Royal Australian Navy

The long-term future of the Royal Australian Navy is dependent on attracting and retaining the best people to support the mission to fight and win in the maritime environment. New Generation Navy – Navy’s five year cultural reform program, which commenced in 2009 – is focussed on redressing the issues that impact on our ability to deliver on future capability, and this includes people.

Current data shows that women are under-represented in the Navy. More women are joining Navy, but few are then rising through the ranks and being appointed at senior levels, or advancing their careers at similar rates to their male colleagues. 

Gender equity and diversity form the basis for a sound and sustainable Navy, and is necessary to ensure that we can compete nationally as a preferred employer for young people. To address this, Navy is developing a leadership strategy for women that outlines the issues hindering the progress of women, and what Navy intends to do to redress the situation. It is aligned with the Chief of Defence Force Action Plan on the Recruitment and Retention of Women in the Australian Defence Force, to ensure that Navy is retaining and developing the talented people it has now, thereby ensuring greater participation of women at more senior levels. It is anticipated that many improvements introduced through this employment strategy for women will have benefits for all staff.

One major initiative of this strategy is the Navy Women’s Leadership Program (NWLP), which aims to provide opportunities for Navy women of all ranks between Able Seaman and Captain and their Defence Australian Public Service equivalents, to attend and participate in a number of external leadership events for women. The NWLP comprises a number of WLA events, including the Women's Leadership Symposium, and other regional conferences and one-day workshops.

The objectives of the NWLP are to increase opportunities for professional and leadership development, improve Navy women's capacity for networking and mentoring, to increase their knowledge of current leadership theory and practice, and to provide motivation and encouragement for their continued participation in Navy.

In striving to become a leading employer of women, The Navy has since 2009 participated in the Women and Leadership Australia (WLA) Women’s Leadership Symposium Employer of Choice Program, and other WLA events including the regional Convention, the Leadership Journey and the Leadership Alliance.

Over one hundred Navy women have participated in these events as part of an initiative by Navy to support their professional development and maximise leadership opportunities.
Through the NWLP, and its participation in the WLA Employer of Choice Program and partnership with WLA, Navy strives to offer viable and attractive careers for women, and become a leader employer of young people today.

www.navy.gov.au