Members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will be allowed to have facial hair from November 1, with changes to be made to the dress manual as the military's main air wing moves to "continue to evolve".
The RAAF's Air Marshal Rob Chipman — as Chief of Air Force — advised staff in a letter that facial hair would be allowed, provided it was in keeping with health and safety requirements and that a neat and professional appearance was maintained.
"As an air force, we must ensure we continue to evolve and modernise our practices," he said.
"This includes creating greater choices for our people in custom with societal norms, where we are able and when appropriate.
"This change will not affect the important capability we deliver or the high standards we set for ourselves as an organisation."
Previously, RAAF personnel have sported facial hair when participating in fundraisers for Movember Australia and when taking part Bowel Cancer Australia's Decembeard.
Facial hair policies differ across Australia's air force, navy and army.
Royal Australian Navy personnel are only allowed to grow beards when they have permission.
They must abide by the regulations that require beards to be "neat, trim and closely cropped, to a minimum bulk of 4mm and a maximum of 50mm".
Beards have a long history in the navy, with the facial hair policy changing in 1879 to allow all officers and men to have beards.
The risk of hair being caught and hooked drove changes to be made.
In 2019, the Australian Army announced it was also reviewing its policy around the wearing of facial hair.
