Back
army doctor hero

Army

Medical Officer (Doctor)

NZDF health is tasked with maintaining, improving and restoring the health of the Defence Force in order to maintain the operational effectiveness of the NZDF.

Mō te tūranga

About the role

  • Specialisations

    Healthcare

  • Entry type

    Officer entry

  • Vocationally trained initial salary

    $203,464

  • Location

    Various

To achieve the task, the NZDF medical officer is expected to provide high quality care to defence personnel at home, on exercise, and on operations.

The Defence Medical Officer is a generalist with a diverse role that includes aspects of primary care, occupational medicine, sports/musculoskeletal medicine, expeditionary medicine, prehospital medicine and acute care. The NZDF medical officer will provide this care to NZDF personnel, as required, be it on land, at sea or in the air.

NZDF health is committed to providing opportunities to develop and maintain the skills and experience required to deliver this care. Individual services may provide opportunities to acquire specific occupational knowledge or skills including Dive Medicine and Aviation Medicine, however these are not exclusive to any particular service.

If you have referred to the minimum entry requirements below, but would like more information on this role please email specialists@defencecareers.mil.nz

Applications

This role may not be recruited for 6-12 months but we'd encourage you to apply early. You can check in-demand trades for our next intakes

Requirements

Basics

  • Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.
  • Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.
  • Registration with the NZ Medical Council
  • Must have completed postgraduate year 2 (PGY2)
  • Pass an Officer Selection Board

Education

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.

The New Zealand Army provides a Fellowship training programme to enable training towards the Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practice. A selection and prioritisation process is used for acceptance on this pathway. The NZ Army may also support vocational training in other disciplines such as sports, occupational and emergency medicine.

Citizenship

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required SV security clearance for this trade.
Find out if you’re eligible here.

Period of Service

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.

We offer guidance on entry requirements in our eligibility section. Apply if you're uncertain, as we’ll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.

Career progression and training

01Basic Training

02Job Training

03Ongoing Training

04Career Progression

Benefits & allowances

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:

  • Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
  • Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
  • Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
  • Opportunities to travel
  • Free and subsidised medical and dental care
  • Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
  • Free and subsidised insurance cover
  • Help to buy a home and save for retirement

Salary & benefits

Remuneration for Medical Officers is benchmarked against the DHB, with military factor and superannuation contribution (if joining a scheme) in addition. Candidates will be assessed individually for their starting remuneration step based on post graduate qualifications and experience. The figures below are only an indication of salary.

  • Vocationally trained initial salary

    $203,464

  • Future potential earnings

    $281,498

20220909 NZDF R1055140 008 v2

Am I fit enough?

If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties worldwide.

Medical & Fitness
NZA soldiers 20230512 012 v2

The application process

Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.

Application process
army generic base for roles

Ready to start your Army career?

APPLY NOW

Tūranga whaipānga

Related Roles

Army dental square 20240518 05

Army

Dental Officer (Dentist)

Healthcare | Officers & Management

Officer entry

Be a Dentist in one of the most exciting and unusual surgeries in the world: the NZ Army.

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Future potential earnings

    $98,000

  • Location

    Various

Army Environmental health officer square tn

Army

Officer entry

Environmental Health Officers who are described as Force Health Protection Officers, provide specialist advice and support at the heart of the NZ Army’s training and operations.

  • Specialist starting salary

    $77,181

  • Future potential earnings

    $154,956

  • Location

    Various

army medic square 20240522

Army

  • Active Intakes

Medic

Healthcare

General entry

Treating illness, injury and other conditions, in camp and overseas missions, you will play a lead role in the health and well-being of soldiers.

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Future potential earnings

    $98,000

  • Location

    Linton, Burnham