Australian Defence Force

Senator Ludlam asked the then Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 May 2009:

1. What outreach on careers in the military, does the department conduct in Australian high schools.
2. Can 17-year-olds be recruited into the military; if so, what safeguards, if any, does the Government maintain to ensure: (a) that the recruitment of children under the age of 18 years is genuinely voluntary; (b) that such recruitment is carried out with the informed consent of the person’s parents or legal guardians; and (c) that such persons are fully informed of the duties involved in such military service.
3. For each of the years from 2002 to 2008, how many children under the age of 18 years were recruited into Australia’s armed forces.
4. Since 21 October 2002, the date on which Australia signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, how many members of Australia’s armed forces under the age of 18 years have taken part in military operations.
5. Since 26 September 2006, when Australia ratified the Optional Protocol, how many members of Australia’s armed forces under the age of 18 years have taken part in military operations.
6. Does the Australian Government intend raising the minimum age of recruitment into its armed forces to 18 years in line with the emerging international trend, as documented in the report, Child soldiers: Global report 2008.

Senator Faulkner - The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:

1. Defence sponsored career promotion teams periodically visit Australian secondary schools to provide information to potential candidates and influencers, such as School Career Advisers, about Australian Defence Force (ADF) jobs.  Defence also sponsors a number of secondary school educational and personal development programs, including the ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Awards and Defence 2020, which provide general information about the ADF, its roles and its values.
2. 17 year olds can legally be recruited into the ADF.  The following safeguards are provided for their protection:
   1. All recruiting candidates are interviewed on their understanding of their chosen Defence career and their motivation for joining the ADF.  Only candidates able to demonstrate a genuine and legitimate interest in pursuing an ADF career are processed through to enlistment.
   2. Unless compelling circumstances prevent the candidate from obtaining both signatures, the written consent of both parents or legal guardian(s) is required for candidates under the age of 18 to join the ADF.  To ensure that candidates, parents and guardians have access to enough information to give informed consent, local Defence Force Recruiting Centres, the Defence Service Centre at Cooma, and the Defence internet site at www.defencejobs.gov.au provide printed and electronic information about ADF careers, life in the military, and the duties of ADF members.  Defence Force Recruiting Centres also regularly conduct information sessions, where parents and guardians can listen to presentations from Recruiting Centre staff and ask questions about any aspect of the recruitment process and ADF service.
   3. At their selection interview, candidates are questioned on their understanding of the ADF and only candidates who demonstrate a mature, realistic understanding of their future role are processed through to enlistment.
3. The number of personnel under 18 years of age enlisted into the ADF each calendar year from 2002 is as follows:
   
   

   Calendar Year	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
   Enlistments*	1,134	809	899	778	1,034	1,095	1,316

   
   *Note: Comprises Permanent, Gap Year and Active Reserve enlistments and Continuous Full Time Service engagements.
4. and 5. Since 21 October 2002, no member of the ADF under the age of 18 has taken part in warlike military operations. Defence policy restricts the employment of personnel under 18 years of age on operations where hostile action is likely.  When available, ADF members under 18 years of age routinely participate in operations that do not involve armed hostilities, such as providing aid to the civil community.
6. No.  Current policy allows for a minimum recruitment age of 17 years.  Increasing the recruitment age to 18 years would restrict the quality and quantity of available candidates, as many potential recruits, particularly from those States and Territories where students finish school at 17 years of age, would find alternative employment and career paths at the conclusion of their secondary schooling.

close