Women in the ADF - Index
- Reviews and Restrictions
- Physical Employment Standards
- Overseas Comparisons
- Initiatives
- Speeches and Articles
As at 30 June 2005, women comprised 13.2 percent of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Women are currently not employed in combat duties in the ADF. The ADF has an exemption to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 regarding the employment of women in combat duties.
The employment of women in the ADF was the subject of an extensive review in 1992 and again in 1998. As a result of the 1992 review, employment options for women in the ADF have been expanded. The only restricted employment areas are those linked directly to combat operations.
The reviews examined:
- the current ADF exclusions of women from combat duties and the limitations placed on the employment of women by equipment and/or methods of operations;
- attitudes to the employment of women in combat in Defence and in the community; and
- overseas experiences in the employment of women in combat.
Women are currently able to serve in all positions except for the following employment categories or corps:
- Navy - Clearance Divers,
- Army - Armour, Artillery, Infantry, Combat Engineer, and
- Air Force - Ground Defence Officers and Airfield Defence Guards.
A restriction has been imposed on women within some employment areas for occupational health and safety reasons, where use of embryo-toxic substances could endanger their health, for example surface finishers and electroplaters within the Air Force.
Operational capability cannot be compromised as it is the core business of the ADF, and it will continue to involve all qualified Australians in the defence of the nation.
In November 2001, the Chiefs of Staff Committee directed that ergonomic studies proceed to enable physical employment standards to be developed for all combat arms.
The key objective is to analyse the ergonomic, human performance, and physical capacity requirements of the combat arms in order to develop appropriate trade selection and maintenance standards. The analysis will also help to evaluate task risk factors and enable preventative strategies to be directed at the primary factors contributing to the risks for injury.
Although the Physical Employment Standards Project will not consider whether or not direct combat roles should be open to women, the data collected may be considered in any further examination of the roles in which women in the ADF are able to serve.
New Zealand and Germany have opened combat positions to women.
In the United Kingdom, the Secretary for Defence has stated that combat positions should be opened to women and has placed the burden of proof for not opening the positions on the Services.
Canada has opened combat positions to women but has been unable to meet its targets.
Burton Report
In 1996 the Women in the ADF Report by Dr Clare Burton examined cultural, social and institutional barriers to women's career progression and retention in the ADF. The Report found that a more systematic and strategic approach was required to eliminate sex-based discrimination.
The Report's 20 recommendations address a range of personnel, management and leadership issues including job competencies, human resource management practices, balancing family and work responsibilities, employment practices and performance review.
Since 1992 initiatives to integrate women into the ADF have been "mainstreamed" into general strategies and policies. Women do not want to be treated differently to men. The focus has been on eliminating any discriminatory practices so that women and men can compete on merit.
- Chief of the Defence Force July 2000 (54k, Word file)
- Secretary of Defence December 1999 (33k, Word file)
- Chief of the Defence Force May 1999 (46k, PDF)
- Chronology of Women in the ADF (56k, PDF)
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