Commissioned Defence Force Officer
What the work is
Provides high level management to support the running of an organisational unit within the Australian Defence Force.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Establishes administrative and operational procedures by considering the operating environment of the Defence Force
- Makes policy decisions and accepts responsibility for Defence operations, staff performance and achievement of targets, and adheres to budgets, standards and procedures
- Establishes lines of control and delegates responsibilities to subordinate Defence Force staff
- Coordinates and facilitates the development of strategic plans and objectives for organisational units within the Defence Force
- Liaises with other officers and external stakeholders to coordinate activities and achieve objectives
- Represents the Defence Force at unit meetings, briefings and other official engagements
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a fictional district headquarters of an emergency fire service, where an officer leads several stations and volunteer brigades. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A season of preparation pays off and your crews finish a hard day safe and proud
- A station captain you mentored takes on a bigger role with confidence
- A community meeting ends with residents saying they feel ready, not scared
Hard days
- A day of extreme conditions, with every decision about where to place crews watched by many people
- Tired volunteers who have given a lot and are being asked for more
- Deciding between two stations that both need the same new equipment
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 149231, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.