Royal Australian Navy
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    Royal Australian Navy
    (202 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Royal Australian Navy

    3.6202 ratings in total
    5
    62
    4
    61
    3
    33
    2
    20
    1
    26
    92%
    Rate salary as high or average
    67%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    2.5(202 ratings)
    Career development
    3.7(202 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    4.0(202 ratings)
    Management
    2.8(202 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.2(202 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.7(201 ratings)
    Ratings for Royal Australian Navy are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 202 reviews sorted by most recent
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    2.0
    Boatswain's Mate
    Jun 2025
    Sydney NSW 200012 to 13 years in the role, former employee
    The navy has changed a lot for the worse, don’t do it.
    The good thingsOverseas travel, subsidised rent, free medical and dental and close comradeship. Good commissioned officers and sailors who are willing to support each other.
    The challengesPretentious teenage officer midshipmen who believe they know more than sailors who have more experience than them. Coxswains on a power trip believing they are real police officers but in fact they are nothing but security guards and travel agents. Extended time away from home and clueless leadership from hierarchy. Toxicity and nepotism at its finest.
    4 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Marine Technician
    Oct 2024
    Perth WA 60005 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    It's a career worth trying to see if the lifestyle and benefits suit you. I don't regret joining the ADF in the slightest
    The good thingsThere is plenty of opportunities to progress your skills, knowledge and position with civilian qualifications for both enlisted and officers. The rate you progress through the ranks is greatly influenced by your motivation. The medical, housing and financial rewards make the package significantly better than at face value with financial incentives to be away. Most of the workforce is very accepting and people from all backgrounds are given the same opportunities and treatment.
    The challengesThe lifestyle that comes with defence, going away, posting locations The people who aren't so happy tend to bring down morale and unnecessarily influence other content members.
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Marine Technician (Hull)
    Jun 2024
    Cairns QLD 4870
    Lucked In.
    The good thingsMy Rack. Maintaining Pub Fitness.
    The challengesMaintaining a somewhat impressive cuticle regime.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Boatswain's Mate
    Jul 2023
    Darwin NT 08007 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Good overall just can be better and waste of resources.
    The good thingsPay, Accommodation, food and recourses.
    The challengesequity and diversity, promotion, work and life balance
    3.0
    Senior Safety Manager
    Jan 2023
    A car driven by a committee on a lonely road - Art
    The good thingsSome really good people
    The challengesThe organisation has unqualified inexperienced people in Safety Management positions. Organisational structures required to run an SMS absent.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Naval Police
    Nov 2022
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    The best job I have ever had or will ever have again.
    The good thingsThe best job in the world.
    The challengesEveryday. It was worth every day I was in to be challenged daily from the most well trained people in Australia.
    2.0
    Marine Technician
    Oct 2022
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    If you are happy being a number, the navy is for you.
    The good thingsA guaranteed pay check every fortnight.
    The challengesManagement Not doing what we are trained for. Can get much better pay doing the same job elsewhere.
    8 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Medic
    Jul 2022
    7 to 8 years in the role
    Its a great stepping stone...
    The good thingsAn excellent way to start your professional career. Life-long friends. Good experience. It is 100% what you make of it.
    The challengesHigh demand with little reward. Poor professional development as a medic. Lots of overtime while still getting the same base rate.
    5 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Electronics Technician
    Jul 2021
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    A unique experience like no other
    The good thingsThe people you work with or people you work for. Travel is awesome and you can do and see things not many will never get the chance to. There are opportunities to be had but it can be difficult to get them.
    The challengesThe people you work with or people you work for. You get what you pay for. Work life balance is really hard, qualifications not being what they used to be due to politics. Being accountable for other people not doing the right thing is probably the hardest bit to deal with.
    9 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Nursing Officer
    May 2021
    Definitely consider reserves as Permanent Navy means you have zero control over your life, career and postings
    The good thingsTravel and meeting lots of great people
    The challengesPoor work life balance Many toxic workplace cultures due to incompetence of middle managers
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Medic
    Mar 2021
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Too many leaders
    The good thingsTravel and friends were the best part about it
    The challengescontinual poor treatment
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Maritime Warfare Officer
    Jun 2020
    A challenging and opportunity filled career in which I have made life long friends I can rely on.
    The good thingsWorking with and leading a team of skilled and professional people you can rely on. The opportunity for professional development and advancement. The variety of different job roles that were available in a career with one organisation. Getting to travel and go on exciting and challenging operations overseas.
    The challengesIt is a job you are continuously challenging you, but it is all an opportunity for growth.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Marine Technician
    Mar 2020
    3 to 4 years in the role
    Did not enjoy
    The good thingsAlways get payed on time
    The challengesUpper management. No work life balance
    5 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Training Specialist
    Mar 2020
    11 to 12 years in the role, current employee
    Military life is definitely not for everyone, but, for those that give their time to serve our country will gain skills and experience that no other job can offer.
