Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2008/Navy family benefits
By Annie Casey
The Navy’s Personnel and Training organisation is continually striving to ensure Navy families are supported, especially during this time of significant activity.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said recently: “Family issues are very large, and we are focussing on finding ways to ensure when Defence families are struggling with the decision to take an offer outside Defence or to stay in Defence that we have something on the table that just might tip their decision in favour of staying rather than going.”
With this in mind, here is a reminder of some of the family friendly policies and benefits which the Navy already provides to assist sailors and their families.
Navy offers flexible employment practices and part time leave without pay (PTLWOP). Part-time work has been introduced for permanent members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as a means of helping them to meet changing personal circumstances throughout their careers. By increasing employment flexibility, valuable members, who might otherwise choose to leave fulltime ADF service, may be retained.
Through a reduced number of working days in any fortnightly pay period, PTLWOP enables members undertaking full time service to:
- Meet carer responsibilities;
- Seek respite from arduous periods of ADF service; and
- Fulfil education, training or other aspirations without terminating their ADF careers.
Job sharing
PTLWOP includes, but is not confined to, job sharing. Job sharing is defined as ‘the performance of the duties of one established position or billet by two or more members, where each member completes only part of those duties on a part-time basis’.
Defence also provides funding for Defence Families Australia (DFA) to represent the views of ADF families. DFA is the official representative of Defence families and has worked energetically and voluntarily, to improve conditions for all ADF families.
DFA’s role is to improve the quality of life for ADF families by providing a recognised forum for the views of Defence families, and influencing policy that directly affects families.
ADF families can contact DFA to represent them regarding an individual situation or to advocate an issue concerning many families. The convenor and delegates work directly with regional managers and local commanding officers to clarify or resolve issues affecting local families.
Major issues affecting families nationally are taken to Canberra by the national delegates and presented during the DFA annual conference. At the conference, the views and concerns of ADF families are discussed with senior ADF leaders.
The DFA Convenor meets regularly with the Minister responsible for Defence Personnel, the Chief of the Defence Force, and the Head of Defence Personnel Executive to report and make recommendations on behalf of ADF families. http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dco/families.htm#11.
Defence School Transition Aide Program
DSTA provides practical support which is integrated into schools, classrooms and school communities.
This program supports the smooth transition of mobile ADF students from school to school and across curriculum jurisdictions upon ADF relocations or postings.
These school-based positions are located where a significant number of students from Defence families are enrolled.
To find out which schools have Defence school transition aides (DSTAs) and Defence transition mentors (DTMs), you can download the list of primary schools and secondary schools.
Education Assistance Scheme (EAS)
Assistance available to relocating families through EAS, includes:
Tutoring: If a member moves to a new location and has school aged children, they may be entitled to 14 weeks of tutoring in any subject that has been identified by the school as representing a gap in the child’s learning.
Boarding School Allowances: Assistance may be available under the EAS to enable ADF families to access boarding school for a dependant in the critical years of schooling (Years 10, 11 12) to avoid disruption to the child’s education if the member is relocated.
For further information contact your Regional Education Liaison Officer. REDLOs are professionally trained teachers who understand both the different state and territory education systems and the Defence lifestyle. They are available to provide advice to Defence families and children on education issues, particularly matters relating to mobility and relocation. For more information and POCs see http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dco/education.htm#5 http://www.defence.gov.au/dco/education.htm#5
Housing
Service residences are provided for all personnel with dependants at rental significantly lower than for privately rented accommodation of a similar standard. If there is no suitable service residence available members will be eligible for rental allowance. Rental allowance is also available to certain members without dependants and members separated from their families for posting reasons. Service residences therefore provide good quality, convenient and affordable accommodation at considerably subsidised prices.
Home Loan Assistance
As a member of the (ADF) you might also be eligible for assistance to purchase your own home. The ADF is proposing to introduce a new home loan assistance scheme called the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS). This scheme will enable members who have completed a minimum of four years continuous full-time service, or eight years efficient Reserve service, to qualify for a subsidised home loan. The longer a member serves in the ADF, the greater the proposed subsidy on the home loan by the Australian Government. This scheme is subject to Government approval and further information will be provided soon.
http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/navy/payAndBenefits/benefits.aspx
Medical and dental
Navy members are entitled to free medical and dental treatment. Defence doctors, dentists and nurses are trained to the highest standards of medical care and work in state-of-the-art facilities. Members not only receive urgent medical care but also qualify for any special treatment deemed necessary for their ongoing health.
http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/navy/payAndBenefits/benefits.aspx
Fitness and Sport
The Navy provides both the opportunity and the facilities for you and your family to participate in sport and take exercise, which costs you nothing. Keeping fit in a gym in a civilian life would cost you an average of $100 a month.
If considering your service conditions package you also need to calculate how much you would have to pay to provide some of these conditions for yourself if not provided by a civilian employer. To help with this, a useful tool is the “Compare Your Package” site http://aurora.cbr.defence.gov.au/CYP/index.htm
Job Satisfaction
A Navy career offers a variety of postings, each one giving you new opportunities and experiences. Navy people belong to an organisation with a common purpose and have the support and friendship of messmates, a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Many who leave find this is the aspect of service life they miss the most.
An overview of some of the other benefits available to Navy members is available at:
http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/navy/pay/AndBenefits/benefits.aspx
These are just some of the everyday benefits of life in the RAN that are easily overlooked. Your ship’s office will be able to provide you with more information or visit DNEC and the pay and conditions web sites http://intranet.defence.gov.au/navyweb/sites/DNEC/ http://intranet.defence.gov.au/pac/
Further career and posting information can be gained from your divisional senior sailor or divisional officer or you can talk to your Local Career Management Centre for a face to face interview that can also include your partner.
