Paige Starwick

Bundaberg’s Paige Starwick is a keen F45 devotee, which allowed her to maintain the fitness required to play AFL and Touch Football socially and in representative teams before her current studies and job restricted her enjoyment to just the F45 training regime.

Presently studying a Bachelor of Economics degree, Flight Lieutenant Paige Starwick is already a trained and accomplished Air Traffic Controller, working for the Australian Defence Force as an Approach (Radar) Controller at Darwin International Airport.

“I am the first member of my family to join the ADF,” said Flight Lieutenant Starwick.

“I saw a news article on the ‘Gap Year’ program when I was in senior year and decided to apply for it. I was successful and completed the program in 2009.

“After I finished the Gap Year I studied for a few years but ultimately missed the life style, camaraderie and traditions associated with being in the Royal Australian Air Force and decided to re-join as an Air Traffic Controller.

“I completed the basic air traffic control course in 2013 and was posted to RAAF Base Williamtown for four years.

“There I gained my tower controller, training and supervisor endorsements and completed all of my air traffic control post graduate courses.

“In 2018 I posted to Darwin as I wanted to learn to control busy civilian aircraft traffic to round out the experience I gained with fast jet military aircraft in Williamtown,” she said.

In January 2019 Flight Lieutenant Starwick was deployed to the Middle East in an operations role working with the C-130J Hercules detachment.

Since returning to Darwin she has taken on training roles requiring her to train other Air Traffic Controllers on Darwin operations.

“I am currently the unit aviation safety officer responsible for investigating safety events and recommending changes to procedures in order to minimise risk and maximise safety,” Flight Lieutenant Starwick said.

“As we commemorate the formation of the RAAF 100 years ago, I feel that as an organisation, we have a lot to be proud of.

“Not only have we evolved to become an advanced, professional future force, but we have also created a culture which promotes diversity in representation and inclusion,” she said.

Read Paige's story: https://news.defence.gov.au/people/gap-year-leads-towering-achievements