diff --git a/startupscript/aws/install-postgres-client.bash b/startupscript/aws/install-postgres-client.bash
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..62a1c71e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/startupscript/aws/install-postgres-client.bash
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# install-postgres-client.bash
+#
+# Installs or upgrades the PostgreSQL client in the app container.
+#
+
+readonly SQL_CLIENT_VERSION="16"
+
+LSB_RELEASE="$(lsb_release -cs)"
+readonly LSB_RELEASE
+
+# 1. Download the official PostgreSQL signing key
+# This ensures the authenticity of the packages we are about to install.
+curl -fsSL https://www.postgresql.org/media/keys/ACCC4CF8.asc \
+    --output /usr/share/keyrings/postgresql-keyring.asc
+
+# 2. Add the PostgreSQL Apt repository to the sources list
+echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/postgresql-keyring.asc] http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt ${LSB_RELEASE}-pgdg main" \
+    > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pgdg.list
+
+# 3. Update the package index
+# This refreshes the list of available packages from the newly added repository.
+apt-get update -qq
+
+# 4. Install the correct version of client tools
+# This includes psql, pg_dump, and pg_restore.
+apt-get install -y "postgresql-client-${SQL_CLIENT_VERSION}"
diff --git a/startupscript/aws/post-startup-hook.sh b/startupscript/aws/post-startup-hook.sh
index a4952cf3..bf346013 100755
--- a/startupscript/aws/post-startup-hook.sh
+++ b/startupscript/aws/post-startup-hook.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ fi
 ########################################################
 source "${CLOUD_SCRIPT_DIR}/configure-aws-vault.sh"
 
+###############################################################################
+# Install or upgrade the postgres client for use with Aurora Postgres instances
+###############################################################################
+source "${CLOUD_SCRIPT_DIR}/install-postgres-client.bash"
+
 #################################################
 # Write common environment vars to user's .bashrc
 #################################################