After a busy and successful 2007, this year is already shaping up as a very significant one for the many Defence Reservists and employers who continue to make such a substantial contribution to Australia’s Defence Force.

In this edition, we continue our focus on a small handful of our Reserves who make valuable contributions to the ADF and apply their skills and leadership abilities back in their civilian careers.

Naval Reserve Symposium

Following on from the Sea Power 2008 Conference, the Royal Australian Navy held its annual Reserve Symposium at the Sydney Convention Centre on 1 February. Over 150 delegates discussed how to reduce the widening gap between the human resource requirements necessary to operate today’s Navy and the resources available. In particular the Symposium looked at how other industries have addressed this challenge and then how the Navy could be proactive in addressing this issue. Prior to the Symposium, delegates were asked to reflect upon four focusing questions.
1.What strategies can be used to better address the current climate of skills shortages?
2.How do we encourage more people to join the ADF Reserves under a greater application of
part- time work in the Department of Defence?
3.How can we better retain our people?
4.How can Navy work more closely with industry to share our scarce skilled workforce?
Future editions of our newsletter will indicate what progress was made in addressing these complex and
challenging questions.


Exercise Executive Stretch

Business owners and managers from the ACT recently spent a day at RAAF Base Richmond discovering the benefits of Reserve service.

Exercise Executive Stretch is organised in conjunction with the Defence Reserves Support Council (DRSC), and gives business executives the opportunity to observe and experience the personal, technical and professional skills training their employees receive as a member of the Reserve.

About 30 people from a range of public sector and private organisations took part in the event that included a flight in a Hercules aircraft.

John Timermanis, the Liaison Officer for Defence Reserves Support in the ACT, said the exercise allowed employers to see first hand how Reserve training activities can directly benefit their business.

“Our aim is to highlight the skills Reservists gain from being in the ADF and how those skills can benefit civilian employers. Furthermore we want to encourage employers to use the resources and financial support available to them through programs like the Employer Support Payment Scheme.”

"Exercise Executive Stretch demonstrates how the unique professional, leadership and career development skills taught in the ADF can be transferred in the day-to-day workplace environment,” he said.

Enlightened employers after a trip to RAAF Base Richmond

West Australian employers who would like to stretch themselves out of their comfort zone should mark down the weekend of 29-30 March and again contact LEUT Stephen Stewart for details on Ph 08 931 2597.

 

Major Robert Ball

Squadron Leader Sue Trimble has featured in the print ads informing employers and Reservists of the ways the ADF supports business and industry so that employees who are Defence Reservists can undergo deployment or training. Major Robert Ball is an Army Reservist who is the Officer Commanding the Civil Military Cooperation Squadron (CIMIC) whilst in his civilian career he is the Director of Public Affairs and Communication for Raytheon Australia.

Follow the links below to learn more about these Reservists who are making substantial contributions to the ADF.

Major Robert Ball

Squadron Leader Sue Trimble

  Employer Support Payment (ESP) expenditure was up again in January, with over $12.3m in ESP already having been expended this Financial Year. Of that, $1,566,436 (13%) was in relation to service by Naval Reservists, $9,662,179
(78%) related to Defence service rendered by Army Reservists, and $1,071,190 (9%) was in relation to service by Air Force Reservists.

Of this, $0.6m was attributed to payments under the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) provisions for Higher Level payments for service by Health Officers.


Higher Level Payments for service by Health Officers

In January 2008, a new CDF Approval for higher level ESP for specified doctors, dentists, nurses and allied health officers came into effect. This Approval relates to service undertaken from 15 January 2008.

Self-employed Reservists who have a bona fide functioning medical practice, or contract as a registered medical practitioner to a bona fide functioning medical practice no longer need to provide financial documentation in order to establish their eligibility to ESP.

In these cases, all that is required is a fully completed ESP claim form (although provision of documentation relating to the service, i.e. a course instruction, deployment signal or training notice, will assist with speedy processing of the claim). The Director ESP Scheme will seek certification of the Self-employed Reservists' employment situation from Head Defence Health Service or Surgeon General ADF.
 
Further information on the new CDF Approval is available on www.defence.gov.au/reserves, under "Employer Support Payments" > "Claims for Health Professionals".

If you have any questions regarding the ESP Scheme, please contact our Defence Reserves State and Territory
Offices on 1800 803 485.