A new corporate DVD, narrated by renowned Australian television journalist Peter Harvey and featuring Reservists from the Navy, Army and Air Force, has been released.

The DVD is designed to make employers more aware of the benefits of having Reservists in their civilian businesses, as well as their rights and obligations.

“We also hope this DVD will help employers, and Reservists, understand the services that Defence Reserves Support offers to them,” said Reserve and Employer Support Division Director of Communication Deanna Nott. Deanna works for the Department of Defence as a civilian public servant and is also a public affairs officer in the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve." 

“We really want to tell employers that they could be entitled to Employer Support Payments, as well offer them help in developing supportive leave policies for Reservists working in their organisations."

You can watch the new DVD by downloading it from our website, or to order a hard copy, please call 1800 803 485.

Fifteen North Queensland bosses were up early on 20 September preparing for a weekend out with the Defence Reserves.

They participated in Defence Reserves Support’s Exercise Executive Stretch (EES) in Townsville.

EES is aimed at senior, middle and line management to showcase the invaluable skills that can be gained through participation in the Reserve and how these skills can benefit the civilian work environment.

The bosses, representing a wide cross section of the business community, participated in a variety of activities, including testing their fitness over an obstacle course and checking their bearings in a navigation exercise, all under the supervision and guidance of Australian Defence Force personnel.

Queensland’s Defence Reserves Support Liaison Officer, Major Nina Handley said the experience was a “second to none opportunity" to appreciate the benefits of Reserve Service in developing skills that can be readily transferred to the civilian workplace.

“Over the weekend we took the opportunity to provide as much information as possible to the employers,” she said.

“We ensured they understood how the Employer Support Payment Scheme and Office of Reserve Service Protection can assist them.

“By the end of the weekend, we wanted them to appreciate their rights and obligations as employers and how to develop supportive leave policies within their organisations."

Major Handley said the employers completed EES with a "real sense of achievement".

Twenty employers and politicians from Western Sydney Business Connection have visited Holsworthy Army Barracks as part of a familiarisation activity organised through Defence Reserves Support - New South Wales.
 
Major Darren Kaehne met the group at 5 Brigade Headquarters, along with Defence Reserves Support Council New South Wales Chair Mr Rodney Cavalier AO, DRSC-NSW Deputy Chair Group Captain Monty Smith and DRS-NSW Liaison Officer Squadron Leader Del Gaudry.
 
A 'windscreen tour' of the Barracks was conducted and the group to learned about many aspects of Holsworthy. For example, Holsworthy was home to a German internment centre during the World War II.

Many of the employers and politicians were local to the Liverpool area and had never been to the site before. 
  
Afterwards, DRS Liaison Officer Squadron Leader Del Gaudry spoke about the services offered by Defence Reserves Support. Major David Faulks then gave a presentation about the Holsworthy site, 5 Brigade and his experience as a Reservist for more than 25 years and the benefits this has brought to his various employers.
 
A delicious dinner was served at the Officers Mess. Brigadier Paul Brereton, Commander 5 Brigade and Lieutenant Colonel Ian Wolfe, Chief of Staff, 5 Brigade took the opportunity at this point to meet some of the employers and politicians.
 
Real action followed at the Weapons Training Simulation System. Some of the visitors were a little reluctant at first, but with Reservist assistance, they were well on the way to becoming good shots. One of the Reservists commented that it was the first time he had seen people in suits shooting weapons in the centre. It didn't take long for the jackets to come off and for the visitors to get serious.
 
Everyone said that they had loved the experience and learnt so much about the Defence Force.

Sharing information and imparting knowledge about Reserve issues has been the focus of the Defence Reserves Support - New South Wales (DRS-NSW) inaugural State Conference.
 
The conference was attended by 34 supporters of Defence Reserves, including Head Reserve and Employer Support Division Major General Greg Melick AM, RFD, SC. and Defence Reserves Support Council NSW Committee Chairman Mr Rodney Cavalier AO.
 
