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

 

5.11 Leave without pay

 

Leave without pay allows you to have leave when there is no other leave type available.

 

When can it be granted?

Leave without pay is not an entitlement. Your application may be refused. In deciding whether to grant you leave without pay, Defence will consider the value of the leave to you, and the impact of the leave on Defence. This might include these issues.

 

·          What you intend doing during the leave.

·          Whether Defence can manage without you.

·          Your length of service.

·          Your personal circumstances.

·          The type of employment, training or study you intend to do during the leave.

·          Whether there is any other type of leave you can be granted.

·          Whether you plan to come back at the end.

 

Other issues can be considered as well.

 

Leave without pay is not usually granted for more than two years. An exception is to allow a member to accompany a serving member spouse on posting.

 

What effect does it have?

Leave without pay can affect many other conditions. These are some of the conditions it can affect.

 

·          Salary.

·          Allowances.

·          Future eligibility and closing date for you to apply for a Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme retention benefit (see 3.6).

·          Future superannuation benefits. ComSuper can provide more information.

·          Future increments.

·          Future recreation leave accruals.

·          Future long service leave accruals.

·          Your seniority for future promotion.

·          Your compensation coverage.

 

Your medical and dental coverage continues while you are on leave.

 

Other reasons for leave without pay

You can apply for leave without pay for a wide variety of personal reasons. There are two reasons that are specifically covered.

 

·          Leave without pay to accompany a spouse or interdependent partner on a posting (see 5.12).

·          Part-time leave without pay (see 5.13).

 

Leave without pay for parents of new children

Leave without pay is not usually granted for parents of new children. This is because maternity leave and parental leave offer the parents better options. For instance, some of the leave may be paid. Maternity leave is an entitlement and cannot be refused. See 5.5, Maternity leave and 5.6, Parental leave.

 

Application to Reservists:  No, except for Reservists on continuous full-time service.

 

Reference:  ADF Pay and Conditions Manual, Chapter 5 Part 8 Division 1

 

Form:  AD097 - ADF Leave Application