Training as a Medical Officer is developed case-by-case in consultation with the NZDF’s Chief Medical Officer and the senior Medical Officer at your local Defence Health Centre.

The training programme may consist of a combination of “on the job” experience, readings, completion of a series of prescribed tasks (a workbook), and discussions with other Defence Health professionals, to ensure you are familiar with Defence Force policies and systems.

After initial employment and training the Defence Force may provide funding and study leave for Medical Officers to complete further professional study. Options may include, but are not limited to:

• Early Management of Severe Trauma Course
• Sports Medicine Course/Diplomas
• Musculo-Skeletal Medicine Course
• Dive Medicine Course
• GPVTP Registrar (RNZCGP Supervised)
• RNZCGP Supervision and oversight post GPVTP part 1
• Tertiary study

As a Medical Officer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, you will be able to take your existing skills to the next level. The comprehensive training you will receive as an Officer will allow you to lead teams of people, in all kinds of situations.

You should be committed to providing high quality care to NZDF personnel at home and overseas, on exercises and on operations. You will sometimes be expected to work in diverse and challenging environments often in small multidisciplinary teams. Solid interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain strong teams will be a key attribute.

You should be adaptable enough in your clinical practise to work with confidence, often in austere environments on land, at sea or in the air. Health provision to defence is complex involving aspects of primary care, occupational medicine and emergency medicine. You should be willing to acquire and continually develop skills across this broad spectrum of experience.

Essential Requirements: 

• Registration with the NZ Medical Council
• Must have completed postgraduate year 2 (PGY2)

Desirable qualifications and experiences: 

• Experience in the delivery of primary care,
• Vocational qualification and registration in a primary healthcare speciality (general practice, acute care and occupational health),
• Clinical experience in pre-hospital emergency care (PHEC),
• Experience in sports and exercise medicine,
• Experience in occupational health.

Applicants would also benefit from experience in small multidisciplinary teams, austere or expeditionary medicine, and/or previous military service.

Scholarship Entry

The Air Force offer undergraduate scholarships for candidates who demonstrate the qualities required to become Medical Officer.

The scholarships are:

• Graduate Incentive Scheme: Study at the university of your choice, and on completion of your degree, you will be paid an increasing incentive over the next four years with the monetary value based on the number of full time study years successfully completed. 

View our Scholarship programs.

• You must be medically fit for service.
• You must meet the minimum entry fitness standards.
• Colour perception restrictions may apply.

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required SV security clearance for this trade.

Find out if you’re eligible here.

There may be a return of service period for this trade.

Please contact our 0800 number or talk to your Candidate Experience Facilitator for more information.