14 December 2020
The first 10 members of Navy’s inaugural Maritime Human Resources Officer (MHRO) Application Course have graduated after an intensive 10 weeks of training at HMAS Albatross.
The workgroup was established in March 2020 to support Chief of Navy’s intent for stronger leadership and management of Navy’s people and culture.
Head of the Maritime Personnel Community Commodore Anthony Klenthis said the MHROs, together with maritime personnel sailors, would deliver an enhanced level of human resource and personnel support to the fleet.
“It is an exciting time for these new MHROs as our first graduating cohort," Commodore Klenthis said.
"They will be responsible for supporting command with professional personnel management outcomes, coordinated personnel operations at sea and ashore, and striving to find the right balance between the interests of the Navy and the interests of our people. I could not be more proud of them.
“Our people will always be Navy’s most important capability. We owe it to them to offer contemporary, professional human resources services wherever they serve in order to enhance and sustain Navy’s contributions to the joint force.”
With 120 years of collective naval experience, the new cohort has a range of skills and backgrounds, including former sailors, ADF Gap Year personnel and members transferring from other workgroups.
Lieutenant Craig Grundy has more than 25 years' experience in the maritime personnel community. He will be the first MHRO graduate to post to sea, where he will serve in HMAS Canberra before joining a destroyer mid next year.
“I am looking forward to being at the forefront of the MHRO workforce capability and enabling our people in the maritime environment,” Lieutenant Commander Grundy said.
Sub Lieutenant Darcy Hogan joined Navy via the ADF Gap Year program in June 2019 and was promoted from midshipman on the day she graduated as an MHRO.
She said she was looking forward to putting her new professional knowledge into practise.
“I found the course challenging, however, I gained critical skills in building productive relationships with key stakeholders. It was a steep learning curve and I am really looking forward to getting out and putting my skills into action,” Sub Lieutenant Hogan said.
The MHRO workgroup will grow to a full strength of 155 positions, with all major fleet units to have an MHRO embarked as part of ship’s company by 2024.
