Below is a list of FAQs
An ADF member may continue to receive HDA if a short course is associated with performing the duties of the higher position. HDA ceases if the course is not related to the higher duties.
HDA is payable to an ADF member on maternity leave (MATL) provided that she was in receipt of HDA immediately prior to proceeding on leave and would have continued to receive HDA but for the absence on MATL. Periods of recreation leave and LSL are treated in the same way for HDA purposes. HDA continues to be payable if the directing authority certifies before the commencement of leave that, for a specified period, the ADF member could reasonably have been expected to have continued to perform the higher duties for which HDA is payable.
No. Supernumerary positions are not established positions within a unit’s establishment, as such, no HDA is payable
HDA may be payable for Reserve Force members. You must complete a period in aggregate of 5 days to qualify. However you should note that Reserve members can not work in any other position on any days in between the days when they are required to perform higher duties in the HDA position.
Yes. The application for HDA in a civilian position is referred to DE for approval. The application generally takes a couple of days to process, provided the CDF Authorised Person is satisfied that the proposal is justified. The CO of the member’s unit normally provides a Minute recommending the payment of the HDA. A copy of the Duty Statement of the higher civilian position should accompany the Minute and the application form AD288, signed by the officer giving the direction to perform the higher duties.
Once DE has given approval, a minute will be sent back to your unit’s CO/OC complete with a copy of the form AD288. The original minute should then be sent to the Branch/Unit Pay Office for processing. Once pay processing is completed you should receive payment in the next available pay period. If the HDA is ongoing, a fortnightly payment will be made from then on at the appropriate rate.
No. Directions to perform Higher Duties in civilian positions will usually be approved for periods no longer than three months. Extensions can be requested towards the end of the three-month period, provided extension justification is provided.
A direction to perform higher duties cannot be rescinded or varied the higher position. If you are deemed to be incompetent for any reason and therefore would be unable to perform all the duties of the position, the posting authority should inform you.
No. Approval for HDA is limited to periods of no more than 3 months unless posted to the position. Therefore, there is NO provision for payment of an increment to a member, who has performed the higher duties for more than 12 months continuously.
Yes, if you are posted to that position, you should retain payment of HDA whilst on a course.
The approving authority must make a decision based on your level of competency and any other factors relevant to the situation. Specific HDA points have been established in the Specialist structures to accommodate these circumstances.
When you begin the deployment, you are deemed not to be available for the higher duty position. Your HDA should cease on the date that your posting on deployment comes into effect. On return from deployment, if the position is still available, a fresh direction may be given for you to resume your duties in the higher position.
Members who have been posted to a higher position are entitled to retain their HDA whilst on temporary absence from their position for what ever reason.
Yes, you will receive 5% of your base salary (not including service allowance) as HDA.
Members of foreign forces serving on exchange duties with Australian forces do so under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This document records the conditions of service for each member concerned. In many cases, the member’s parent country does not allow for its members to act in higher rank whilst attached to an Australian force. If the member’s Australian Chain of Command gives a direction for a foreign member to undertake higher duties in an Australian position, the unit concerned has the responsibility of paying the foreign member from its own funds using the ROMAN system and the unit’s own cost codes. Before a foreign member can be paid, approval for such payment should be obtained from the DGPERS of the service concerned.
Last updated: 21 November 2008