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1. |
The purpose of this Division is to reimburse members for the costs associated with reunion travel, for the member and their dependants. |
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2. |
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This Division applies to members who have dependants living away from the overseas posting location. |
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A member must give the Overseas Administration Team and Travel Services as much time possible when requesting reunion travel. This is to allow adequate time to make the travel bookings and to obtain the best fare possible. |
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The CDF may authorise up to four reunion visits a year by a dependant who does not live at the member’s posting location. |
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2. |
The CDF must consider all these criteria. |
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a. |
The relationship of the dependant to the member or the member's spouse or interdependent partner. |
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b. |
The age and welfare of the dependant. |
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c. |
The cost and duration of travel to the member's posting location. |
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d. |
Any other opportunities that the member or the spouse or interdependent partner may have to reunite with the dependant. |
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e. |
Any other factor relevant to the reunion visit. |
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Example 1: A member has a dependant who is
under 18 years old, is attending primary or secondary education full-time
with education assistance in If a child attends a school with a four-term school year, a fourth reunion visit may be granted. |
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Example 2: A member might have only one
entitlement a year for a dependant when there is no reason for additional
reunion visits. This might occur with adult dependants who have completed
their education, or when a parent remains in |
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Persons who can make the decision under clause 15.3.13 on behalf of the Secretary/CDF: A person working in the Personnel Administration Centre in Southern Victoria who is: - Overseas Administration Team Leader - Personnel Administration Manager Specialist - Civilian and Overseas Personnel Administration Centre Manager - Manager Personnel Administration Centre |
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Reunion visits are not normally authorised within three months of the start or end of a posting. Exception: The CDF may approve a reunion visit during these times. The CDF must consider all these criteria. |
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a. |
If other relatives in Australia can provide short-term housing for the dependant. |
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b. |
If care can be arranged for the dependant. |
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Any other factor relevant to the dependant's welfare. |
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Persons who can make the decision under clause 15.3.14, exception, on behalf of the Secretary/CDF: A person working in the Personnel Administration Centre in
Southern Victoria who is: - Overseas
Administration Team Leader - Personnel
Administration Manager Specialist - Civilian
and Overseas Personnel Administration Centre Manager - Director Personnel Administration Centre |
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TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.B, item 92. |
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1. |
There is a maximum amount for reunion visit reimbursements. It is the lowest of these amounts. |
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a. |
The cost incurred by the member for the return travel by a dependant. |
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b. |
The allowable travel cost for the travel. |
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c. |
The allowable travel cost for return travel from where the dependant normally lives to the posting location and return. |
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2. |
A member may be away from their posting location for
a short time. When this happens, the dependant is authorised to visit the
member at the other location. The amount for p Exception: If the travel is to a designated
leave centre and the cost is greater than to the posting location, the amount
for p |
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3. |
The member must pay any extra costs, when the value of a ticket is greater than the allowable travel cost. |
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4. |
The CDF may authorise the member to be provided with a ticket for transport, instead of reimbursement. |
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Persons who can make the decision under subclause 15.3.15.4 on behalf of the Secretary/CDF: A person working in the Personnel Administration Centre in - Overseas Administration Team Leader - Personnel Administration Manager Specialist - Civilian and Overseas Personnel Administration Centre Manager - Director Personnel Administration Centre |
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A person may be paid costs under subclause 2 if all the following conditions are met. |
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a. |
A dependant meets all the following requirements. |
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i. |
They are under 15 years old. |
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ii. |
They are to have a reunion visit that includes a domestic flight in the USA or Canada. |
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They would not otherwise be travelling with another person who is 18 years old or older. |
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b. |
The domestic flight described in subp |
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c. |
The person is either a member, or a member's family member. |
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2. |
A person described in subclause 1 may be paid allowable travel costs if they escort a dependant on domestic flights in the USA or Canada. |
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Example:
A member's 14 year old dependant is to have a reunion visit to |
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A person may escort more than one dependant at one
time. |
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Accommodation and meal costs will not be paid under this clause. |
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TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.B, item 93. |
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1. |
This clause applies to a member for whom the CDF has approved a reunion visit by a dependant under clause 15.3.13. |
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The member may apply in writing to the Overseas Administration Team to be reimbursed for travel by the member or spouse or interdependent partner to visit their dependant, instead of taking the entitlement to a reunion visit under clause 15.3.13. Note: This visit to the dependant is sometimes called 'reverse reunion' travel. |
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Each time that the member is reimbursed under this clause, the total number of reunion visits that the member may be reimbursed for under clause 15.3.13 is reduced by one for each dependant who is visited at the reverse reunion location. Example: A member or spouse or interdependent partner travels on a reverse overseas reunion visit to Sydney and reunites with their two children. This reduces the family's reunion entitlement by one visit for each child. |
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The maximum amount that a member can be reimbursed for a reverse reunion visit under this clause is the allowable travel cost for the member or spouse or interdependent partner, travelling by the most direct route from the member's posting location to where the dependant normally lives and return. |
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Example: The member or spouse or interdependent partner travels from Los Angeles to Sydney for a reverse overseas reunion visit to two children. The allowable travel cost for the return trip by that person would have been AUD 3,600. This amount is the cost limit repayable for the reverse reunion travel. If the person gets a special deal AUD 2,000 ticket, then they only get reimbursed the cost of that ticket. |
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TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.B, item 94. |
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1. |
Travel may be approved for a dependant, living at the posting location with the member, to reunite with other people. The other people do not have to be dependants of the member. Approval may only be given if the CDF is satisfied the dependant should be reunited with the other people at Commonwealth expense. |
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2. |
The CDF must consider all these criteria. |
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a. |
The relationship of the people. |
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b. |
The degree to which the relationship has been maintained before and during the member's long‑term posting. |
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c. |
The extent of financial or other dependency of the people. |
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d. |
The circumstances relating to the dependant's removal to the posting location. |
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Any other opportunities that the people may have to be reunited. |
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f. |
The age and welfare of the people. |
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g. |
The circumstances relating to the travel. |
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h. |
The cost, timing and duration of the travel. |
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i. |
Any other factor relevant to reimbursement for the travel by the dependant. |
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3. |
The allowable travel cost is worked out as if the travel was for a normal reunion visit. The visit is treated as being from the member's posting location, to the location where the member lived before the long-term posting. |
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Persons who can make the decision under clause 15.3.17 on behalf of the Secretary/CDF: A person working in the Personnel Administration Centre in - Overseas Administration Team Leader - Personnel Administration Manager Specialist - Civilian and Overseas Personnel Administration Centre Manager - Director Personnel Administration Centre |