Royal Australian Air Force
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    Royal Australian Air Force
    (105 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Royal Australian Air Force

    3.8105 ratings in total
    5
    38
    4
    34
    3
    16
    2
    10
    1
    7
    94%
    Rate salary as high or average
    78%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.4(105 ratings)
    Career development
    3.7(105 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    4.1(105 ratings)
    Management
    3.0(105 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.6(105 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.8(105 ratings)
    Ratings for Royal Australian Air Force are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 105 reviews sorted by most recent
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    1.0
    Air Force Officer
    Oct 2025
    Sale VIC 38501 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Don’t join under any circumstances.
    The good thingsYou get paid on time. That’s about it.
    The challengesCommand does NOT care about you. If you raise concerns, you will be the one punished and penalised. If inappropriate behaviour occurs to you, command will crack the whip on YOU. Do NOT join.
    2.0
    Supply Base Operator
    Sep 2024
    Richmond NSW 27533 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Couldn't wait to get out and they made discharge process way harder than it needed to be which caused mental health issues
    The good thingsSport and fitness were a big part of it which I loved
    The challengesSo many rules. Couldn't do anything with out approval including itinerary of holiday. Always got declined leave for important family events No work life balance. Moving around made it hard to connect with anyone
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
    Jun 2023
    Williamtown NSW 2318Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    I’ve worked ground and aircraft defence systems under strict regulations (ITAR, AMO, OH+S) for over 20 years.
    The good thingsI have an open report with engineering, logistics and warehousing which allows me to prioritise aircraft maintenance and manage sustainability.
    The challengesI’m given the “to hard basket” always. The company being based in the UK suffers from a lead time for professionals or equipment (support could take months). I’ve been gently nudged on numerous occasions to work on systems that have nothing to do with my field. I’ve been given quite a few performance recognition awards.
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Air Surveillance Operator
    Feb 2023
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Alot of pressure for a low that isn't worth it.
    The good thingsThe life long friendships you gain. The pay is average.
    The challengesPoor management and leadership. Average salary and benefits.
    5.0
    RAF AirLoadmaster/Crewman
    Jan 2022
    Fantastic life experience
    The good thingsSuperb to work for, exciting opportunities, look after staff, great team environment.
    The challengesLots of challenges, will really push you to get the nest out of yourself.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Carer
    Dec 2020
    Rewarding but hard job
    The good thingsStaff are lovely to work with. Great resident care given
    The challengesManagement isnt very trustworthy. HR and manager dont listen to problems in the workplace. Staff feel alone
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    G.S.E TECH
    Jun 2020
    9 to 10 years in the role, current employee
    I would highly recommend giving Defence force a look in if your looking for work. The training and the experience alone Defence provides is valuable, even when i sit here writing this, i wish i had joined younger then i did..
    The good thingsWork is flexible, especially with family commitments or With other things that might require you away from work for a few hours ie: doctors appointments, personal car issues and sporting commitments.
    The challengesThe constant moving is very taxing on family life especially with kids in the picture. Some job roles will require shift work.
    4.0
    Aircraft Technician
    Mar 2020
    All Australia
    Good mostly management is slow
    The good thingsmateship and postings
    The challengesPromotion is slow very slow
    3.0
    Mover
    Mar 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role
    rollercoaster ride of ups and downs some good chances and some you wont get.
    The good thingsexperiences, distinations you get to see no other will.. what u get to do and achieve
    The challengesfamily balance.. lifestyle changes.. relationships going into defence
    1.0
    Enlisted
    Mar 2020
    All Australia
    If you want consistency of outcomes and no purpose, this is the place
    The good thingsYou go home, you get paid fortnightly
    The challengesListening to the same thing over and over and getting told it will improve. But it never does
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Aircraft Technician
    Nov 2019
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Lip service and crippling bureaucracy in a shiny package
    The good thingsPotential for overseas trips and travel.
    The challengesA lack of professionalism, work/life balance and guidance for career development.
    4.0
    Logistics Coordinator
    Nov 2019
    former employee
    Great opportunity to travel and live in different parts of the country.
    The good thingsTravel, sporting activities
    The challengesPromotion can be difficult and unfair.
    2.0
    Mover
    Nov 2019
    7 to 8 years in the role, current employee
    Do NOT join.
    The good thingsLow standards of productivity
    The challengesWorking for people with no leadership experience or education.
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Aircraft Technician
    Nov 2019
    All Australia9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    It has been great however, it’s not got to be a career for life like I originally expected.
    The good thingsLots of opportunities to do different things.
    The challengesWork life balance is getting worse and worse as the RAAF saves money. Constantly trying to do more with less people.
    5.0
    Military Working Dog Handler, RAAF Security Police.
    Nov 2019
    All Australia9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Solid, real and definitely worthwhile.
