AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE

Welcome to the Defence Work Experience Program for 2023! 

The Defence Work Experience Program delivers Work Experience placements to secondary and tertiary students to gain exposure to Defence careers available in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Australian Public Service (APS). 

All available placements are advertised online and potential candidates go through an application process in order to secure a place on the program. The purpose of our program is not to recruit - but to showcase Defence careers.

We generally do not offer individual placements for students. Placements can be arranged if the candidate identifies a Defence member who is willing to supervise them for the duration of the placement and has completed the required Youth Protection Training.

Applications are currently being received for the following programs:

Exercise First Glance – Indigenous Youth Placement: RMC Duntroon (30 participants)

• 1 - 5 May 2023 (applications close 15 March)

Army Officer Overview: RMC Duntroon (30 participants)

• 1 - 4 May 2023 (applications close (5 April)

Navy Aviation Overview Program 2023 (HMAS Albatross, Nowra) (16 participants per placement)

• 20 - 22 March 2023 (applications close 5 February)
• 26 - 28 April 2023 (applications close 5 March)
• 22 - 24 May 2023 (applications close 9 April)
• 26 - 28 June 2023 (applications close 14 May)
• 24 - 26 July 2023 (applications close 11 June)
• 21 - 23 August 2023 (applications close 9 July)
• 18 - 20 September 2023 (applications close 6 August)
• 23 - 25 October 2023 (applications close 10 September)
• 20 - 22 November 2023 (applications close 8 October)

ASD: Cyber Security & Robotics Work Experience Program 2023 (16 participants per program)

• 17 - 21 April 2023 (applications close 5 March)
• 3 - 7 July 2023 (applications close 21 May)
• 10 - 14 July 2023 (applications close 21 May)
• 18 - 22 September 2023 (applications close 6 August)
• 25 - 29 September 2023 (applications close 6 August)

University Pathways through the ADF

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) offers world-class degrees in Business, Engineering, Computing, Arts and Science.

Based in Canberra, students who join ADFA have a unique opportunity to receive advanced military and leadership training whilst studying a range of degrees from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). ADFA also offers students a salary while they study, allowing them to focus throughout their degrees and enjoy a range of sporting and extra-curricular activities without the need to get a part-time job.

Upon graduation students are guaranteed a career in the Navy, Army or Air Force and will have their degree fully funded, graduating HELP-debt free. Students who graduate from ADFA move into a range of exciting and varied jobs as Officers, these range from Pilots, Civil Engineers, Logistics and Finance Officers, Mission Controllers and much more.