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Senior Non-commissioned Defence Force Members

Senior Non-Commissioned Defence Force Members implement and enforce directives of commissioned officers of the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces.

Public safety & defenceANZSCO 1392
260People employed
+17% ▲Growth to 2035
90%Work full time
45Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 1392.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

supervising a small group of subordinatesmaintaining discipline of subordinatesmonitoring the morale, welfare and behaviour of subordinates, and advising commanding officers accordinglyinstructing subordinates in dress, deportment, demeanour, behaviour, drill and devotion to duty to maintain military standardsconducting military drills and inspectionsteaching military traditions and customs
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 1392 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

A steady field: around 300 jobs in senior non-commissioned defence force members through 2035

The field shrank 3.2% in the year to February 2026. Most of the jobs are in ACT and NSW, with NT third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 1392.More about our sources: How we check our facts
0.3k2025
0.3k2030 PROJ.
0.3k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most senior non-commissioned defence force members came through a certificate or diploma. 61% did.

A university degree is rare here: 11% hold one. The trade qualification is the standard way in. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 1392. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

DEF50317Diploma

Diploma of Compliance

Defence Training Package.

See 0 providers
DEF50817Diploma

Diploma of Defence Financial Management

Defence Training Package.

See 0 providers
DEF50722Diploma

Diploma of Range Control and Management

Defence Training Package.

See 0 providers
See all 4 mapped courses
DEF50317Diploma of Compliance · 0 providers
DEF50817Diploma of Defence Financial Management · 0 providers
DEF50722Diploma of Range Control and Management · 0 providers
DEF50922Diploma of Test and Evaluation · 0 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

260 Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

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Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 1392.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

ACT0.1k
NSW0.1k
NT0.1k
QLD0.1k
SA0.1k
TAS0.1k
VIC0.1k
WA0.1k

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