ARCHIVE // AU // TIME-SERIES
Military service age and obligation
Australia — 21 years of data
Historical Values
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 16 years of age for voluntary service (2001) |
| 2006 | 16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2001) |
| 2007 | 16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2001) |
| 2008 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2008) |
| 2009 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2008) |
| 2010 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2010) |
| 2011 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2010) |
| 2012 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in noncombat support roles (2012) |
| 2013 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2013) |
| 2014 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2013) |
| 2015 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2013) |
| 2016 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2013) |
| 2017 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2013) |
| 2018 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles (2018) |
| 2019 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles (2018) |
| 2020 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles (2018) |
| 2021 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription (abolished 1973); women allowed to serve in all roles (2021) |
| 2022 | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription (abolished 1973); women allowed to serve in all roles, including combat arms, since 2013 (2022) note 1: foreign nationals who are permanent residents, particularly New Zealanders, or those who have applied for citizenship or overseas candidates who have appropriate experience and qualifications from an overseas military can apply to join the ADF note 2: in 2020-2021, women comprised nearly 20% of the military |
| 2023 | 17 years of age (with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 1973) (2023) note 1: foreign nationals who are permanent residents, particularly New Zealanders, or those who have applied for citizenship or overseas candidates who have appropriate experience and qualifications from an overseas military can apply to join the ADF note 2: women have served in all roles, including combat arms, since 2013; in 2022, they comprised about 20% of the mi |
| 2024 | 17 years of age (with parental consent; 18 years of age to deploy) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 1972) (2024) note 1: as of July 2024, New Zealanders who are permanent residents and have lived in Australia for at least 12 months could apply to join the ADF; from January 2025, eligible permanent residents from Canada, the UK, and the US will also be able to apply note 2: women have served in all roles, including combat arms, since 2013; in 2024, they |
| 2025 | 17 years of age (with parental consent; 18 years of age to deploy) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 1972) (2025) note 1: as of July 2024, New Zealanders who are permanent residents and have lived in Australia for at least 12 months could apply to join the ADF; from January 2025, eligible permanent residents from Canada, the UK, and the US were also to be allowed to apply note 2: women have served in all roles, including combat arms, since 2013; in 2024 |