Qualifying period
The annual qualifying period service is the first 2 weeks Defence service of each financial year during which the Reservist was released to undertake Defence service and did not undertake duties for the business or company (except in emergency situations or with prior written permission from the Reservist's Commanding Officer or Branch Head).
The qualifying period can be undertaken as a single period or multiple periods of continuous Defence service of 5 days or more. Only service in periods of 5 or more consecutive days can be counted, unless involving Public Holidays or authorised stand-down days. The number of days qualifying period service in each period of service must be converted into weeks. A period of 5 days counts as 1 week. For longer periods of service, Days 6 and 7 are also included within the week. Extra days are each counted as 0.2 week until a 2nd week is completed (eg. 5, 6 or 7 days equals 1 week; 9 days equals 1.4 weeks; 12, 13 or 14 days equals 2 weeks).
Qualifying Period Examples
Reservist serves 2 x 5 day blocks of continuous Defence service. This completes 2 week qualifying period.
Reservist serves 21 days of continuous Defence service. Days 1-14 complete 2 week qualifying period. Employer is entitled to one week of ESPS (for service on Days 15 - 21).
Reservist serves 9 day block of continuous Defence service followed by a 5 day block of service. 9 day block equals 1.4 weeks of the qualifying period. The first 3 days of the 5 day block provide the remaining 0.6 week of the qualifying period. Employer is entitled to 0.4 week of ESPS (for the remaining 2 days service).
The qualifying period can be undertaken as a single period or multiple periods of continuous Defence service of 5 days or more. Only service in periods of 5 or more consecutive days can be counted, unless involving Public Holidays or authorised stand-down days. The number of days qualifying period service in each period of service must be converted into weeks. A period of 5 days counts as 1 week. For longer periods of service, Days 6 and 7 are also included within the week. Extra days are each counted as 0.2 week until a 2nd week is completed (eg. 5, 6 or 7 days equals 1 week; 9 days equals 1.4 weeks; 12, 13 or 14 days equals 2 weeks).
Qualifying Period Examples
Reservist serves 2 x 5 day blocks of continuous Defence service. This completes 2 week qualifying period.
Reservist serves 21 days of continuous Defence service. Days 1-14 complete 2 week qualifying period. Employer is entitled to one week of ESPS (for service on Days 15 - 21).
Reservist serves 9 day block of continuous Defence service followed by a 5 day block of service. 9 day block equals 1.4 weeks of the qualifying period. The first 3 days of the 5 day block provide the remaining 0.6 week of the qualifying period. Employer is entitled to 0.4 week of ESPS (for the remaining 2 days service).
