Annual Report 2004-05

Defence Personnel Executive

Overview

The Defence Personnel Executive enables Defence capability by providing personnel planning, policies and services that attract, recruit, develop, retain and transition the right people. Defence's need for skilled personnel has never been greater and, as technology increases and Australia's demographics alter, this will not abate and Defence must compete with the private sector to be an employer of choice.

The Defence Personnel Executive comprises:

• Workforce Planning, Research and Retention -provides an integrated strategic personnel planning capability, including development of the Defence Workforce Plan and the Defence People Plan;
• Personnel Policy and Employment Conditions -develops policies relating to salaries, allowances and conditions of employment for military and civilian personnel, including personnel management of civilian staff;
• Career Management Policy -provides a range of policies and services including the management of senior ADF and Australian Public Service staff, senior leadership development, honours and awards, equity and diversity, non-financial conditions of service and management of formal complaints;
• Defence Force Recruiting - responsible for ADF recruitment including advertising and market research, career counselling, applicant management and enlistment into the Services;
• Defence Health Service - provides a range of medical, dental and mental health care for ADF personnel before, during, and after, operational deployments, and, from a health perspective, is responsible for the preparedness of the ADF for operations;
• Occupational Health, Safety & Compensation - supports Defence's corporate occupational health and safety governance responsibilities and provides relevant products and services;
• Defence Education, Training & Development - provides non-operational education and training policies and services, including management of the Defence's eLearning environment;
• Defence Community Organisation - provides support services for ADF personnel and their families, particularly when personnel are deployed on operations. Programs include childcare, family education support (including families with special needs) and spouse employment assistance; and
• Personnel Systems - enables the implementation of a unified personnel management and pay system (PMKeyS) to support decision making in Defence.

Organisationally and administratively the Australian Defence College is part of the Defence Personnel Executive. The College is responsible for providing career education to military officers and other officials from Australia and overseas to promote the learning and development of leaders and managers. The College comprises three tri-service educational organisations; the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, the Australian Command and Staff College, and the Australian Defence Force Academy.