Index
What is a Compassionate Issue
There can be occasions in Service life when an unusual circumstance, a crisis or an emergency can develop in the life and work of members or their families. This may require the exercise of compassionate consideration on the part of a member's supervisor or commanding officer.
Serious illness, accident, and injury including the death of a family member are all considered a crisis or emergency that may require urgent compassionate consideration.
In emergencies, where time may be of the essence, leave and travel entitlements can be 'defined as compassionate' (by assessment against criteria) at a later date.
Provisions Available
Compassionate Leave
Compassionate leave is a form of special leave that assists a member to deal with urgent personal circumstances not covered by other leave provisions. Circumstances that may justify a grant of compassionate leave include the following:
- The death or very serious illness of a close relative.
- Urgent and compassionate private reasons that are not to do with civil employment.
- Serious problems in domestic or financial affairs when the member's presence would help the situation.
In any one leave year, a member may be granted leave for a period of seven days or for a number of periods totalling seven days.
For the most up to date details on all leave provisions and entitlements, refer to the PACMAN.Chap 5, Part 7,Division 2 for Compassionate Leave provisions.
Compassionate Travel
Compassionate travel is available for exceptional circumstances and the death or very serious illness of a close relative. Some compassionate leave will not attract a compassionate travel entitlement. The CDF may grant a member a travel entitlement for a return journey within Australia if any of the following happens:
- Their close relative is critically ill or dies.
- Their spouse or child is dangerously or very seriously ill.
- Their parent, guardian or other dependant is dangerously or very seriously ill. They must have to be there because no-one else in the family is available and able to help. Only the member has a travel entitlement.
- The CDF is satisfied that other exceptional reasons make their presence essential. For example:
- Owing to a financial setback, a bank is threatening to repossess the family home.
- The family home has been destroyed in bushfire or cyclone. The family is safe but homeless.
- The member's child is a tertiary student suffering mental health issues. The member's presence is required to receive advice from counsellors on how the child should be managed.
- The boarding arrangements for a school-age child break down and new arrangements need to be made immediately. Either parent, but not both, could be provided compassionate travel (and leave for the member).
- The member's adult sibling commits suicide. The member is required to support parents at a time of severe emotional shock.
- The member's spouse or child has been subjected to an episode of domestic violence, including significant injury, by another family member.
Please note, that the AUSDIL scheme is available for the partners or next of kin of ADF members to visit ADF members hospitalised through serious injury or illness.
For the most up to date information on compassionate travel entitlements, refer to the PACMAN, Chapter 9, Part 3, Division 7, paragraph 44.
Longer Term Compassionate Issues
In circumstances where the nature of the problem might be ongoing rather than a 'crisis' or emergency, there may still be a need for the exercise of compassionate consideration on the part of ADF commanders.
This may involve (usually for a specified period), the cancellation or alteration of a posting order. In the Navy this is referred to as a Compassionate Posting, in Army a COPAS Report, and in Air Force a Request for Preferential Treatment.
Members should approach their Commanding or Divisional Officer for compassionate posting consideration.
Administrative Process
In the first instance, it is always good policy and practice to discuss your circumstances with your supervisor or immediate superior and seek their guidance and direction.
Reports and Assessment
Some circumstances and emergencies are well defined. Others can be complex and may need the assessment and recommending support of a helping professional (for example a Defence Social Worker, Psychologist, Medical Officer, or Chaplain). This professional support will provide the decision maker (often the member's Commanding Officer) or 'the delegate' with as much information as possible, in order to make the best decision for all parties.
Defence Social Work Reports
When such Administrative Requests are made by members, it is often the case that a DCO Social Work report will be required to provide the decision making 'delegate' or the CO with as much detail as possible.
The DCO Social Worker will work closely with members and their families in this process. Following interviews they may seek your assistance in the gathering of supporting documentation, (for example, letters and reports from specialist physicians with diagnostic detail and recommendations, or written advice from other Educational and Health care specialists, etc).
The DCO Social Worker will then provide to command a DCO Social Work Report which contains an understanding of the members personal and/or family circumstances in relation to the issues, together with a professional assessment and a recommendation.
To achieve such an outcome the support, cooperation and informed consent of all parties involved is required. All DCO Social Work Reports are classified 'Staff-in-Confidence' and the privacy rights of individuals are respected.
Further Information and Useful Links
The sections Wellbeing and Crisis and Social Work Services provide further information, policy advice and resources for a wide range of 'life events' and personal and service related issues that may sometimes impact upon a member's immediate ability to provide 'Individual Readiness' and 'Unrestricted Service.'
Members and their families are encouraged to access the information, programs and support services that Defence makes available through the DCO and others agencies within the Defence Personnel Executive (DPE).
To access personnel related information from across Defence, visit the Personnel Portal on the Internet or Defence Intranet.
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