What the Reserves do

People joining the Reserve make a commitment to train and serve in the defence and protection of Australia.

 
Defence Reservists have played an important part in Australian history, since early colonial days. Today we are increasingly drawing on the skills and expertise of Reservists to maintain the Defence Force's capability.

 

In recent years they have provided humanitarian relief to tsunami and earthquake victims in our region and operations in the Middle East, Solomon Islands and elsewhere. They have served alongside their full-time counterparts in peace missions to East Timor and Bougainville and they regularly deploy a rifle company to Malaysia as part of Australia's commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangement.

 

Reservists played a supporting security role at the APEC Australia 2007 forum, the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the 2003 Rugby World Cup. They have also made a valuable contribution to the community, providing assistance in times of natural disasters such as floods, droughts and fires and in emergency rescue operations.