New Recruitment Game Bound to Attract

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Media Mail List

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021/2005 Friday, 07 October 2005

New Recruitment Game Bound to Attract

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence De-Anne Kelly today launched another initiative in attracting young Australians to consider a career in the Australian Defence Force.

Mrs Kelly said the initiative - an on-line game called ADF Aviator - will build further on the way Defence Force Recruiting (DFR) uses on-line technology to attract people to the ADF.

The game, which joins a number of challenging exercises already on the defencejobs website, will show potential recruits what it takes to be a pilot in the Navy, Army or Air Force through a specially designed game.

"This innovative recruiting tool was commissioned as part of an integrated marketing strategy aimed at attracting people to the defencejobs website," Mrs Kelly said.

"It might sound like a lot fun - but these games play a more important role. They help develop the fine motor skills required to become a pilot in the Navy, Army or Air Force.

"They also encourage positive approaches to learning because games often immerse players in complex worlds, encourage the player to keep on trying, reward persistence and encourage experimentation.

"They teach young people new forms of literacy brought about by technology and - in the case of the web site defencejobs - provide an insider's perspective of defence operations."

Significantly for Defence, the games create a community of interest in the many activities undertaken by the ADF and have proven to be a valuable tool in gaining the attention of young Australians.

The web site www.defencejobs.gov.au has increased from 45,000 unique users a month to over 115,000 a month in just over a year. Independent research shows it is the number one site for young males 16 to 24 years and the fourth most popular recruitment site. Over 100,000 Australians have now registered an interest in a career with the ADF via MyHQ - the online ADF database.

The on-line application became possible from 1 July 2003, and now more than 50 per cent of all applications are made over the net, with 80 per cent seeking appointment as an officer.

"This year we need to recruit around 8,500 people for full and part time employment in the ADF, an increase from previous years," Mrs Kelly said.

"We know there is a serious shortage of skilled people in Australia - and Defence has to compete for those people just like every employer group in the country.

"DFR will continue to improve its strategies and the way that the ADF employment message is delivered; and will continue to provide young Australians with accurate and realistic information about taking up the challenge of an ADF career."

ENDS

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