Member's Guide to ADF Pay and Conditions in Australia – see Disclaimer – check PACMAN for full details

1. REQUIRED READING

1.1 This guide

What is the purpose of this guide?

Members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have a wide range of duties, and a wide range of conditions of service that go with them. It can be difficult to know what all of these conditions mean and how they apply to you. The Member's Guide to ADF Pay and Conditions of Service in Australia is written to help you understand the ADF conditions of service that apply to you. It does not give you detailed information, only an overview. It does not describe the conditions of service that apply overseas (see 1.2, Other information).

How do conditions work?

Pay and conditions of service are provided for different reasons.

· To recognise your qualifications or skills, or the value of your work.

· To attract and retain people in particular ADF occupations.

· To compensate you for difficult or unpleasant aspects of your job.

· To compensate you for work-related expenses.

· To give you time away from work.

· To help you build retirement savings.

· To support capability.

Are all members covered?

Ranks

All ranks are covered in the Member's Guide. Some conditions vary depending on your rank. Only Army ranks have been used. Army ranks are to be read as including the equivalent ranks in the other Services. A guide to the equivalent ranks is in the Other information section at the end of this guide.

Reservists

The Member’s Guide has been written to describe the conditions that apply to members of the Permanent Forces. Each entry also states whether the condition applies to Reservists on Reserve service or on continuous full-time service. There is more information in 1.5, Reservists.

Can I rely on this guide to tell me what I get?

No. This is only a guide and gives you an overview of your entitlements. There are a number of reasons why you need to check the information you read in here.

Why do I need to check the information in the Guide?

Firstly the Guide is not a legal authority. Most ADF conditions are given legal

authority by determinations under the Defence Act 1903. These determinations are the legal instruments that will say if you can get a particular condition. The Member's Guide will tell you what a condition is for, but it cannot indicate whether you are eligible for it or not. Read the disclaimer.

The guide is updated regularly on the Defence Pay and Conditions websites.

DEFWEB: http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/

Internet: http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/

How do I find updated information on my salary and allowance rates?

There are no salary or allowance rates in the Member's Guide. These rates change often, and the guide would soon be out of date. The online version of the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN) is the best place to see if a condition has been changed and to check current rates.

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(last updated 4 September 2008)