Defence assists its Australian Public Service (APS) employees to balance their work and lives through the provision of flexible working arrangements and conditions, flexible leave arrangements and by promoting wellbeing in the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement 2012-2014 (DECA).

Flexible Work Arrangements

Flextime: Employees at the classification of APS Level 6 and below may have an opportunity to negotiate flexible working arrangements with their supervisor.

Time off in Lieu: Executive level employees who work beyond the standard day working hours may consider negotiating with their supervisor time off in lieu in recognition of the additional hours worked.

Home Based Work: From time to time employees may request to work from home for a number of reasons. Home based work is an arrangement that may be entered into by agreement and obtaining Senior Executive Service approval.

Part Time and Job Sharing: A part time employee is an employee whose regular hours of work are less than the ordinary weekly hours of work i.e. less than 37.5 hours. An employee, with more than 12 months continuous APS service, may request part time or job share work for a number of reasons which can include, but is not limited to:

• Care for a child who is under school age or under 18 years and has a disability
• Family responsibility
• Study
• Phased retirement
• Lifestyle balance

Annual leave: Employees are provided with four weeks annual leave every year. There are also options to take leave at half pay or to purchase up to four weeks per year. Some eligible employees (such as shift workers) may accrue additional leave.

Personal leave: Employees accrue three weeks personal leave per year. New employees to the APS will also be granted an initial three weeks when they commence.  There are up to eight days provided without a medical certificate.

Specified Leave day: Employees also receive one free day’s leave every year under the collective agreement (DECA). This can be taken on any working day in the calendar year.

Maternity leave: Eligible employees have access of up to 52 weeks in total. Eligible employees can access the first 12 weeks as paid maternity leave with an addition two weeks paid maternity leave which can all be taken at half pay.

Adoption or Fostering Leave: Leave is available to an employee who is the primary caregiver to an adopted or fostered child and must be commenced within six months of adopting/fostering the child.

Study leave: Eligible employees may access up to 180 hours per year of study leave.

Christmas Stand Down: The Christmas stand down is a period of time that provides an opportunity to have a break from work, in addition to other leave breaks. The period is usually from the 24th of December through to the second of January.  This period is not deducted from your annual leave balance.

Long-service leave: Employees gain three months long-service leave after 10 years continuous employment. Employees will then accrue nine days per year after the initial 10 year period.

Defence Reserve Leave:  Those employees who are active Defence Reservists may also be entitled to both paid and unpaid reserve leave.

Further information is available in the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement (DECA) 2012-14 – Balancing Life and the Workplace - Part F.

Employee Support

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a service designed to help Defence APS employees and managers deal with work related or personal problems that may affect their work performance. One of the services offered is up to four counselling sessions per employee, family member or partner. There is provision for four extra sessions if required and approved.

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