Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2004/Positions to go for posting certainty

A total of 824 Navy shore positions are to be abolished within the next 12 months to improve geographic stability and posting certainty for members of the Service.

The move is one of a series of Navy people initiatives - in this case Balancing the Supply and Demand of People - expected to be discussed at the forthcoming Navy Symposium.

The reductions will take place within the Navy Group of Defence and other groups, such as the Defence Material Organisation and Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group, which have Navy personnel.

But no ships, squadrons or clearance diving teams will be affected.

The Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, says, of the 12,000 positions for trained personnel about 800 are vacant, a situation that has existed for many years.

" Many of you have indicated both formally and informally that you thought Navy could do better in managing careers and postings, particular with improving geographic stability and posting certainty," he says in an All Ship/ All Shore signal on August 30.

" I have received advice on these matters from my Advisory Committee and have decided to implement a number of initiatives which aim to improve geographic stability, posting certainty and other personnel issues."

No workforce increase

VADM Ritchie says Navy is not likely to see an increase in the number of people in the trained workforce because of budgetary limitations.

" Eight hundred vacancies cause problems for posting authorities in meeting supply and demand, and create posting uncertainty," he says.

"A Navy-wide review of Navy positions has been conducted to identify those that can be reduced so that we only recruit to and try to fill positions that we know are the most important for Navy's future activities."

As a result, VADM Ritchie says, Navy Group will be reduced by 124 positions within six months and 700 Navy billets within other Defence Groups over one year.

" No ships, squadrons or CDT units will be affected," VADM Ritchie says.

Principles

The initiative is based on two key principles:

• No detriment to the sea-shore roster (achievable because there are still 7000 positions

ashore); and

• No unnecessary relocation of personnel (likely to be minimal, in any case, because many of the positions are vacant).

VADM Ritchie says Maritime and System Commands, non-Navy groups and workforce planners are beginning a consultation period. " Any position changes that will affect you or your work areas will be advised via your command chain," he says.

" Your command (via the divisional system) should be your first point of contact for any concerns you may have about how this review will affect you."

The signal also provides two points of contact:

• For the positions review, Captain John Walton - 02 6265 1244 or John.Walton2@defence.gov.au
• For broader concerns contact the Warrant Officer of the Navy.