Main features of the medical services of the armed forces of Australia

Basic task of the medical corps
The Australian Defence Force’s Joint Health Command (JHC) is not a Medical Corps in the traditional and international sense. Rather, it sits within the portfolio responsibilities of the Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF). JHC provides healthcare and, from the health perspective, ensures the preparedness of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel for operations, as well as preparing deployable elements of JHC for deployment in support of operations. To effect this, JHC develops strategic
health policy, provides strategic level health advice and exercises technical and financial control of ADF health units. The Directorate of Defence Clinical Services (DDCS) coordinates the provision of high quality health support within the National Support Area. Health staff within Joint Operations Command (JOC) and the environmental commands are responsible for
health aspects of deployable capability.