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 New Defence Reserves Support website goes live! Employers and Reservists can quickly access information about Reserve service through our new website. The comprehensive website, which is still located at www.defence.gov.au/reserves, includes claim forms and information about the many benefits of employing a Reservist. The new website also includes special instructional-style videos about the unique DEFNAV feature - a search function that helps you find the information you are looking for! | ||
 Are you a whiz with words? Come up with a name for our E Newsletter! We are keen to name our monthly E Newsletter! Something snappy, interesting and focused on our target audience of Reservists and their employers! A great prize will be sent to the reader who conjures up the best name! Entries close on 20 December! Send through your thoughts to deanna.nott@defence.gov.au  Canberra’s Corporate Golf Day!
The Federal Golf Course at Red Hill proved to be a challenge for some…and was a piece of cake for others. Nonetheless the day was a huge success with all employers walking away with a much better grasp of the who, what, why and where of Reserves and some even picked up a DRS prize! For the record, the winning team was Wing Commander Ian Rodgers, John Ryan, Chris Coles and Phil Butler. | ||
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Major General Greg Garde, Chair of the Reserve (Protection) Legislation Review, presented the key findings of the consultation process at the recent Defence Reserves Support Council National Council Meeting. MAJGEN Garde raised the possibility of amendments to the Act, including defining all types of Reserve service as 'protected'. This would remove the current ambiguity surrounding protected service and ensure that employers were given appropriate notice of a Reservist's service commitments together with the opportunity to raise concerns and negotiate alternatives where available. Enhanced employer support and communication would see Reservists take more responsibility in providing sufficient notice to employers when deployments were to exceed one month. In addition, clear lines of communication were seen as necessary so that employers could raise and resolve issues with a senior Defence authority. Improved recognition of Reserve service is considered essential, with greater publicity of Reserve service to employers. Australian and United States Reservists - Learning from each other  The close cooperation existing between the Australian and the United States military is widely known from the days of WWI and WWII, Korea, and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan today. What may not be as widely known is that the close cooperation also extends to the Reserve Forces. During two weeks in October, two of the United States Navy Reserve (USNR) joined with their Aussie peers to complete Phase Three of the Royal Australian Navy Reserves Staff Acquaint Course in Canberra. Lieutenant Commanders David Shaieb and Arthur Fong, USNR flew into Australia on 6 October to begin the two-week Phase Three Staff Acquaint Course – designed to further develop Reserve Naval Officers’ leadership, management and staff skills in preparation for enhanced responsibility in their naval careers.  | ||
 Significant Reserves meetings in Brisbane International guests from Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand joined with Australian Defence Organisation personnel in Brisbane late last month to discuss Reserve issues, especially the common goal of enhancing the relationship between civilian employers and the military. The meeting was particularly significant as Australia’s Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie was present and actively involved in the discussions. The Defence Reserves Support Council National Council Meeting followed and involved presentations on topics such as superannuation for Reservists, our organisation’s much-anticipated new website, the ADF Gap Year and the Review of the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001. The meeting concluded with presentations by representatives of the DRSC’s counterparts from Canada and the UK – Mr John Eaton, National Chair Canadian Forces Liaison Council and The Lord Glenarthur, Chairman National Employer Advisory Board in the UK. Boss Lift Boss Lift is an exercise organised by the Directorate of Employer and Industry Engagement to enable employers to learn first hand about what the Australian Defence Force does on exercise and operations. It provides a unique insight into the benefits Reserve service enables employees to bring back to the civilian workplace. Indeed, after Boss Lift, participants may even see their employees in a rather different context! This month, employers from a range of industries took the leap and departed from Brisbane for the Solomon Islands for a four-day first-hand look at how Australian Reservists put their training and skills into practice. Next month, another group of employers will head off to Malaysia. Stories about both Boss Lifts will be featured in our next E Newsletter! If you are interested in Boss Lift follow this link: http://www.defencereserves.com/aspx/bosslift_overview.aspx Exercise Executive Stretch: getting out of the comfort zone!
Participants were provided with an insight into the abilities, knowledge and skills a Reservist acquires during military service including:
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 Reserve talent - Part 2 Last month we met three of the Defence Reservists who are the public face of our current advertising campaign, which is focused on promoting the benefits of Reserve service.  This month we meet LCDR John Willy RANR who has also volunteered to go in front of the cameras to support this campaign. LCDR John Willy, RANR is the National Operations Manager for OOCL (Australia) Pty Ltd, a shipping company which is one of the two leading maritime transport operators in Australia. OOCL is a global shipping line with operations all over the world and as National Operations Manager John is extremely busy! If you ever wondered who manages all of those shipping containers entering and exiting Australia, we can tell you it is John Willy! John points out that Australia currently imports more than exports and as such there are a huge number of empty containers that have to be transported out of Australia and New Zealand. Little wonder then that when John joined the Royal Australian Navy Reserve 11 years ago, that he joined the Maritime Trade Operations group: a group that, amongst many things, provides advice to the Fleet Commander in all merchant maritime matters. John is one of a small contingent of Navy representatives in the Headquarters of the 1st Joint Movements Group which has responsibility for the movement of Defence Department equipment and personnel whether the mission is humanitarian, disaster relief or the uplift of troops and equipment into and out of operations and exercises. John’s intimate knowledge of Australia’s maritime environment has benefited the Department of Defence on many occasions. When the ADF requires a sealift solution, John is able to recommend the best method of sea transport to meet the mission. “It’s been a busy and challenging time for everyone here over the last few years. The operational tempo has been at an all time high, supporting ADF in a wide number of operations and exercises, and moving large masses of equipment all over the world. But, being busy is a lot of fun and you feel a sense of achievement at the end of the day!” he said. John’s employers welcome his involvement in the RANR. The combination of his work in the merchant marine and the Navy has provided OOCL with a National Operations Manager who has a unique perspective on the whole Australian maritime environment. Although a little camera shy, John has been delighted to support the current campaign. “I am very proud of my involvement in the Reserves and I welcome any opportunity to spread the message about how the Department supports employers whose staff also wear a Navy, Army or Air Force uniform.” | ||
 Monthly Report ESP has grown so much recently, that additional staff have been appointed to facilitate the processing of claims. ESP expenditure is up again for September, with over $5m in ESP already having been expended this Financial Year. Of that, $683,451 (14%) was in relation to service by Naval Reservists, $3,871,331 (77%) related to Defence service rendered by Army Reservists, and $448,752 (9%) was in relation to service by Air Force Reservists. If you have any questions regarding the ESP Scheme, please contact our friendly Defence Reserves Support staff on 1800 803 485. | ||
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