    The good thingsTravelling around Australia and parts of the world
    The challengesBeing away from family and home for long periods of time.
    4 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Boatswain's Mate
    Mar 2020
    All Australiaformer employee
    The best job ever
    The good thingsVisiting different ports , meeting great people , mateship that last a lifetime
    The challengesSobering up after visiting ports , getting run in by coxswains and xo’s that we’re legends in there own lunchbox
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Navy Warfare Officer
    Mar 2020
    One BIG adventure 😊
    The good thingsMateship, travel, progressive leadership
    The challengesStriking a good work/life balance. Geographic challenges at times.
    3.0
    Manager
    Mar 2020
    Challenging
    The good thingsThe people you meet and the friendships you make and the traveling you do
    The challengesTheres different challenges very day
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Watch Manager
    Mar 2020
    Always changing. In Navy, a posting only lasts 2 to 3 years before you move on to something quite different. Even after 30 years, I'm still being posted into roles that I've never done before. Therein lies the value of the excellent baseline training you receive throughout your career.
    The good thingsMateship, obviously, but we're talking about a military occupation here.
    The challengesStandard military lifestyle. You'd better be able to keep your kit clean, ironed and ready to go, for example. Not to mention being appropriately subordinate.
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Electronics Technician
    Mar 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    At the start enjoyable and challanging. Then the last 6 years of this career was wasted time
    The good thingsTravel, Mateship and the Housing Benefits
    The challengesWork Life balance, Members who have moved into senior management waiting to retire holding up other peoples career progression. No overtime or any benefit to go above and beyond.
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Medic
    Mar 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Life ruining.
    The good thingsNot much, free gym, wearing a cool uniform.
    The challengesEvery day, officers and senior NCO’s, incompetence
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    ETSM
    Mar 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Glad its over soon.
    The good thingsnew experiences in other countries
    The challengesworking with obnoxious people
    7 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Submarine Acoustic Warfare Analyst
    Mar 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Good while your fit and healthy, once they break you they couldn’t care less about you
    The good thingsThe people you work with
    The challengesThe conditions you work under
    5.0
    Human Resources Officer
    Jan 2020
    Great modern workplace!
    The good thingsGreat work environment, very friendly and relaxed place to work. beautiful new building and state of the art IT and equipment. Senior Management great to work. Organisation is very flexible with work locations and hours
    The challengesLong term employees have negative attitude towards the organisation, makes some departments hard to work with.
    1.0
    Aviation Technician
    Jan 2020
    Wish I studied harder in school and never considered making this mistake.
    The good thingsRent assistance is about the only beneficial factor
    The challengesWhere to begin... people, management, career progression, fair and equitable reporting system... so much more...
    12 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Leading Seaman
    Dec 2019
    9 to 10 years in the role
    Best and worst thing i've ever done.
    The good thingsFriends for life, Free medical and dental
    The challengesAchieving anything without command making things extremely difficult and long winded. Being sent on courses for months at a time that have no relation to your Job.
    5 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Maritime Warfare Officer
    Nov 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    One in a lifetime opportunity, invaluable skills and training, improving culture
    The good thingsThe training and experience you gain is invaluable. The mateship is unbreakable. I liked the holistic nature; it's not just a job, but a lifestyle, and plays a large part in your identity.
    The challengesThere are still some cultural issues but these are being ironed out. High pressure situations can be difficult. As it's the military you do not always get a choice with regards to your career movements and posting locations.
    4.0
    Aviation Technician
    Nov 2019
    Its rewarding and enjoyable if you can learn to switch off
    The good thingsGood mental health care
    The challengesHierarchy and group punishment
    1.0
    Electronic warfare director
    Nov 2019
    All Australia11 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    12 years was 11 too many. Despite doing some incredible things and making friendships that will last a lifetime, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. No qualifications are recognised externally anymore.
    The good thingsHousing perks..... the friendships.
    The challengesBeing away from home. Little to no support from command. Treated like a piece of garbage despite being good at your job and god help you if you know more about the job than your superior.
    4.0
    Military Police Role
    Nov 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    The RAN is a great place to work and learn new skill. There are lots of great opportunities for everyone.
    The good thingsWhen posted to a ship, there are possibilities of seeing the world.
    The challengesLiving life at see for sometimes long periods
    3.0
    Communications Officer
    Nov 2019
    All Australia
    It used to be good
    The good thingsTravel, mates, structure
    The challengesPoor leadership, Pushing minorities over abilities
    1 person found this helpful
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