12 August 2025
One of eight 2025 Sailor of the Year finalists, Petty Officer Amanda Prins, chats about her Navy career, life and what it means to be nominated.
Most afternoons you’ll find Petty Officer Amanda Prins in her driveway, teaching her young son skateboarding.
“He’s just started lessons and we’re taking a few tumbles here and there,” the energetic communications information systems (CIS) sailor laughed.
“But it’s just about being outdoors and getting the kids active.”
Sport and spending time with her two young sons is valued time for the busy sailor, who was promoted to Petty Officer at the end of May and is one of eight finalists for the 2025 Sailor of the Year.
Growing up in Ipswich, Petty Officer Prins had school friends with Navy connections and thought joining the Navy would be “a pretty cool and interesting thing to do”.
CIS sailors are specialist members of the Information Warfare (IW) community responsible for providing assured communications at sea and ashore.
Posted to HMAS Perth, Petty Officer Prins’ role as a supervisor in the Communications Department is to ensure all the tasks get done.
'To be nominated with seven colleagues who have also done some amazing and extraordinary things has been an honour and a privilege.'
“We also practise for our actual jobs when we go to sea,” she explained.
“So we’re often doing flag exercises and we do a lot of bridge training with command and the officer of the watches to build relationships and make sure when we are communicating with other ships and units at sea.
“The exercises ensure we are following procedures and doing it efficiently.”
Outside the Navy, sport-loving Petty Officer Prins is passionate about Aussie Rules Football and played in the inaugural HMAS Stirling women’s football team that made the grand final in their first year.
Being a Sailor of the Year finalist is a career highlight for Petty Officer Prins, who said it has given her amazing opportunities to network with senior leadership.
“To be nominated with seven colleagues who have also done some amazing and extraordinary things has been an honour and a privilege,” she said.
“We visited the Australian War Memorial which is a special and sacred place for us and I had the opportunity to do the Last Post Ceremony and share the story of a fallen comrade.”
For Navy members, nominations are now open for the 2026 Sailor of the Year program.
Members can nominate peers, subordinates or superiors from able seaman to petty officer who are a positive influence on their teams and strengthen Navy.
Finalists will benefit from a range of high-profile opportunities and be involved in conversations with senior leadership to influence change.
Complete the nomination form on the Navy Intranet home page.
