Defence

Defence Values

Getting on with Innovation

In this edition of Defence Magazine we commence a regular feature on different aspects of the Defence PLICIT Values. And we start with arguably the most challenging of them all - innovation.

So you might be wondering what's been happening in and across Defence?

An innovative idea, product, service or activity doesn't have to come with a big-dollar price tag, or be announced with great fanfare, to have a material benefit for Defence. Some innovations are examples of simply "looking for better ways to do business".

The items featured below are just a snapshot of current activity. Other notable innovations are regularly featured in this and other editions of the Defence Magazine (see, for example, the DSTO contribution and the CPA article). Information can also be found on the Defence Achievements database (follow the link from the Defence Intranet homepage).

Some recent examples of innovation within Defence

Critical Trades

The development of a risk calculator for critical employment categories across Defence has been praised by the Australian National Audit Office and will be used as an example for other Government agencies. A critical category is a specific trade or occupational grouping within the overall Defence workforce where recruiting or retention shortfalls present significant risks to the delivery of Defence capability. Advanced workforce modelling techniques and professional judgement provide the basis for assessing risk. The project then involved the adaptation of Defence-wide risk management principles to both identify and prioritise workforce risks.

Scanning for efficiency

The processing of more than one million accounts payable transactions each year will be fully automated as part of continuing improvements to finance systems. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology will be used to improve invoice processing and the archiving of payment information. The Invoice Scanning and Imaging System (ISIS) will utilise e-mail for payment authorisation.

School transition success

The Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) program was established to assist with the transition of children of Australian Defence Force members in and out of schools when serving personnel are relocated around Australia. The program aims to reduce the adverse impacts of postings on both the families and individual children. This is achieved through funding to enable designated schools to employ an aide to assist Defence families to integrate into their new community and school environments. There are currently over 80 DSTA positions in primary schools throughout Australia. Ongoing evaluation continues to reflect positive outcomes for children and families involved with the program.

Web Power

Developed collaboratively by Defence Force Recruiting and Manpower, the Defence Jobs website (www.defencejobs.gov.au) is now one of the most visited websites in Australia among 17 to 24 year-olds. The website has led to a significant increase in the number of online enquiries - and online applications - to join the Australian Defence Force. There have also been benefits in the reduction of costs and time taken to process enquiries and applications.

Attitudes

The recently released Defence Attitude Survey, undertaken in 2004, confirms that individual Defence personnel are committed to their work and to Defence delivering results. Around 60 per cent of respondents agreed that people in their work areas are encouraged to examine and find improvements in what they do.

The survey results are also positive for immediate supervisors, with strong support for their demonstrated skills and abilities to deliver results, their leadership ability and willingness to take action when problems arise. The survey also identifies room for improvement with regard to innovation in Defence. There was a high degree of uncertainty among respondents with senior leadership receptiveness to new ideas, and also a mixed reaction on the information communicated about change in Defence.

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