The School of Postgraduate Studies

The School of Postgraduate Studies has been established to impart the core knowledge, skills and attitudes required by airmen/airwomen, and officers to prepare them for promotion and command in the Royal Australian Air Force. SPS conducts interrelated distance-learning and attendance promotion courses for members of each rank level. The residential courses are predominantly 10 days in duration, with other career related courses ranging from five days to 11 weeks.

On average, SPS interacts with some 2,500-3,000 students per year. This represents a significant proportion of the Air Force population. Focus is on providing leadership training; fundamental to both shaping the organisation’s culture and developing the potential of those who undertake its courses, thereby contributing directly to Air Force capability.

SPS challenges each participant to take responsibility for the rank to which they are promoted, and to apply the concepts and ideas learned back in their respective workplace.

Our training philosophy

SPS encourages self-learning through experiential activities and the feedback process. Course designers and facilitators contextualise the students learning so that it applies to each individual’s workplace, thereby reinforcing to the member the relevance of the experience.

Staff believe that the courses should challenge the participants, providing the opportunity for personal growth and satisfaction from the experience. SPS also believes that, to be completed successfully, courses require professionalism and commitment from participants, and strives to help each individual derive personal meaning from their experience. Courses promote personal growth through self-knowledge, and professional growth through shared knowledge.

The school believes strongly in the principle method as model. Everything that we do should model the organisation that Air Force seeks to create. Therefore, SPS strives to model Air Force values. Openness and trust are promoted through the sharing of ideas, the encouragement of critical and creative thought, and through knowledge and emotion. SPS staff help its student body realise that Air Force is a complex network, and that each relationship has a purpose and must be managed.