ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE ACADEMY
1. T h e R.A.A.F. Academy has evolved from t h e R.A.A.F. College which was established in 1948 as a tertiary training centre t o provide a professional education for permanent officers of t h e Air Force.
2. T h e curriculum extended over four years and included subjects drawn from the pure sciences, humanities, and those applied sciences relevant to aeronautics.
Military studies and a full flying training course were part of t h e syllabus. T h e College graduated 12 courses of cadets w h o are now serving in various branches of t h e service.
3. I n 1956 t h e R.A.A.F. set u p a committee, u n d e r t h e chairmanship of Air Vice Marshal I. D . McLachlan, C.B.E., D . F . C , composed of R.A.A.F. and Univer- sity representatives, to examine the College syllabus of training. T h e committee was impressed with t h e need for higher educational preparation for t h e Officer Corps, and recommended a course leading to a university degree. Various means of insti- tuting a degree course at t h e College were being considered when Professor Sir Leslie Martin, then Professor of Physics of t h e University of Melboume, suggested the best solution was to adopt a University of Melboume Bachelor of Science course and to qualify for that University's degree. Negotiations between the R.A.A.F. a n d the University of Melboume reached an agreement b y which t h e R.A.A.F. College was reconstituted as the R.A.A.F. Academy for t h e purpose of awarding the degree of Bachelor of Science ( M e l b o u m e ) . A later revision of the University statute permits t h e Academy to present students for higher degrees in Science a n d t h e degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
4. Studies for t h e degree of Bachelor of Science occupy t h e bulk of t h e time in t h e first three years of the course. T h e fourth year is devoted to further studies in humanities, aeronautical science and military art.
5. T h e R.A.A.F. Academy is directed b y a senior serving officer as Com- mandant. T h e military programme, sporting activities and domestic affairs of t h e Academy are managed b y t h e Assistant Commandant. T h e university element of the syllabus is controlled by a Dean of University Studies who is responsible to the Faculty of Science of t h e University of Melboume. T h e Dean and most of the staff engaged in the science degree studies hold appointments to t h e University of Melboume (R.A.A.F. Academy). T h e Warden of t h e Academy is responsible for the general academic administration of the Academy, the academic subjects outside the science degree, and for t h e general balance of t h e syllabus. Academy staff are actively engaged in fundamental research using facilities largely provided by the Air Force.
6. T h e directing staff of the Academy is:
Commandant—AIR COMMODORE J. F . LUSH. O.B.E.
Assistant C o m m a n d a n t — G R O U P C A P T A I N J. M. SUTHERLAND
Warden—Mn. W. D . HARDY, O.B.E., M.A., B . S c , B.Ed., A.Inst.P., M.A.C.E.
D e a n of University Studies—PROFESSOR V. D . H O P P E R , D . S C , F.A.Inst.P., F.Inst.P.
Professor of Mathematics—PROFESSOR M. N. BREARLEY, B.E. ( W . A . ) , B.Sc.
( S y d . ) , M.A. ( C a n t a b . ) , P h . D . ( A d e l . ) , M.Sc.
7. Entry to the R.A.A.F. Academy is by means of cadetships which are awarded annually, on a competitive basis, to students throughout Australia. T h e qualifications required for selection are set out in a brochure on the R.A.A.F.
Academy, available from t h e local Recruiting Centre. They include the possession of a matriculation qualification prior to entry to the Academy, and the limitation on age that the applicant must not have reached his 20th birthday b y 3 1 March of the year of entry.
8. T h e R.A.A.F. bears all the costs of the training, including accommodation and clothing. Cadets also receive pay and allowances throughout the course.
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