Much of the following information has been taken from the Navy Deployment Guide, sponsored by the Australian Defence Credit Union (ADCU) http://www.adcu.com.au ^ext

It is important that personnel and their "Significant Others" (SOs) who are approaching periods of separation either short or long term, prepare both emotionally and practically for the experience. Adequate preparation will prevent at-home SOs from feeling that they have to handle it all alone and deployed members from worrying about all those things left undone.

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Checklist

• Make out a long range budget which includes the possibility of unforseen expenses.
  Allotment - start organising these as early as possible
• Chequebook - are the appropriate people signatories on this account?
• Will – everyone should seriously consider having a Will.
  Private Documents – does someone know how to access these if they are needed in your absence?
• Insurances – are you adequately covered for home, car, life, home contents? Do your insurers hold all your current details?
• Is your partner aware of all your debts?
• Repairs to car, white goods, computer – does your partner know who to call? Are they under warranty / guarantee?
• Is there need for a Power of Attorney?
• NRMA/RACQ /RACV or similar roadside assistance membership up to date?
• Do you need to divert your mail?
• Set up a diary for the payment of bills. As they arrive in the post, record and secure them in a Bills Diary. It should be referred to regularly.
• Have you cancelled or amended regular deliveries such as milk & papers.
• Make sure you set aside some time with your SO to discuss the deployment from a financial aspect:
  how will the accounts be paid?
  how will the members salary be accessed?
  how to handle repairs or fix problems around the house.
  For tasks that those at home are unable or unwilling to do, pre-arrange assistance. This will prevent frustration later.

Address these things well before deployment.

So much will depend on your advance preparations. The more you can learn and accomplish before the deployment, the more confident you and your SO will be when the parting time comes.

Increasingly, serving members are in a relationship with another serving member. Financial arrangements can become more complicated if both partners are to deploy at the same time. Arrangements for paying bills whilst you are both away will require careful planning and some good bookkeeping. You will need to have the plans firmly in place before departure, in the event that direct communication between deployed members is not possible for a period of time.

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Financial

Your/family finances need to be carefully scrutinised before deployment occurs. Issues such as the regular bill payments, access to bank/ credit union accounts, expected fortnightly expenditure, access to an "emergency fund" for unexpected expenditure need to be discussed with whoever will have charge of your ongoing financial commitments during your deployment – partner, parent or trusted associate.

Budgeting

Setting out a budget is probably the best way to get a good feeling for the flow of money through your household. Print a guide budget sheet.

Payment of Accounts

Make a list of or diarise all debts and payments to be made to credit agencies, stores, banks, insurance agencies (life, motor vehicle, property), how they are paid and the date payment is due.

Pencil in the probable arrival of ongoing accounts such as electricity, water, rates, gas and telephone and list how they are normally paid.

Make a note of all bank account details including Bank-State-Branch number, account number and leave these with the person charged with looking after your finances. Check access to the accounts for the payment of bills eg adding signatories to cheque accounts.

Bank/Branch _____________________________ BSB _____No____________

Bank/Branch _____________________________ BSB _____No_____________

Bank/Branch _____________________________ BSB _____No_____________

‘Allotment’ is the automatic regular transferral of funds from one account to another. The process is used for example to distribute money into your partner’s account. Allotting money each pay to cover large periodic bills eliminates the problem of finding one large full payment when the bill falls due. Allotments can also be used to make fortnightly payments on expenditures such as mortgages, insurance and loan payments. Serving members can approach their pay office to organise allotments or to gain further details.

Some increase in expenditure on domestic services such as handy man, cleaning, child care should be anticipated and included in a budget.

Money may be sent to the deployed member as a postal order, which can be cashed by the ADF Postal Unit (if deployed). Under no circumstances should money be sent through the post. For members on board ships a bank cheque may also be sent through the post.

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Legal

Wills
One of the most important legal considerations for deploying members is the issue of a personal Will. Private practitioners will usually charge a standard fee for establishing a Will.

• Why Make a Will? Where a service member dies intestate (without a Will), his or her property (or estate) will be divided amongst the surviving relatives in accordance with the laws of the appropriate State or Territory. These laws may not provide for distribution to be in accordance with the member’s real wishes. In addition, the court is obliged to appoint someone to administer the estate. This may cause emotional and financial hardship for the member’s surviving family.
  
• When to Make a New Will. Making a Will once is not enough. The Will should be kept up to date with changing circumstances such as marriage, divorce, cohabitiation (living together), births and deaths. The law is complex and contains many technical rules that are traps for the unwary. Accordingly you are strongly advised to seek the advice of a Legal Officer or private legal practitioner when drafting your Will.

• Do you have a will? Yes__________; No____________

• Where is your will located?
  
  1. With ADF_________
  
  2. Other_______________________________

Power of Attorney
A Power of Attorney is a legal designation by an individual, which grants to another person the authority to execute documents in the name of the grantor, as if he or she actually signed the documents. This is a useful way which allows one to take care of the legal affairs of another during that person’s absence. However, a Power of Attorney can also be a dangerous document because the actions done with its authority are legally binding on the absent person. Therefore, great care should be taken in the granting and use of a Power of Attorney.

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Automotive

Proper, timely maintenance will keep your car a reliable source of transportation and create less frustration and inconvenience for the at-home partner. In the event that repair work is needed, remember to get more than one quote, and only from garages with a good reputation in the community. As some repairs may be very expensive, make sure the partner at-home has access to an emergency fund or long term savings. Prior to deployment, ensure that the at-home partner has a list of the following:

1. Car servicing:

2. Car’s fuel type:

3. Battery:

4. Tyres:

5. Car Insurance Premium:

6. Oil:

8. Spark Plugs:

9. Air cleaner/ filter:

10. Location of spare car keys______________________________________

11. Location of registration / insurance papers_________________________

12. NRMA / RACV / RACQ....other roadside service membership details_____________________________________

Take advantage of the Australian Automobile Association Home Support Program for Service Partners

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Medical

While all members of the Defence Force receive free medical and dental care while in service, this does not extend to the member’s family. Therefore you should consider taking out health insurance to cover hospital, dental and ancillary treatment for your dependents. Defence Health ^ext and NHBS (Toll free Phone: 1800 333 156) have special rates for Service families, which are cheaper than other health funds.

During an emergency, every second counts. Be prepared! Prior to deployment make sure the at-home partner has a record of the following information:

1. Access to Medicare card? Yes_______ No__________

2. Medicare number____________________________

3. Preparation for medical/dental appointments:

• Childcare required? Yes_________ No___________
• Transport available? Yes_________ No ___________
• Administration - xrays, letters etc Yes__________ No __________

4. Is your home equipped with a first aid kit? Yes________ No _______;
Is it up-to-date? Yes__________ No_______

5. Location of repeat prescriptions__________________________________

6. Details of allergies____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

7. Location of immunisation records________________________________

8. Ambulance fund details, if any___________________________________

9. Private health insurance details, if any_____________________________

10. Name / Location of medical centres:

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