Australia has long relied on personnel from other Commonwealth countries to prop up its naval numbers, the Australian Defence Association says.
Laid off British and US soldiers are being recruited by the Australian Defence Force to meet a shortage of naval engineers, doctors, nurses and radiographers.
"It's the lack of engineering and maintenance electricians in the navy that is really causing some grief," ADA executive director Neil James told Sky News on Tuesday.
He said Australia had long relied on overseas personnel from Britain, the United States, Canada and New Zealand to bolster defence force numbers.
Salary rates offered by Western Australia's mining boom, along with other lucrative industries, were partly accountable for the navy losing people with valuable technical and managerial skills, Mr James said.
People from Commonwealth countries and the US were recruited in their place because they tended to have the necessary skills and qualifications.
"Also it's quite easy for them to get an Australian security clearance," Mr James added.
A report on maintenance in Australia's navy suggests that as many as 200 engineers were needed to rebuild lost expertise, The Australian newspaper reported on Tuesday.
But the Australian navy chief Ray Griggs has told his British counterpart, First Sea Lord Admiral Mark Stanhope, that Australia would not poach any people that the Royal Navy needed.
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