On the battlefield, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals provides commanders with the means of controlling the battle using road and air dispatch services, radio, microwave and satellite links. A high technology computer switched digital network is utilised to provide a high quality, high capacity, secure communications network.

The Telecommunications System Technician is a Royal Australian Corps of Signals soldier who install, configure, operate, maintain, repair and de-install information and communications technology (ICT) systems. The Telecommunications System Technician is also responsible for the installation, maintenance, fault isolation and repair and deinstallation of all types of communications cabling to support voice and data networks at the LAN and WAN levels and provides the communications rigging capability to the Army. The Telecommunications Systems Technician installs, operates and maintains these communications systems and networks in order to provide telephone and data services into a deployed field environment whilst maintaining RA Sigs equipment fleets. At higher levels the Telecommunications Systems Engineer provides ICT system planning, design and implementation, management of multiple system configurations and operation as well as the integration of dissimilar ICT systems.

This particular job is classified as a Pay Group 4 occupation.

Training

To qualify in this category, the following courses are completed:

• The RA Sigs Common Signals Training. This training provides basic RA Sigs skills in radio, line and computing and is a prerequisite for all RA Sigs trade courses. This training is conducted at the Defence Force School of Signals, Simpson Barracks Macleod, VIC.
• Telecommunications Systems Technician IET Course consists of 68 weeks of training and incorporates all aspects of the telecommunications cabling and equipment used in RA Sigs Units. Subjects include telecommunications cabling, satellite stations, circuit switch networks, telephone systems and local and wide area computer networks. On the successful completion of the course you will receive Pay Group 4. This training is conducted at the Defence Force School of Signals, Simpson Barracks, Macleod, VIC.

Further Training

The Telecommunications Systems Technician is employed in the majority of RA Sigs tactical and strategic units that operate throughout Australia. The major RA Sigs concentrations are in Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane and Sydney with employment opportunities in most other states.

Posting

Telecommunications Systems Technicians can progress to be a Telecommunications Systems Engineer with an Advanced Diploma of Telecommunications Engineering on Pay Group 6.

This category's courses meet the requirements for both civilian and military authorities and will make you eligible for:

• Certificate II in Telecommunications cabling ICT20308; granted on successful completion of the Team Leaders Course.
  
  
• Certificate III in Telecommunications ICT30202; granted on being classified Private Proficient and awarded Telecommunications Systems Technician.
  
  
• Certificate IV in Telecommunications Engineering ICT40202; granted on being classified Private Proficient and awarded Telecommunications Systems Technician.
  
  
• Achievement of additional Units of Competency to Certificate IV in Telecommunications Engineering ICT40202; granted on being awarded Telecommunications Systems Team Leader, and having demonstrated the competencies by achieving a satisfactory Soldier Performance Appraisal Report.
  
  
• Diploma of Telecommunications Engineering ICT50202; granted on being awarded Telecommunications Systems Supervisor, and having demonstrated the competencies by achieving a satisfactory Soldier Performance Appraisal Report.
  
  
• Advanced Diploma of Telecommunications Engineering ICT60202; granted on being awarded Telecommunications Systems Manager, and having demonstrated the competencies by achieving a satisfactory Soldier Performance Appraisal Report.
  
  

Completion of Australian Year 10 education (or equivalent) with passes in English, Mathematics and Science (with a Physics content) and one other subject.

The following state/territory levels of achievement are required in Year 10 Mathematics:

• QLD - HA (or top 50 percentile)
• NSW - Band 4
• ACT - B
• VIC - 1 or B (or top 50 percentile)
• TAS - B or HA
• SA - B or Yr 12 Subject Study Score of 14
• WA - B
• NT - B or Yr 12 Subject Study Score of 14

These entry qualifications are the minimum required to facilitate understanding of the engineering principles encountered during later phases of training.

Note: Consumer Maths, General Maths, Maths in Society and similarly 'modified' Maths subjects are not suitable for this job.

The specifications for the employment categories of RA Sigs can be viewed through the link provided below.

• Link to Manual of Army Employments for RA Sigs trades (Only avaliable from the Defweb)