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| DEFENCE RESERVES SUPPORT E-NEWS | JUNE 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  Beginning in Brisbane at the Sofitel Hotel on Tuesday 26 June, Defence Reserves Support will launch a series of nation-wide business functions to inform the medical, nursing and allied health community about the real difference Defence health professionals make in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and military operations abroad. Did you know that hundreds of health professionals from across Australia selflessly give of their time, expertise and compassion when nature’s furies are unleashed on unsuspecting populations? Have you ever wondered how you can contribute to Australia’s future efforts on a part-time basis? Health professionals in Brisbane and its surrounds are invited to join Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Reserves) Major General Neil Wilson, the ADF’s Surgeon General Rear Admiral Graeme Shirtley and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay MP for a complimentary breakfast from 7:15 – 9:00 am and learn more about how ADF health professionals make a real difference in the lives of our neighbours, at home and further afield. For bookings phone Jayne Kidd on ph 07 55486199, fax 07 55460332 or email info@e-kiddna.com.au by 21 June. Watch this space for details of future events, call 1800 803 485 or register online | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 On 19 April the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Mr Peter Lindsay MP announced the commencement of the Review of the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001. The Act is intended to protect the rights of Reservists in their civilian occupation whether that is in employment or study. The Review is to be chaired by Major General Greg Garde AO RFD QC, former Head Reserve Policy, and will also involve a panel of employer and Defence representatives including Mr Leigh Purnell from the Australian Industry Council, Mr Steve Williams Director of Reserve Support and Mr Phil Johnston Director Office of Reserve Service Protection. The Review panel is seeking written submissions from any interested parties. These can be made on-line through the Reserves website or sent directly to: ORSP Legislative Review R8-G-019 Russell Offices Canberra ACT 2600 Written submissions should arrive before 31 July 2007. Public forums will be held during June and July in each State and Territory Capital as well as in the major Defence population centres of Cairns, Townsville and Karratha. The schedule for these forums is available on the Defence Reserves website. Interviews with identified key stakeholders will be conducted during July and August. The Review Report is scheduled to be presented to the Parliamentary Secretary in November 2007. Biographies of the panel, Terms of Reference for the Review, the Workshop Schedule and more are available on-line.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  The announcement of the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001 Review was made at Southern Cross University in Coffs Harbour, NSW, during a function to launch a new initiative aimed at supporting student Reservists both financially and academically.Southern Cross University has developed a policy that provides assistance to student Reservists in terms of special consideration in exams, deferral of assessment, rescheduling of assessments, remittance of HECS and/or fees and other support when students are absent due to Reserve commitments. With the support of the DRSC and the endorsement of the Australian Vice Chancellors Committee, this policy is to be restyled as a set of guidelines for adoption by universities and other academic institutions across Australia. The details of the new guidelines will be promoted to Universities, TAFEs, Institutes of Technology and private training providers over the next four months. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Universities and many of the other institutions will have adopted the guidelines in some form before the end of this academic year. CAPTION FOR IMAGE: (l-r) Southern Cross University Students/Reservists Privates Bruce Dingle, Caitlin Proctor, Adam Atkins and Teena Ellis all from 41 Royal NSW Regiment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 What’s happening in June? Do you have some space in your diary? Here are some of the events taking place this month in your state or territory. Contact your local DRS office for further details.
  Meet you at the 19th! This popular and well understood saying amongst the golfing fraternity is about to take on a whole new meaning in the world of Defence Reserves Support! If you are an employer of Australia’s invaluable Reserve service personnel then you too could be soon joining other employers and Defence personnel on the golf course and in the clubhouse for a quality lunch. Enjoy a different approach to learning about how your business can be supported so that Reserve personnel can take up training and operational service on behalf of our country! Learn how the excellent training in areas such leadership and management can benefit your organisation - all in the relaxing environment of a golf course... well relaxing for some who can actually hit a golf ball! The first event is planned for 29 October in Adelaide, followed by a similar event on 12 November in Canberra. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 More than 50 delegates converged on the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra over the weekend of 26 and 27 May for the Autumn Defence Reserve Support Council (DSRC) National Council meeting. Representatives from the DRSC and guests from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UKMOD) participated in a stimulating program relating to enhanced support for employers of Reserve personnel. After an opening address by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay MP, participants were brought up-to-date on the Review of the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001 and a presentation on the Employer Support Payment Scheme. An international perspective was brought to the meeting with presentations by NZDF Brigadier Tim Brewer and UKMOD Group Captain Chris Markey. Keen discussion ensued regarding research papers on superannuation for Reserve personnel and the integration of Reserve and permanent forces. There was also a very enlightening presentation from the Commanding Officer of 29/45 Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Martin on how his Reserve unit was able to work cooperatively with employers to enable Reservists to take up their recent deployment to the Solomon Islands. On the Saturday evening, Mr Lindsay and the Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Angus Houston, joined council members and more than 100 invited guests from defence and industry at the Western Creek Mess for a formal dining-in night. The dinner also incorporated the announcement of this year's ACT Employer Support Awards winners with congratulations going to: - ACT Legal Aid Office - Logistic Solutions Australasia - Thine Projects Australia Pty Ltd - Office of National Assessments - Directorate of Senior Officer Management, Defence Personnel Executive - Deputy Chief Executive Officer Division, Defence Materiel Organisation - Directorate of Materiel Operations and Planning, Electronic and Weapon Systems Division, Defence Materiel Organisation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 The Employer Support Payment (ESP) Scheme was designed to provide financial assistance to both employers and self-employed Reservists whilst away from their civilian jobs. The ESP is payable for every block of service of five days or greater, after the two week qualifying period and other criteria have been met. The rate at which ESP is paid will rise from 01 July 2007, to reflect the increase in the Australian Bureau of Statistics Average Weekly Ordinary full time adult Earnings (AWOTE), from $1,035.90 per week to $1,070.40 per week, for Reservists employed full-time. For Reservists in part-time employment, a pro-rata amount of the applicable AWOTE is calculated based on their weekly working hours. In order for employers of Reservists to be eligible to receive ESP, they need to be able to prove that their business is a bona fide and registered employer, and that they employ the Reservist. In the case of part-time employees, the employer also needs to provide evidence of their employee's part-time working hours. In the case of self-employed Reservists, the requirements are slightly different. Self-employed Reservists must be able to provide evidence that their business is bona fide, that their business is trading or operating, and that it provides them with their principal source of income (PSI) for a continuous period of at least six months (immediately before their claimed Defence service). Most self-employed Reservists fall under this provision; those who are unable to prove that their business provides them with their PSI may be able to apply under the Legitimate Business Test (LBT) provisions. Further information regarding applications made under LBT can be found at here. The importance of self-employed Reservists to Australia's Reserve force is illustrated by the ESP expenditure for the current financial year. For the period ending 30 April 2007, total ESP expenditure was $13.09m; of this, $5.67m related to ESP claims from self-employed Reservists, with Navy claims equalling $1.34m, Army $3.68m and Air Force $0.65m. Further information on the ESP scheme, including both employers and self-employed Reservist's claim forms, instructions on how to complete, and information on where to send the completed claim form is available on the Defence Reserves website. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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