Field Training Officer

As a Field Training Officer (FTO) you are responsible for the planning, scheduling, and delivery of Antarctic field training. You will lead and provide support to groups working in the field. You will coordinate field safety and the development of station search and rescue capabilities. While Field Training Officers perform a broad range of functions, the strongest candidates typically demonstrate a combination of instructional capability, field leadership, risk management, search and rescue experience and the ability to safely lead and support others in remote and challenging environments.

There is one FTO at each station over the ‘winter season’ (March to November) which adopts the position and responsibility of a SFTO. Please apply for SFTO if interested in a winter role.

Senior Field Training Officer

As a Senior Field Training Officer (SFTO) you are responsible for the planning, scheduling, and delivery of Antarctic field training. Depending on which station you are at, or in what season you are deployed, you may work independently, or you may lead and supervise a team of Field Training Officers (FTOs) to provide support to groups working in the field. You will coordinate field safety and the development of station search and rescue capabilities.

- Summer SFTO: With larger station populations and multiple concurrent projects, the summer role requires a high level of technical expertise, leadership, and experience in remote alpine/polar environments.
- Winter SFTO: the winter SFTO position is considered well suited as a pathway to build the specific skill and experience required to be successful during the more intensive summer months. If a candidate is considered suitable, a summer FTO can transition into a winter SFTO position.

For more detailed information about the requirements of the role and the selection process, please see the and link to more information on the application process click "Apply".

What we are looking for

To apply for these roles, you must have the skills and licences listed below:

Qualifications/licences

Provide copy with application:

- Either:




- Significant experience (within the last 5 years) in outdoor guiding/leading with young people or adults in remote wilderness setting and:
- A relevant qualification in Outdoor Education such as a Certificate IV in Outdoor Education, a Diploma of Outdoor Education (preferred), a Bachelor of Education (Outdoor Education) or equivalent; and/or
- An Adult Teaching qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Education: Graduate Diploma; TAE); or
- Significant long serving experience in guiding (within the last 10 years) and leading in the outdoor sector, inclusive of adult guiding (preferably in adult training and instruction)

- Wilderness First Aid – (WFA, PHEC), or equivalent/higher
- Climbing Qualification – Single pitch climbing instructor’s qualification and/or multi-pitch climbing guide qualification, or equivalent
- Driver’s Licence – A current, unrestricted “C” class (manual) Australian driver’s licence
- Citizenship – In accordance with the PS Act 1999, APS employees are required to be Australian citizens. Persons who are not Australian citizens will generally only be considered where there are no suitable Australian applicants, with next considerations being Australian residents with work rights and New Zealand citizens.

Obtain prior to commencement:

- Valid Passport – The expiry date of the passport (and any relevant visa) must be at least 6 months beyond the planned end date of your intended stay in the Antarctic or sub-Antarctic

You may be required to obtain prior to deployment:

- Provide First Aid (HLTAID011) must be valid for at least 18 months beyond the date of commencement
- Provide basic emergency life support (HLTAID010) must be valid for at least 18 months beyond the date of commencement




- Provide CPR (HLTAID009) must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of commencement

The certifications Provide First Aid (HLTAID011), Provide Basic Emergency Life Support (HLTAID010), and Provide CPR (HLTAID009) are typically completed as part of pre-departure training. However, if not delivered through this process, it remains the expeditioner’s responsibility to obtain them prior to deployment.

Knowledge and experience

- Instructional ability, including preparing presentations and delivering training in most of the following areas.
- field trip planning including risk assessment
- group management, including leadership theory and practice
- environmental awareness and minimal impact practice
- general field skills in relation to use of stoves, shelters, etc.
- field navigation including the use of GPS units
- communications including the use of radios and satellite phones
- snow survival skills
- search and rescue, including first response and operational coordination
- technical rope-work skills in steep slope and vertical slope - rock, snow or ice environments
- glacial travel experience in Antarctic-like conditions

- Organisational ability and leadership experience in the support of remote field expeditions
- The ability to work as part of a team, in a multi-skilled work environment, to work autonomously and follow directives (when required) from individuals such as the SFTO and Station Leader

Senior Field Training Officer:

- experience in Antarctic operations or a comparable workplace.
- computing skills, document writing and editing, and ability to liaise with ICT services

These positions are designated as performing Safety Sensitive Aviation Activities (SSAA) under the organisation’s Aviation Drug and Alcohol Management Plan (DAMP) and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR Part 99). As a condition of employment, employees performing SSAA are required to comply with all applicable drug and alcohol management requirements. Applications close: 11.30 pm AEDT, 1 November 2026

📌 Field Training Officer / Senior Field Training Officer - Antarctica (Hobart)
🏢 Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
📍 Hobart