DRS-NSW Liaison Officer Squadron Leader Del Gaudry said the participants discussed the development of a Strategic Plan for NSW and the type of support being offered to employers and their Reservists throughout NSW.
 
"The highlight for me was to hear the reports from the Regional Chairs and Liaison Officers," she said.
 
"NSW is very fortunate to have such a highly-motivated, passionate group of people who really believe in DRS. It is simply amazing to hear about the work that regional committees are doing to garner support from Defence units, employers and the community."

Tony Shelley is well aware of the value of leadership and teamwork skills, but when translated into a cross-cultural setting, their impact takes on even greater importance. As State Manager of the Northern Territory Registry of the National Native Title Tribunal, Tony is the employer of NORFORCE Reservist, Private Gordon Chalmers.

NORFORCE (North-West Mobile Force) is an Australian Army regiment and is one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed in a surveillance and reconnaissance role in the north of Australia.

“I think Reserve work is terrific. I almost joined myself once, although I am a bit long in the tooth now,” said Tony.

NORFORCE comprises 600 troops, the majority of which are Reservists who conduct surveillance operations throughout the Top End. Almost 50 per cent of the soldiers are Aboriginal with 80 per cent of these coming from remote northern communities.

“Gordon has really benefited through an increase in his self-development, confidence and experience; he really loves it. It is a great life-affirming outlet for him,” said Tony.

“Developing leadership and teamwork skills through valuable exposure to life broadening experiences have resulted in a greater knowledge and understanding of others; skills often needed to bring to mediation practice in a cross cultural setting.”

The Tribunal is the Australian Government agency set up under the Native Title Act 1993 to assist in the resolution of native title issues. The Northern Territory has just over 170 unresolved native title claimant applications, the highest number in the country. The Territory is currently second only to Queensland in the number of registered indigenous land use agreements reached.

A key focus of the Tribunal’s work in the Territory is future act mediation in relation to proposed mining and infrastructure activities – skills that Gordon has developed and refined since he became a Reservist two years ago.

“My team is always keen to hear what Gordon learnt when he was away and Gordon is only too happy to pass on practical advice to benefit our team in the field."

However, Tony is also keen to emphasise the transactional nature of the Employer/Employee relationships when it comes to a supportive workplace.

Employer Support Payment Scheme Expenditure
The Employer Support Payment (ESP) expenditure for the month of August and the progressive expenditure for FY 08/09 are detailed in the table below.

ESP Claim Forms Review
ESP is currently reviewing all claim forms used to make claims for ESP including Employer, Self Employed Reservist and claims made under the CDF Capability Provisions. Such work requires much effort and aims to maximise the overall effectiveness of the existing claim forms. To ensure we capture as much information as possible, you are invited to forward any suggestions that you feel would improve on the current forms. When doing so, keep in mind that we targeting both the content and the layout of all the forms. Please forward any suggestions to the ESP mailbox, esp@defence.gov.au.

What will happen with my claim?
While we are on the subject of claim forms, have you ever wondered what happens to your claim forms once they leave you?

On receipt, your claim form will be forwarded to an approving ESP Delegate at which time it will be checked for completeness. If you have not completed all relevant sections or attached all necessary supporting documentation, you will be required to do so. Your Reservist's periods of service, as detailed on the claim form, will also be verified.

The claim will be checked to ensure that it has been made no later than six months after the first day of continuous Defence service for which the claim was made. Unless this requirement is waived by the Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director of the ESP Scheme, claims will only be eligible for payment for any part of the claim period that occurred within six months of the claim being made. As discussed in last month’s issue, you may request a waiver of this six month limitation period to the Director of the ESP Scheme. Appropriate justification for consideration of a waiver will be required.

• approve the claim;
• refuse the claim;
• request further information in relation to the claim;
• refer the claim to the Director of the ESP Scheme for advice; or
• refer the claim to the Director of the ESP Scheme for adjudication.