Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Defense Personnel Minister Matt Keogh announced the initiative in Canberra on Tuesday, saying it will help develop the Australian Defense Force (ADF), Xinhua news agency reported.
Under the expanded eligibility criteria, New Zealanders who are permanent residents of Australia and have lived in the country for at least 12 months will be able to join the ADF from July 1.
Starting in 2025, citizens of all other countries who meet the same criteria will become eligible to serve in the ADF.
Applicants must not have served in a foreign military in the past two years and will be subject to ADF entry standards and security requirements.
Keogh said in a joint statement with Marles that expanding eligibility would help address the ADF recruitment shortfall.
According to the National Defense Strategy, which was launched by Marles in April, the ADF is currently facing a shortfall of 4,400 enlisted personnel after achieving 80 per cent of recruitment targets between 2020-21 and 2022-23.
Under the expanded eligibility criteria, New Zealanders who are permanent residents of Australia and have lived in the country for at least 12 months will be able to join the ADF from July 1.
Starting in 2025, citizens of all other countries who meet the same criteria will become eligible to serve in the ADF.
Applicants must not have served in a foreign military in the past two years and will be subject to ADF entry standards and security requirements.
Keogh said in a joint statement with Marles that expanding eligibility would help address the ADF recruitment shortfall.
According to the National Defense Strategy, which was launched by Marles in April, the ADF is currently facing a shortfall of 4,400 enlisted personnel after achieving 80 per cent of recruitment targets between 2020-21 and 2022-23.
