include the chance to travel across the globe and experience the world in a way no average traveller can. Accommodation, free medical care and various forms of paid leave are all on offer, but it is the high standard of training and nationally recognised qualifications provided that will make you even more employable outside the ADF.

The ADF recognises that women are capable and skilled in so many ways, and that makes us a perfect match for the Australian Defence Force. That attractive salary, those incredible benefits and the endless opportunities for career progression are equally available to men and women. So what are you waiting for?!