Defence Reserves ENews

DEFENCE RESERVES SUPPORT E-NEWS | JULY 2007

HAVE YOUR SAY!! WORKSHOPS UNDERWAY ACROSS AUSTRALIA!

As this month’s e-newsletter reaches your desktop, a series of workshops are being conducted with community members about the provisions of the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001.

Chaired by Major General Greg Garde AO RFD QC, these forums have been extremely successful in giving members of the community, particularly employers, an opportunity to give their views about the effectiveness of the Act which provides unique protections and support to employers and Reservists.

Workshops have already been conducted in Canberra, Sydney, Darwin, Perth and Karratha in the Pilbara Region.

Additional workshops are scheduled for Brisbane (9 July), Townsville (10 July), Cairns (12 July), Melbourne (23 July), Hobart (24 July) and Adelaide (25 July). Click here for details.

Some of the issues raised at the recent Darwin workshop included the growing demands upon Reservists given the increased tempo of overseas deployments, improving the awareness of employers of the Employers Support Payment Scheme and the impact that near full employment is having upon the ability of employers to replace Reservists on training or deployment.

Have your say – attend one of the workshops or provide a written online submission to the Review Panel. Click here to have your say by 31 July.

A reminder that the rate at which ESP is paid rose to $1,070.40 per week from 1 July 2007 for Reservists employed full-time. For Reservists in part-time employment, a pro-rata amount of the rate is calculated based on their weekly working hours.

For claimants

*	Remember to provide the supporting evidence that is detailed on the claim form.
*	Remember that the evidence that you are employing a Reservist must relate to the period immediately prior to the Defence service being claimed.
*	Remember you can call 1800 803 485 and discuss any queries with the helpful staff in our State/Territory offices.

For the statistically minded, total ESP expenditure for the current financial year (to 31 May 2007) was $15.1m. Of this, Navy claims equalled $1.8m (12%), Army $11.9m (78%) and Air Force $1.5m (10%).

Twelve participants from the private and government sectors took part in the Northern Territory’s Exercise Executive Stretch from 19-21 April.

Northern Territory Executive Stretch

It certainly was a stretch with participants getting into some taxing activities in the water, inspecting the new Abrams tanks, live firing of the F88 Steyr rifle, rappelling down cliff faces and taking a guided tour of our new Armidale Class Patrol Boats at HMAS COONAWARRA.

The program was well supported by senior representatives from employers and the Defence Force with Jack Smorgon, Deputy Chair of the National Defence Reserves Support Council opening the program whilst Brigadier Orme, of 1 Brigade made closing remarks at a BBQ at the Larrakeyah Officers' Mess.

If you would like to stretch yourself and see what our Reservists actually do in training and operations then follow this link. You can also watch an ABC story about this EES in the Northern Territory.

http://www.defencereserves.com/aspx/exec_overview.aspx

SA	19/07/07	Wine Luncheon
SA	21/07/07 - 22/07/07	9 CSSB Bosses Day Out - Murray Bridge
QLD	23/007/07	DRS Q Executive Meeting
QLD	Call 1800 803485 for details	42 RQR Ball and Employer Awards
SA	Call 1800 803485 for details	24 SQN Birthday Cocktail Party - Torrens Parade Ground
NSW	Call 1800 803485 for details	Reserve Forces Day
NATIONAL	6/07/07	Bosslift Solomon Islands - Employers and Reservists

Heath Professionals' Business Functions Get Underway.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay MP, addressed a large group of representatives from major Queensland hospitals, specialist health care facilities and private practices during the first of a series of business functions for Health Professionals held at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane on Tuesday 26 June.

Mr Lindsay described the changing circumstances such as terrorism in our region, disaster relief operations and Australia’s increased involvement in overseas conflict that has contributed to the Australian Defence Force’s need for Health Professionals.

A Defence Reserves health and medical career offers both the Reservist and employers opportunities for learning ands experience that aren’t available in any other context.

“Reserve service further develops skills that are then returned to the civilian workplace. Employees return from deployments with more focus, flexibility and adaptability that contribute to making them more rounded health and medical practitioners.” Mr Lindsay said.

The Defence Department can provide monetary support of up to $5600 a week to employers who release their medical staff for Reserve service.

The next “Heath Professionals In Defence – Making a Real Difference” will be an breakfast function in Adelaide on 14 August. Click here to register!

View other images from the function

EMPLOYERS PLAY MAJOR ROLE IN RESERVIST DEPLOYMENT

A very proud contingent of Army reservists from 25/49 Royal Queensland Regiment (RQR) and 9 RQR recently returned from a three-month deployment to the Solomon Islands after participating in Operation Anode, Australia’s contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

The key to their success is a very special relationship between employers, the Army and Reservists.

Click here to find out how 25/49 RQR Commanding Officer, LTCOL Rowan Martin, works with employers to enable his diggers to deploy overseas.

DUX OF THE CLASS PAVES THE WAY AHEAD FOR EMPLOYERS AND SEAMAN OFFICERS

Sub Lieutenant Mark Shannon shows just what is possible when employers and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) work together. Mark is a Tug Master with Svitzer Australia, one of the largest providers of services to major local and international ship owners, operators and cargo interests in Australia and since April this year he has been serving full time with the RAN.

After joining the Naval Reserve in 2006, Mark completed his Reserve Entry Officers Course and in April this year, he commenced training on HMAS SYDNEY to obtain his Bridge Watch-keeping Certificate, a qualification that will enable him to keep watch on the bridges of Australia’s warships.

Mark is quite a special recruit to the Royal Australian Navy Reserve. He is the first Reserve Seaman Officer to ever come from outside the ranks of the permanent Navy itself and undergo extended and intensive Seaman Officer training. In many respects, Mark is blazing the trail for other Reserve Seaman Officers and their employers in the future.