ARmy Rumour SErvice

It should be an employer sponsored visa - the one I got was a sub-class 120 but all this may be different now.

Basically though the information you will need to put together will be along the lines of:

Name and any previous names that you've lived under and reason for change of name
Address
DPOB
Tel No
E-mail
Places you've lived for the last 5-10 years
Jobs you've had and employer details
Criminal Record
Visits to Australia
Passport details

Same for every person over 16 on your application

You will also need to supply basic details (name, DPOB, address, employment) for members of close family (parents, brothers and sisters)

If your passport is due to expire or will have less than 6 months on it at the time you plan to move I would suggest you get a new one sharpish (and same for anybody else on your application)

Details of visa can be found at Labour Agreements

Extracted from article published in today's 'Australian' (27/12/2011)


THE Australian Defence Force is exploiting forced cutbacks in military spending in Britain and other Western countries, embarking on an unprecedented drive to recruit laid-off soldiers, sailors and air crew.

Defence, which has struggled to fill recruitment quotas in the face of increasing competition from the lucrative private sector, is seeking highly skilled specialists such as fighter pilots, special forces officers and submarine crews. And as an incentive, it is prepared to offer a fast track to Australian citizenship for so-called "lateral recruits" after just three months' service.

The Australian has learned that the Royal Australian Navy recently sent a delegation to Britain to investigate the availability of recently retrenched sailors, particularly those with engineering experience.

Defence is under pressure to maintain a strong contingent of highly trained troops in Afghanistan as it gears up to accept complex new ships and aircraft.

As it competes with industry for skilled personnel, the ADF has focused its recruitment effort in Britain, which is cutting back heavily on defence as part of a government-wide austerity drive.

However, Australian navy chief Ray Griggs has given an undertaking to his British counterpart, First Sea Lord Admiral Mark Stanhope, that Australia will not recruit personnel the British need to maintain their capabilities.

And to find enough trained personnel to crew its submarines and the fleet of new warships now being built, the navy is also recruiting from the US, Canada and New Zealand.

A recent report on maintenance problems in Australia's navy suggested that as many as 200 more engineers were needed to rebuild lost expertise.

The RAN is facing tough competition for engineers from the booming resources industry.

It is preparing to provide crews for a new fleet that will include potent Air Warfare Destroyers and giant 28,000-tonne landing ships, bigger than Australia's past aircraft carriers.

But many comprehensively trained naval engineers deployed to submarines based at HMAS Stirling, south of Perth, have found themselves quickly moving on up to the Pilbara mines after being offered big pay rises and less arduous working conditions. Some of those deep water sailors have missed the camaraderie of service life and returned to it, but at present the navy has barely enough crews for three of its six submarines.

The ADF's long-term recruiting problems have eased during the past two years, in part because improved wages and more family-friendly conditions have slowed the departure of those attracted to private-sector jobs, but also because the global financial crisis made it harder to find jobs outside the services.

The ADF recruited 125 servicemen and five women overseas in the 2009-10 financial year, but only 33 men and one woman in 2010-11. Overseas recruitment is expected to increase sharply this year in part because of Britain's economic woes.

The ADF loses 6 per cent to 9 per cent of its personnel each year, depending in part on how many reach a career "ceiling" and also on the state of the economy and the external job market.

In 2009-10 the ADF hired replacements for 6738 who left, and that dropped to just under 5000 last year.

Under the heading: "Who we are looking for?" the Defence website says the ADF is seeking "serving or ex-serving foreign military personnel who can directly transfer their job and life skills to whichever service they join with limited training and preparation.

"The Australian Defence Force looks to overseas candidates to fill gaps in our services, which can't currently be satisfied by standard recruitment.

"We recognise that these candidates can bring skills and attributes to the navy, army and air force that will strengthen their overall operation and success rate."

The ADF campaign is also targeting Australian citizens or permanent residents residing overseas who have military experience.

After that general introduction, the recruiters from Army, Navy and RAAF take over the pitch. "The Royal Australian Navy welcomes inquiries from both officers and sailors who are interested in a new career and new life in Australia," says the senior service. "In the coming decade the RAN is delivering new capabilities in amphibious warfare, air warfare and also helicopter systems."

The overseas recruitment program is targeting serving personnel or those who "separated" no more than three years ago.

Applicants must apply for a permanent resident visa before coming to Australia.

They must also give a written undertaking that they will apply for Australian citizenship as soon as they are eligible. This is normally two years after permanent residence is granted, but an exception will be made for these service personnel, who will become eligible after three months' service.

A key navy recruitment category is maritime warfare officers, the only class of submariner eligible to become a submarine commander.

Submariners sought include cryptologists, who work in signals intelligence intercepting and interpreting communications. The documentation warns that today's submariner is a unique breed who will be tested to the limits of their endurance in a service that is extremely emotionally and physically demanding. All men and women serving in submarines must be eligible for a top-secret security clearance.

The Royal Australian Air Force is looking for a limited number of overseas fighter pilots and test pilots qualified to check out multi-engined, fixed-wing aircraft.

The army is looking for bomb-disposal experts and is also particularly keen to recruit Catholic chaplains.

It is seeking helicopter pilots, especially instructors able to teach Australians to fly its rotary-wing aircraft. The army's new helicopters include MRH-90 troop transports and Tiger-armed reconnaissance choppers.

The army is also looking for officers in artillery, intelligence, transport, supply, catering, infantry, signals and military police especially those with investigation experience as well as dentists and nurses.

The army wants officers with special forces experience, especially those qualified to parachute and to carry out amphibious operations. Ideally, the signals officers will have electronic warfare experience.

The campaign involves a labour agreement with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that allows each service to sponsor overseas recruits.

Looking at the Letter of Offer it states an arrival date of 1 Oct. Does anyone know if it's possible to delay this arrival date?

When did you recieve your LOO. As far as I know dependent on circumstances there might be some room to move at least that's what we were led to believe.

I received my LoO in the 16 Dec. Normally I wouldn't need to kick up a fuss but my 9 yr money is due 25 days after they want me so i'm potentially losing out on a nice lump sum of money.

That usually requires a return of service when you sign for the money.

There is no return of service with the money. Its part of my pension.