Free medical and dental treatment

As a Defence employee you are entitled to free medical and dental treatment. Defence Doctors, Dentists and Nurses are trained to the highest standards of medical care and work in state-of-the-art facilities. It's not only expert medical care you will receive; you will also qualify for any specialist treatment deemed necessary for your ongoing health.

Subsidised Accommodation

Defence will pay a partial contribution towards the overall cost of accommodation, if eligible. If you are in training or you have a specific role that requires your presence on base you might ‘live in'. This could be in Mess type accommodation, or on a shore establishment, where your rooms will be comfortable and private. You may be required to pay a small contribution, unless you are a recruit, or a member with dependents. 

Lots of leave

You're entitled to a basic leave amount of four weeks per year. If you spend time carrying out official duties overnight or on weekends you may also receive extra days recreational leave. After ten years effective service you're entitled to three months paid long service leave.

Maternity Leave

Defence provides up to 52 weeks maternity leave to female members who are eligible. For women who have served 12 months or more, the first 14 weeks of this leave is at full pay. The rest will normally be unpaid maternity leave.  

Compassionate Leave

This can apply when a relative is seriously ill or passes away.  

Leave – Other

There are many other types of leave such as parental leave, carer's leave, travel leave, part-time leave without pay and leave without pay, which you may qualify for during your time in Defence.  

  
Explore Australia and overseas

One of the great benefits of a career in the Defence is the opportunities to travel. The Australian Defence Force has bases all over Australia which means that during your career you will get to see more of the country than most others would in a lifetime. You could also be deployed overseas or within Australia.