Puckapunyal Military Area Hosts Annual Army Careers Day for Victorian Students
More than 1,000 secondary school students from 40 Victorian schools visited the Puckapunyal Military Area in September 2026 to take part in the Defence Work Experience Program's annual Army Careers Day, the Department of Defence announced.
The event provided Year 10 to 12 students with exposure to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, military capabilities, and potential defence career pathways. Attendees inspected military equipment and vehicles, including the Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle, uncrewed aerial systems, the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank, and various other weapons and vehicles.
Students observed physical training demonstrations and spoke with ADF Careers representatives regarding vocational options. Multiple training units and establishments participated in the event, including the Schools of Armour, Artillery, and Transport, the Defence Force School of Signals, the Joint Logistics Unit, the 4th Brigade, the 22nd Engineer Regiment, and the Australian Army Band.
David Atkins, Director of Youth Policy and Programs, stated that the event offers students—particularly those from regional areas—an opportunity to experience Defence capabilities firsthand.
"The ADF offers a diverse range of career opportunities. Days like today aim to give students the chance to learn about ADF careers and culture, speak directly with serving personnel and see the equipment they use on a day-to-day basis," Mr Atkins said, adding that the experiences help students make informed career decisions.
The Defence Work Experience Program collaborates with various Defence groups and services to conduct national interactive activities throughout the year in both ADF and Australian Public Service settings.
Australian Department of Defence
This is the agency or court’s own account. Allegations and statements should be read as its claims unless the article cites other evidence.
How PressClub produces articles
PressClub uses AI to write news from collected source material, with formatted source text as a fallback. The linked material provides the source’s account; this article does not establish independent verification. Read the source for its own wording and updates.
Read next
Catch up with a briefing, explore coverage, or share this article.
More news to read
Browse more published news. The topic labels show what each article covers.