Categories of Service
The Reserve has six categories:
- High Readiness Active Reserve (with increased training and service obligations)
- High Readiness Specialist Reserve
- Specialist Reserve
-
Active Reserve
- Standby Reserve (with no training commitment but available for call out)
- Other categories determined by Chief of Navy, Army or Air Force
Reservists can choose flexible enlistment packages with combinations of full-time or part-time service in differing categories and states of readiness.
Types of Reserve Service
There are four types of Reserve service:
- Ordinary Reserve service taken as training days. This includes activities such as camps, weekend training and courses undertaken as part of normal peacetime training or service.
- Voluntary continuous full-time service undertaken on an unprotected basis.
- Voluntary continuous full-time service, which has been designated as protected.
- Compulsory continuous full-time service following call out.
Protected Service
Protected service gives protection to current, prospective and former Reservists and places legally binding obligations on employers in areas of perceived discrimination, hindrance, loss of status and entitlements because of their Reserve service. See ORSP
Employment protection requires employers to reinstate Reservists to their jobs at the end of Defence service. It also ensures Reserve members cannot be compelled to use annual or long service leave for Defence service.
Education protection means Reservists who are students will be able to resume an education course they had to interrupt.
Protection against financial hardship and bankruptcy enables Reservists to postpone financial liabilities and protect against bankruptcy.
The table below outlines the various protection measures available under the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001 and the types of service to which they apply:
| Protection | Service to which protection applies |
| Discrimination | All types of Reserve service |
| Employment | All types of Reserve service except unprotected continuous full-time service |
| Partnership | All types of Reserve service except unprotected continuous full-time service |
| Education | Protected continuous full-time service and continuous full-time service following call out |
| Financial liability | Continuous full-time service following call out |
| Bankruptcy | Continuous full-time service following call out |
| Loans and guarantees |
Continuous full-time service following call out |
Unprotected Service
Unprotected service is service that has not been designated by the Chief of Navy, Army or Air Force (or their delegate) as protected. This means no special protection is available, apart from protection against discrimination, which provides basically the same employment protection for Reservists in both categories.
Unprotected service means employers can require Reservists to take annual or long service leave during their Reserve service.
Call Out
Call out of the Reserve is made by the Government and requires Reservists to be available for continuous full-time service. It is used only when necessary to draw on the particular capabilities and specialisations found in the Reserve. Call out can be made in times of war, in defence emergencies or preparations, for peacekeeping or peace enforcement, to assist federal, State, Territory or foreign governments and agencies involved in Australia's national security to support significant national or international activities, or to provide civil aid, humanitarian assistance, medical or civil emergency or disaster relief.