    The good thingsThe work culture, the positive attitude of defence members and the camaraderie of my own peers in my chosen mustering.
    The challengesWork/life balance on varying shifts. Meeting/maintaining recruit standards and ongoing continuation training within chosen mustering.
    3.0
    Airfield Defence Guard
    Nov 2019
    All Australia5 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Amazing experiences under average conditions.
    The good thingsThe security of regular pay. Medical and housing benefits are very good. Doing things you would not be able to do anywhere else.
    The challengesWork life balance with new families is hard to keep stable. Low opportunity for wage growth.
    4.0
    Aircraft Technician
    Nov 2019
    current employee
    Good training, skills for life, traveled the world, drank a lot of beer
    The good thingsTravel, good friendships formed, part of something that isn’t about profit or dollars, good skills for life
    The challengesSalary not hourly rate, uncertainty of posting cycle makes spouse employment patchy at best, sometimes defence members post unaccompanied to new locations for promotion or because family prefers old posting location, free medical means you get what you pay for (it’s getting better)
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Public Affairs Officer
    Nov 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Best Mid-Life Crisis Imaginable
    The good thingsCamaraderie, high level training, challenges, sense of accomplioshment, pride of serving
    The challengesReadjusting to a defence mindset
    5.0
    Aircraft Technician
    Nov 2019
    current employee
    Would not do it again in a heartbeat
    The good things- The chilli wraps from the smoko shop were pretty good - Memes
    The challenges- Too much morale. I didn't know what to do with it all - The promotion of incompetence
    1.0
    Aircraft Technician
    Nov 2019
    Not what I thought it would be, lacked team work, bunch of individuals out for themselves.
    The good thingsSaw & lived in different parts of the country.
    The challengesBeing away from family & friends.
    4.0
    Electronics Engineering Officer
    Sep 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Do not regret and would highly recommend to anyone who wants to work here.
    The good thingsThe networking opportunities, your colleagues, and all the opportunities you have to develop yourself either professionally or through a sport or activity.
    The challengesTrying to balance work and life, especially when things become time critical.
    4.0
    Human Resources Officer
    Sep 2019
    All Australia
    Fantastic exposure to a range of jobs in different locations whilst working in small and large teams to achieve outcomes for Australia.
    The good thingsGreat opportunities to develop leadership, management and teamwork skills. Good opportunities for travel and diverse job roles and locations in Australia.
    The challengesMoving away from family and friends. Initial training courses can be long and away from family.
    4.0
    Logistics Assistant
    Sep 2019
    Reserve work was great for me as a Mum getting back into the workforce after a long break from Permanent Air Force.
    The good thingsFlexibility to work around school hours and other commitments. Tax free pay as a Reservist.
    The challengesSome managers are young and fresh out of Officer training and lack the experience to lead effectively. This includes lack of empathy & understanding of family challenges.
    5.0
    Supervisor
    Aug 2019
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    It was a real good life work and balance. Would do it again.
    The good thingsMeeting new friends an seeing different places.
    The challengesNo challenges. Just balance.
    2.0
    Intelligence Officer
    Aug 2019
    A slow reacting organisation, where very little preference given to individual circumstances, skills are not valued or recognised and pay rates are extremely poor compared to industry standards.
    The good thingsThe experiences and deployments are not found elsewhere. Friendships developed.
    The challengesThe organisation is very slow to adapt and accept change. The organisation is culturally insensitive. Information system are archaic and old. Working with poor leaders and managers. Organisation is reactive as opposed to pro-active.
    4.0
    Air Force Executive
    Jul 2019
    All Australia
    Fantastic career opportunities
    The good thingsComradeship / Travel / multiple career paths / Training / career development
    The challengesTravel / time away / certainty and uncertainty regarding certain roles
    1.0
    Aircraft Technician
    May 2019
    11 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    Government job. Maximum time waste where the people that can’t get another job stay.
    The good thingsGood team members. That’s it.
    The challengesEverything. Can not fix anything without approval from 10 people.
    3.0
    Security Guard
    May 2019
    If I had my time again I'd go Officer Stream
    The good thingsBenefits like rental assistance and free medical and dental
    The challengesManagment. Usually isn't up to standard has managment training is not really conducted.
    5.0
    Air Force Armament Technician
    May 2019
    Greatest period of my life, great friends and memories to remember forever.
    The good thingsFriends for life. Working on state of the art aircraft. Working at bases all over Australia, and again great friends.
    The challengesCan have extended period away from home on exercise or deployment.
    5.0
    Airfield Defence Guard
    Apr 2019
    former employee
    the best organisation ever
    The good thingsthe pay you to exercise every day
    The challengesthey discipline you in your life to think bigger
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    Reviews by location
    Bairnsdale & Gippsland VICNewcastle, Maitland & Hunter NSWRichmond & Hawkesbury NSW