News/Media
Conditions of Service (COS) Review
2008-09 Federal Budget - Support for Defence Families
Defence Community Houses and Facilities Project
Have Your Say on Moving the Modern ADF Family!
June 2008
Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS) Legislation Passed
The new DHOAS impacts on:
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Good News! This scheme is a great initiative which will benefit many families in the ADF. DFA is excited that the legislation has been passed and will commence as planned on the 1 July 2008. More details about the scheme are available on the Defence Pay and Conditions website. Following is the media release from Minister Snowden's office:
Media Release: The Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Thursday, 19 June 2006 077/2008 The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, today warmly welcomed the passage of the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme legislation through the Senate. “The way is clear for the new Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS) to commence on 1 July 2008 now that the Senate has passed the legislation,” Mr Snowdon said. “The DHOAS is one of a number of retention initiatives that will encourage Australian Defence Force (ADF) members to serve longer. “The Scheme provides progressively higher home loan subsidies to permanent ADF members who serve beyond the critical departure points of 4, 8 and 12 years, and for Reservists with service past 8, 12 and 16 years. “The subsidies represent a significant incentive for ADF members to remain serving and will assist them and their families in the current competitive housing market.” Mr Snowdon said that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) had been appointed the Scheme Administrator after a competitive tender process and that a panel of three Home Loan Providers had been selected to support the DHOAS: • National Australia Bank Limited, • Australian Defence Credit Union Limited, and • Defence Force Credit Union Limited. After 1 July 2008, the Home Loan Providers will be able to advise ADF members on the range of loan products available for use with the DHOAS. The Department of Defence and DVA will be undertaking an extensive information campaign aimed at informing all personnel of the details of the DHOAS. ADF members may approach DVA after the scheme commences on 1 July 2008 for information on applying for the DHOAS subsidy. Media contacts: Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon): 02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689 Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664 |
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Conditions of Service (COS Review)
The Department of Defence has announced a review into non-salary related conditions of service.
DFA will develop a submission representing the interests of ADF families. You can either submit your views directly to Defence via the COS review email, or you can add to our voice by sending us your suggestions or comments. You can also contact your National Delegate by phone or by email.
DFA will keep you updated on the review. For more information please see the announcement below.
Families the Focus of New Review into Conditions of Service The changing needs of ADF members and their families will be the focus of a new review into the ADF’s non-salary related Conditions of Service for full time Members and Reserves. In 2001 the Nunn Review looked at ADF Remuneration and a series of recommendations have been implemented since that time. There is now general agreement by the Defence People Committee that the current Conditions of Service package is in need of review to remove anomalies and to introduce a degree of simplicity and flexibility that is not available through the current package. This review will examine ways of delivering a suite of Conditions of Service currently provided to members that are up-to-date, flexible and simple to administer. The scope of this review, due to end in mid 2009, incorporates Non-Salary related ADF Conditions of Service so it will not cover areas such as Salaries or their related Allowances, Superannuation, FBT or Taxation, Compensation or Deployments. A project team will be consulting widely with each of the Personnel areas within each Service, Defence Support Group, Defence Families Australia and the Defence Community Organisation. ADF members and their families are invited to submit suggestions for improving the ADF’s non-salary related Conditions of Service via email to cosreview@defence.gov.au. All submissions will be considered in shaping a contemporary Conditions of Service package for the future. |
May 2008
2008-09 Federal Budget - Support for Defence Families
Tuesday 13 May 2008
This budget announcement impacts on:
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The Hon Warren Snowden, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel has released a statement from the 2008-09 Federal Budget - Defence Support to Families. The full statement and summary of benefits for families from the budget can be seen here.
For more information and frequently asked questions about the trial see the Defence Health Services Division website
We value any feedback you have on the budget statement. For DFA's position on policy issues see here.
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Defence Community Houses and Facilities Project
Defence is conducting a nation wide project to review the provision and use of Defence Community houses and facilities, and the support provided through them. This review is intended to provide Defence with a more effective model and policy for community support which can strengthen community resilience and contribute to capability and retention. Families have had the opportunity to have their say by attending regional focus group style meetings and via a DCO online survey. The survey has now closed and DFA will be keeping families updated as the review progresses.
See the DCO website for more information on the Defence Community Houses and Facilities Project .
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Have Your Say on Moving the Modern ADF Family!
Relocating to a new posting location impacts on:
DFA volunteers, have conducted meetings throughout Australia to discuss local issues and hear the ‘end user’ perspective.
If you missed those meetings, you can have your say on our DFA online survey (below). You can also contact your National Delegate if you would like to raise any issues, concerns or ideas at our Annual Conference in June.
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February 2008
DFA Website redevelopment
Register now on our newly redeveloped DFA website and we will send you a free recyclable shopping bag. Registering will give you access to information on policy and entitlements relevant to you, your posting location and links to a range of resources, organisations and information.
For more information click here
DFA website redevelopment project
From the moment a member joins the Australian Defence Force (ADF) their new life impacts on you, their family. If you are a parent you may wish to know more about your child’s choice of career. As a new partner of a serving member you face the challenges of frequent removals and regular separations which can impact on your relationships with family and friends, employment opportunities and your children’s education.
The aim of the DFA website is to provide you and other ADF families with access to a range of information relevant to the ADF lifestyle in a friendly, easy to access forum.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to our newly redeveloped website. This website has been designed by defence families for defence families. We recognise that the information and the support you need changes as you move through your life cycles. Your needs as a newly recognised partner are different to those of a family with young children and different again to a family with older children. Your circumstances also determine the information you seek. Living in Townsville is a very different experience to living in Sydney or Perth.
As Defence families we can share information, build networks and support each other. We encourage you to contribute to the website and you can do this in a number of ways:
- By providing us with feedback on defence policies relevant to families. DFA is involved in Defence committees and policy discussions and is in the unique position of being able to present the ‘end user’ perspective.
- Provide us with your feedback on your experience, both good and bad, as a defence family. DFA is your voice and your feedback helps us to represent you at the highest levels.
- Share your tips for surviving the challenges of being a defence family. What do you do to make your moves run more smoothly? Do you have any tips for living in a new location which you wished you knew about before you moved there? We have dedicated pages for families to contribute their own tips throughout the website.
- Provide general feedback, comments or suggestions for improving this new online resource for ADF families
Our website is still in its development stages and over the coming months we will continue to expand the information for ADF families. We will make every effort to ensure that the information is relevant, accurate and up to date.
We would like to thank DFA’s supporters and, in particular, the Head of Personnel Executive for providing the funding to make this website possible. We would also like to thank the Royal Australian Central Canteen Fund, the ADF Financial Services Consumer Council and Defence Family Matters for their ongoing support.
If you would like to know more about DFA, please click here.
Regards
Nicole Quinn
National Convenor
Defence Families of Australia