Between February and May 1943, "Westralia" was converted into a Landing Ship, Infantry (LSI). She was recommissioned with the pennant number C61. In this role, "Westralia" had a capacity of 933 soldiers, and was used primarily to transport units of the United States Army and Marine Corps. The ship was assigned to Port Stephens for use as an accommodation ship while the combined operations training school (later commissioned as ) was developed. The ship took part in landings at Cape Cretin, Hollandia, Leyte Gulf, the Philippines, Borneo.