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Become a Volunteer

Bring out their best

As an adult volunteer, you will help develop future leaders within your community, to become capable, confident and resilient young adults.

Anyone can volunteer

Volunteers are the cornerstone to the success of the Australian Army Cadets (AAC). Attracting adults with the appropriate attitude, skill sets, experiences, and aptitude for engaging in a youth development environment is essential for delivering a program that meets both the needs of the participants, their guardians and the Australian Army’s expected outcomes.

Volunteer as little or as much as you have time for.

Defence Approved Helper (DAH) – Volunteers who assist at cadet units. They do not receive training or wear a uniform. DAH’s must meet minimum safety checks and are supervised by Army Cadet Staff (ACS).

Army Cadet Staff (ACS) – Volunteers who are trained and responsible for the operation of a safe youth development program. ACS wear uniform and AAC rank and may be eligible for financial compensation.

Volunteer Status. All adults of the AAC are volunteers as defined under Section 62 of the Defence Act 1903: a. A person with a role of administering, managing, supervising or training cadets does not become a member of the Australian Defence Force because of that role. b. No civil contract of any kind is created with the Crown or the Commonwealth in connection with the acceptance of a person as an officer, instructor or cadet in the Cadets.

The minimum age for a volunteer is 18.

The minimum requirements for volunteer participation are:

  • Obtain a National Police Check by AAC on application
  • maintenance of relevant state / territory working with children check (WWCC)
  • adherence with the Defence Youth Safe Code of Conduct (Adult)
  • completion of mandatory youth safety training
  • a review of military conduct record (if the applicant is currently serving or has served previously in the Australian Defence Force).

How to join

Joining as a volunteer is simple. 

  1. Find a unit using the Find a Unit link
  2. Fill in the Expression of Interest form and send it to the unit

You may not be eligible to join a School Based Unit if you are not a teacher or parent of a student at that School, but another unit may exist nearby. 

If you have any queries, contact the Unit.

Find a Unit or Community Based Unit

The Australian Army Cadets consists of both community based units and school based units.

A School-Based Unit is an Army Cadet Unit that has been established wholly within a school, and operates wholly for students enrolled at that school. As an adult volunteer you need to have an established relationship with the school. They will provide the details for enrolment.

A Community-Based Unit is an Army Cadet Unit established within a community with enrolment open to all eligible youth of the community. Contact your local unit (find my unit link) to establish a relationship and get more details on how to enrol.

Inclusive, health and fitness

The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is an inclusive youth development organisation.

Essential information.

  • Volunteers must have the appropriate level of health required to enable them to undertake the responsibilities of their role without putting either themselves or other people at risk.
  • The registration process requires a declaration of any health conditions that may impact on a person’s ability to participate (participants are only accepted if Army Cadets can facilitate their involvement safely and without detriment to the other participants).
  • Adjustments are made as far as reasonably practicable, to provide a level of inclusiveness for individuals with health needs (evidence of this agreement must be documented on a Health Management Plan (HMP) or an Individual Management Plan (IMP)).
  • Individuals, seen as a potential risk to the safe environment of Army Cadets, undergo a medical clearance, as a condition of participation.

Standards of behaviour

Army Cadets is committed to promoting the wellbeing of youth and protecting them from unacceptable behaviours through a focus on promoting youth safe behaviour.

Volunteers are expected to set the standards for the cadets and to establish and maintain a safe environment.

All adults in the program must commit to the ADF Cadets Code of Conduct (Adult). The code sets out the minimum youth safe behaviours and provides a mechanism to acknowledge the responsibility and record the commitment of adults to adhere to a youth safe standard of behaviour.

Adult Leader Development

The Adult Leader Development Continuum provides the training to allow volunteers to safety supervise and conduct activities involving youth as part of the Australian Army Cadet Program.

There is no requirement for any prior military experience to volunteer in the program. As a minimum, adults can volunteer as Defence Approved Helpers (DAH) if they have completed their National Police Checks and have a Working with Vulnerable People Card. 

To become an Army Cadet Staff (ACS), adults need to undertake formal training which is conducted over several modules.  These modules and courses include:

  • Grade 1 – enables ACS to plan and conduct a routine activity at the normal place of parade
  • Grade 2 – enables ACS to plan and conduct a non-routine activity or overnight activities
  • Grade 3 Command Course – enables ACS to command an Army Cadet Unit; and
  • Specialist Courses – enable ACS to fill specialist appointments (normally in larger units)

Importantly, being a volunteer with the Australian Army cadets is not about passing on military skills; it is about ensuring a safe environment and undertaking youth development in line with the values of the Program.

 

On this page

Testimonials

I had semi-retired and was looking for a way to contribute back to the community.  Army cadets has provided me a way to be involved with youth and through our Unit’s work on community projects, I have been busier now than when I was working.  The difference is that I find this work far more rewarding, and seeing the development of some of our young people is rewarding. (Derrick, 59)

I was quite concerned that I had no military experience when I volunteered initially.  However the training program is very comprehensive and the senior Army Cadet Staff in the unit have been good role models on how to interact with cadets.  I enjoy running activities and I keep quite active keeping up with them on camps.  The military environment was a bit of a shock, but I soon got used to it and it is part of my normal routine now on Tuesday nights.  (Sue, 39)

I was a cadet when I was in School and when my eldest daughter joined I had no hesitation in volunteering.  Now she has graduated and I have no intention of leaving.  Being around young, energetic and enthusiastic people is rewarding, especially when you see what they accomplish when faced with challenges.  I was fortunate to take a team to the Adventure Training Award, where it rained for two days straight and the cadets and staff were sodden.  The positivity that the cadets displayed was inspiring and I like to think that I played a small part in that through their development back in the Unit.  (Rick, 48)

I am a Defence Approved Helper (DAH).  My sons have just joined the Program, but I intend to become an Army Cadet Staff. If I had known about the professionalism of the program, I would not have waited for my sons to join before I volunteered.  Though we are not part of the Army, we get treated like we are.  We’ve had Army presenters come to the unit and we had Army equipment on display at camps.  Most of the cadets don’t want to join the Army, but it is very motivating for those that do, and it provides options for those that have not made any career path decisions.  (Ross, 35)