ABSTRACT
The primary role of the Australian Defence Force is to defend Australia and its national interests. To meet this goal, the Australian Defence Force employs more than 80,000 people across its three service arms in either a full-time or a part-time capacity. An association between nursing and the military has existed since the time of the crusades during the 11th to 13th centuries. The Australian military demographic largely comprises a young, fit and healthy workforce who maintains an occupational requirement to be fit for service in Australia and overseas on deployed operations. Belinda is an Australian Army nurse deployed to a disaster relief operation in the South Pacific following a cyclone. The day-to-day work of a military nurse largely centres on the provision of healthcare to military personnel at defence establishments in Australia. Military nursing provides a range of challenges to those who pursue this career path whether in a full-time or part-time capacity.
