Brief for New Arrivals

1.         The Australian Defence Force Personnel Centre-Canberra (ADFPC-C) is the administrative support unit for all Army and Air Force personnel posted to the ACT region, other than members of formed and self-administering units, including ADFA, RMC, 28SQN, 34SQN, 462SQN, AFG and DSD. ADFPC-C is responsible for a wide range of administrative support with the exception of ADF Pay and Leave, which has all centralised to the PAC Raymond Terrace. Navy personnel in the region are administered by HMAS HARMAN.  However, some of the information in this guide will be of benefit to Navy members.

2.         Formed in 1998, the ADFPC-C evolved from the amalgamation of three military administrative organisations: Army Local Administration, RAAF Support Unit-Canberra and Navy Pay & Accounts Office. The amalgamated unit was initially known as the Defence Personnel Centre-Canberra. The current title was adopted in 2000.  ADFPC-C is an element of the Defence Support Group (DSG) formally known as Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group (CSIG) and was civilianised in November 1999. The only uniformed member is the Commanding Officer (CO ADFPC-C), who exercises command for administrative and disciplinary purposes as required.  CO ADFPC-C is the only approving Officer for staff administered by ADFPC-C for Recognition of Inter Dependent Partnerships, change of Categorisation, AIRN/IR waivers and PY082s for Reunion Travel and Recreational Leave Entitlements.

3.        The aim of this brief is to provide a reference to ADFPC-C arrangements of immediate interest to members posted to the Canberra region. More detailed information, including the range of services provided and contact details (email, phone or fax), is available on our easy-to-use and interactive Intranet site http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/adfpcc. Members are strongly encouraged to visit the website prior to arrival on posting. The Defence Community Organisation also provides a comprehensive 'Welcome Booklet', which includes a wide variety of information for members and their families. The booklet can be obtained by contacting the Family Liaison Officer on (02) 6265 8777. Further information can also be obtained by visiting the Defence Community Organisation website at Further information can also be obtained by visiting the Defence Community Organisation website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dco/.

ADFPC-C Location/Contact Details

4.         The ADFPC-C is in the Brindabella Business Park complex approximately 5 kilometres from Russell Offices. A contact list of ADFPC-C personnel is available on the Defweb site.

5.         Office hours.  Normal business hours are 0830 to 1700, Monday to Friday.

6.         Inwards clearances. Prior to commencing inwards clearance procedures, members are to attend the Defence Orientation Centre (Russell R1 Foyer ext 53342 or Campbell Park ‘D’ Node ext 62039) to have their Defence pass encoded for entry into Russell and Campbell Park Offices.

7.         Dress.  Uniform is Dress of the Day during duty hours unless otherwise authorised. For members reporting in while still on leave, if civilian clothing is worn, it should be of a standard commensurate with the standards required in a Mess or Ors Club – clean, in good repair and non-offensive.

Unit administration

8.         Inwards clearance procedures are simple. Members are required to hand over personal documents to Customer Service Centre staff and deliver medical and dental documents to the appropriate Duntroon Health Centre (DHC) and Russell Health Centre (RHC). It is a member’s responsibility that Record of Issues (SQ 64) and Individual Kit Record (EA 30) are delivered to the ACT Defence Clothing Store.

9.         On arrival, members are required to complete an an application to Live In, live Out and Categorisation AA157' and a Personnel Data-PMKeyS AD 150' form if required, Both forms located in (forms section) within our intranet website. Completion of the Categorisation Form provides a crosscheck to ensure that the losing unit has taken appropriate pay action on the member's departure.

10.       All personal administration (applications, etc) submitted for processing through ADFPC-C should, where appropriate, be processed through the member's Directorate or Branch before being dispatched to ADFPC-C.

Security

11.       Fire Orders and Security Standing Orders are held in individual work areas. Members are to familiarise themselves with the contents of these orders on arrival.

Housing

12.       All housing and temporary accommodation enquires, including requests for living-in accommodation, are to be directed to Defence Housing Authority (DHA) staff at 26 Mort St, BRADDON ACT 2612. DHA staff will be able to advise the current rates of rental allowance applicable to the ACT and Queanbeyan.

Pay and Allowances

13.       All pay queries are to be directed to your nearest Customer Service Centre or Service direct on 1800 333 362. Allowance queries associated with relocation are to be directed to DHA

Separation and Career Transition Assistance

1. ADF Transition Centre - Canberra assists all separating ADF members to access information relevant to their needs as well as with transition administration.

1. ADF Transition Seminars are held three times per year in Canberra, dates for this or seminars at other locations are available on the Transition Support Services website.

1. Career Transition Assistance Scheme (CTAS) aims to provide you with assistance that will facilitate your transition to civilian employment on separation from the ADF.  Information regarding CTAS is available from the ADFTC-C or Transition Support Services website.

Defence Assisted Study Scheme

1. DASS is for all members of the ADF and supports courses/studies that relate to your current or likely future ADF employment, or to your intended occupation when you leave the ADF.  Further information can be obtained from Mr Kevin Thornton on 02 612 72887 or by visiting the DASS website.

Education Assistance

18.       ADF personnel with school-age children are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the provisions of PACMAN V2 VOL 2 CHAP 8 PART 4– Education Assistance. This assistance is designed to help children who are having difficulty adjusting to a new environment and whose schooling becomes affected. However, this assistance is only available in the first 18 months in a new locality. For further information please reference PACMAN V2 VOL 2 CHAP 8 PART 4.

Mail

19.       Mail re-direction can be a major administrative problem during the peak posting period, both for individuals and the various Defence registries. To ensure that mail forwarded from their previous location is delivered promptly, members are to ascertain their full postal address (including building, floor and room or workspace location) prior to arrival. With a customer base of over 3000 personnel, ADFPC-C does not have the resources to redirect incorrectly addressed mail.

Clothing Store

20.       The ACT Defence Clothing Store (Ph (02) 6268 8423) is located at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Hours of operation are:

Mon - Fri: 0800 - 1600hrs

Messes and Junior Ranks Club

21.       The Officers Mess Canberra and Warrant Officers & Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Mess Canberra are located in Russell 2 (R2). The Last Post Club for Corporals and Junior Ranks is on the ground floor of Russell 3 (R3-G). Membership applications and information about the messes can be found on the ADFPC-C website 'messes in Canberra' under Recent Updates / Popular Links.

Medical and Dental Treatment

Duntroon Health Centre / Canberra Rehabilitation Centre

Russell Health Centre

Canberra Medical and Dental treatment contact list can be located in our intranet website under online orderly room, (General Topics).

Out-of-Hours Treatment and Emergency After-Hours Treatment

22.       If physically able, members are to contact Russell HC or Duntroon HC (ph: (02) 6275 9419) for out-of-hours or emergency treatment.  Emergency treatment is also available from:

a.         1800 IMSICK (1800 467 425)
b.         Canberra Hospital ph: (02) 6244 2222
c.         Calvary Hospital ph: (02) 6201 6111
d.         Private medical practitioners (only in cases of extreme emergency).

Customer Service Centre (CSC)

23.       What is the Customer Service Centre (CSC)?

A Customer Service Centre (CSC) is a physical place on a base or establishment that offers access to, and information about, all Defence Support Group (DSG) products and services.

Conclusion

24.       The CO and staff of ADFPC-C welcome newly posted members to the Nation's Capital.  We will endeavour to deliver a professional and efficient service in meeting your administrative needs during your tour in Canberra. We welcome any constructive feedback on how we might improve our level of service to you.