Division 2: Eligibility and levels of assistance

2.2.10   Eligibility for assistance
2.2.11   Assistance summary
2.2.12   Other eligibility conditions
2.2.13   Members not eligible for assistance
2.2.14   Preservation or partial use of entitlements
2.2.15   Members who transfer to the Reserves
2.2.16   Compensation cover
2.2.17   Travel and accommodation for Scheme activities
2.2.18   Special consideration

2.2.10   Eligibility for assistance

1.

To be eligible for the scheme, the member must provide proof of their intention to separate from the ADF within 12 months. Proof must be one of the following.

 

a.

A termination authority.

 

b.

Confirmation from the ADF Transition Centre that the member’s application for termination has been received and forwarded to the appropriate approving authority.

2.

Level of assistance is determined by both these factors.

 

a.

The total period of qualifying service at the date of termination.

 

b.

The type of termination.

3.

Qualifying service for the Career Transition Assistance Scheme may be an aggregate of periods of service. This may be in one or more Services of the ADF. There may be a break between periods of service.

Note: Reserve service or service as a member of the armed forces of another country does not count toward qualifying service for the Career Transition Assistance Scheme.

4.

This table outlines eligibility for levels of assistance.

 

Item

If the member has completed...

then the assistance level is...

a.

less than 12 years' service

Level 1

b.

12 but less than 18 years’ service

Level 2

c.

18 or more years' service, or has left the ADF compulsorily for any of these reasons.

a.    Medically unfit to continue service.

b.    Compulsory retirement age.

c.    Management-initiated early retirement.

d.    To meet the needs of the Service (ie declared redundant).

Level 3
 
2.2.11   Assistance summary

 

This table summarises the maximum assistance provided to members, depending on their qualifying service. Full details of entitlements are provided in the related Divisions.

 

Item

Assistance type

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

1.

Online information

Yes

Yes

Yes

2.

ADF transition seminar

Yes

Yes

Yes

3.

Approved absence for career transition activities

[see Note 1]

5 days 1

10 days

23 days

4.

Career transition training

[see Note 2]

No

$1,100 2

$4,400 2

5.

Career transition management coaching

[see Note 2]

No

$1,100 2

$2,820 2

6.

Curriculum vitae coaching

No

Yes

Yes

7.

Financial counselling

No

No

Only for certain members.

See: Division 9

 

 

Note 1: A member may only access approved absence if they have completed their initial category, corps or mustering training at the time of termination.

 

Note 2: A member may only access career transition training or career transition management coaching, not both.

Exception: Members who have left the ADF compulsorily for either of these two reasons are eligible to access both career transition training and career transition management coaching.

 

a.

Medically unfit to continue service.

 

b.

To meet the needs of the Service (ie declared redundant). This is known as management-initiated early retirement (MIER).
2.2.12   Other eligibility conditions

1.

Career Transition Assistance Scheme benefits must be accessed and completed within 12 months of termination.

Exception: For members whose service is terminated for medical reasons, the Executive Officer, Career Transition Assistance may authorise an extension.

2.

Special career transition packages are available to star-rank officers terminated under management-initiated early retirement or on reaching compulsory retirement age. The Directorate of Senior Officer Management administers these packages. (This subclause is policy guidance)

 

3.

A member whose service is terminated for medical reasons, and who has an accepted compensation claim, may become eligible for assistance through other vocational rehabilitation programs. These programs are available under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme. They are administered by the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. In these cases, eligibility under the Career Transition Assistance Scheme is not affected. (This subclause is policy guidance)

Note: The Resettlement Officer must liaise with the Transition Management Service case manager in the Department of Veterans' Affairs. This is to ensure that the vocational rehabilitation and career transition training are complementary and provided within a single package of assistance to the member. (This note is policy guidance)
2.2.13   Members not eligible for assistance

 

A member is not eligible for assistance under the scheme in these situations.

 

a.

If a member’s service is terminated for disciplinary or adverse administrative reasons.

 

b.

If the termination was because of a medical condition that (in the opinion of the CDF) arose from any of these causes.

 

i.

Intentional self-harm.

 

ii.

Due to serious or wilful misconduct, alcohol or drugs.

 

iii.

Unreasonable exposure to an abnormal risk of injury.

 

iv.

A pre-existing medical condition that was known but not disclosed, on enlistment.

 

Persons who can make the decision under subclause 5.1.2.5 (4) on behalf of the CDF:

Senior Regional Medical Officer
2.2.14   Preservation or partial use of entitlements

1.

If a Career Transition Assistance Level 2 or 3 member does not use an entitlement under the Career Transition Assistance Scheme before termination, the member’s entitlement is automatically preserved for up to 12 months after termination.

2.

Members must apply for and complete any career transition assistance activity within the 12-month preservation period. The cost of Career Transition Assistance Scheme provisions will be paid once approval has been granted.

Note: There is no entitlement to travel, accommodation and associated costs after termination.

3.

In certain cases, a member may access some Career Transition Assistance Scheme provisions and later receive approval to withdraw their application for termination. In these cases, the member is entitled to access unused provisions when reapplying for termination.

4.

Further qualifying service may make a member eligible for a higher level of assistance.

5.

There is no payment for unused Career Transition Assistance Scheme entitlements.

2.2.15   Members who transfer to the Reserves

1.

ADF members who transfer to an active element of the Reserves, and whose major form of post-separation employment is from Reserve service, are not considered to have transitioned into the civilian workforce.

2.

For these members, Career Transition Assistance Scheme provisions are preserved while Reserve service remains the major form of employment. On ceasing Reserve service, entitlements are automatically preserved for 12 months from the last day of service.

Note: The preserved entitlement does not include the approved absence component.

2.2.16   Compensation cover

1.

Members undertaking activities approved under the Career Transition Assistance Scheme before termination, may be covered for compensation under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme.

See: Chapter 11, ADF-related compensation

2.

Members are not to accept any form of remuneration from an organisation/employer for periods of on-job experience/training. Such remuneration may jeopardise any claim for compensation relating to those activities.

3.

Members who access career transition assistance after termination may be covered for compensation by the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme, if the arrangements are approved under the Career Transition Assistance Scheme.
2.2.17   Travel and accommodation for Scheme activities

1.

Travel costs to attend approved Career Transition Assistance Scheme activities will not be paid for members at Levels 1 and 2.

2.

There is limited scope for travel for Level 3 members. The member must justify why they cannot undertake the career transition training in their current or termination location.

3.

Normally, Career Transition Assistance Scheme activities are to be undertaken within one location. In cases where members justify travel, travel at Commonwealth expense will be approved for only one trip to and from one nominated location.

4.

In cases where members cannot undertake approved Career Transition Assistance Scheme activities in their current or termination location, they must submit an itinerary and undertake the activities in a location where Service accommodation is available. If Service accommodation is not available, the member must justify why a location without Service accommodation must be used.

5.

Any Career Transition Assistance Level 3 member who is required to be absent from their normal place of duty or residence for 10 hours or more may be entitled to part-day travelling allowance to attend approved career transition training.

Note: The absence includes time for travel and the approved activity.

2.2.18   Special consideration

 

If the Resettlement Officer believes a member’s circumstances warrant special consideration, the case may be considered by the Executive Officer, Career Transition Assistance.

PACMAN                                                              Reprint (August 2008)                                 Chapter 2 – Part 2 Division 2 – 1