For the first time, the Australian Defence Force will establish a purpose-built space workforce.
The 2024 Defence Workforce Plan highlighted the need to recruit and retain highly‑specialised personnel for emerging capabilities, including space.
To meet the demands of the evolving space domain, Defence will soon begin targeted recruitment and training for highly specialised roles to grow its existing space workforce across areas including satellite communications and operations, position, navigation and timing, intelligence and surveillance.
Defence's current space workforce consists of diverse Navy, Army and Air Force personnel. From 2026, Air Force direct entry will be available for roles including Space Operations Specialist and Space Operations Officers.
Emerging space capabilities are a focus of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, with Defence personnel working alongside international partners to conduct real-time and on-demand space demonstration exercises in Townsville.
During the exercise, personnel will use commercially-available data to provide timely and accurate reporting on space events and activities to support military operations.
The evolving space domain demands highly specialised roles, requiring targeted career development and training continuums. The workforce will eventually cover the full spectrum of space mission sets, including:
- Satellite communications
- Position, navigation and timing
- Space domain awareness
- Missile warning
- Satellite operations
- Space control
- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and
- Environmental monitoring.
Beyond the technical edge, an Australian Defence Force career in space operations will offer some truly extraordinary opportunities. From working with cutting-edge satellite systems and commercial partners, to contributing to joint and coalition operations, members will be part of a frontier mission at the intersection of science, strategy and service.
This purpose‑built space workforce would continue to work alongside Australian industry and commercial operations to deliver the capabilities and outcomes required by our strategic circumstances.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Personnel, the Hon Matt Keogh MP:
"Our region is rapidly evolving, and space is a critical operational domain. By establishing a permanent space workforce, we are preparing Defence to lead, integrate and innovate in this contested and congested environment.
"Space capabilities will play a critical role in the execution of activities as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 alongside existing operational domains of maritime, land, air and cyber.
"People are at the centre of our advantage. Defence is building a sustainable space workforce through targeted recruitment, career pathways and joint training.
"The evolving space domain demands highly specialised roles and will provide our people with opportunities to shape how Australia operates in space."
