Built for Defence: Delivering contracted health services with precision and pride
A fundamental priority for defence or national security organisations is the health and wellbeing of their people. This is true whether they are deployed in high-risk environments, training, exercising or building new skills, maintaining a workforce to the required levels of health and wellbeing enables operational readiness and organisational capability.
In June, we launched our Defence and National Security division with a global remit whilst reinforcing our commitment to being a sovereign supplier of healthcare to defence and national security organisations, having actively supported the Australian Defence Force (ADF) since 2004.
Aspen Medical Defence and National Security is our Centre of Excellence for the design and delivery of health services into the sector. We are collecting lessons learned by our teams working around the globe, together with our work with First Nations people in remote and rural areas. We are building solutions that can be deployed throughout our global defence and security business.
Furthermore, we are directly contributing to Australia’s sovereign industrial base with a service that is crucial for national security and economic resilience as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As an Australian and veteran-owned company, Aspen Medical has a long history of supporting the ADF and national security agencies, as well as defence forces and other government agencies around the world.
In 2005, in an Australian first for a private healthcare company, we provided all contracted health capability at an individual Defence base. By 2012, Aspen Medical was delivering 40% of the ADF’s contracted health service capability by volume. Between 2012 and 2017 we were part of a team delivering the first national ADF Health Services contract, working at 50-plus bases we delivered 100% of the contracted health professional workforce within the contract scope.
We believe an Australian company supporting our defence and national security sector directly contributes to Australia’s national resilience capability.
We also have a proud legacy of supporting defence forces and national security organisations around the world, including the establishment of United Nations Type 2 field hospitals or their equivalent in the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), Timor-Leste (Operation Astute), Iraq and the UAE. At the present time we are operating UN Type 2 field hospitals in Somalia and Haiti and providing support to Ukraine through medical research into modern battlefield trauma.
Many of our people started their careers in the ADF or other service organisations, with 50% of our executive leadership team being veterans. That shapes not just how we work, but why we work. We understand the cost of service, the value of preparedness and the need for continuity, during service and beyond. Our workforce is built with that mindset, supported by shared values and a deep sense of responsibility. Earlier this year, we were proud to be recognised by the Commonwealth as a Veteran Employer of Choice.
Looking ahead, we remain focused on supporting those who serve our country. As Defence evolves, so too will its health needs. We are prepared to adapt, ready to respond and proud to play our part in the health and wellbeing of the ADF.
Aspen Medical is a sovereign partner that understands the mission, the people and the responsibility, and we stand ready to deliver.
This article first appeared in The Australian (Defence Review supplement) on 16 October 2025.