Letters
to the Editor
AAA
activities not sport
You all
would have seen the recent articles in the Service newspapers about
the Inappropriate Sports Listing recently published by the ADF Sports
Council.
Rock climbing
and abseiling were included in the list of sports that were considered
to be ‘inappropriate’ for ADFSC, single-service or CO authorisation.
Col Nikolic
of the ADF Sports Council provided some important clarifying points
in that the listing does not impact on the conduct of military training
(eg, a CO requiring one of his UATLs to conduct refresher training in
order to support an adventurous training activity):
- A UATL
undertaking activities without CO approval wouldn’t fall under
the banner of military training (eg, a UATL participating with the
‘Heathcote Civilian Climbers’ on the weekend without approval,
on the basis that he was improving his climbing/roping competencies).
- A member’s
freedom to participate in these things when not on duty (noting that
under these circumstances, the member is not covered by the military
compensation scheme for death or injury).
- Adventurous
training activities that are covered by a separate policy.
Most importantly,
ADF members who are injured while participating in the listed sports
are still entitled to free medical cover.
It just
means that the ADF will not provide workers compensation for members
who sustain injuries while participating in those sports in their own
time.
The Army
Alpine Association (AAA) conducts all its on-duty activities under the
cover of Defence and Army adventurous training policies.
AAA members
wishing to conduct rock climbing or abseiling activities can continue
to do so in accordance with these policies.
It is only
reasonable that if AAA members want to conduct on-duty activities that
are covered for compensation by the ADF then appropriate controls and
risk management arrangements need to be in place.
The AAA
can continue to conduct activities and mount them through issuing an
AAA Administrative Instructions (in Australia) or Mounting Instructions
(overseas – when this is eventually permitted again).
AAA members
who want to conduct such activities in Australia can raise an appropriate
instruction for sign off by the President of the AAA or their unit CO.
The AAA
has never suggested that compensation cover would or should be provided
for not-on-duty casual or informal meets.
So the
bottom line is that this policy has minimal effect on activities sponsored
by the AAA.
The Navy
newspaper of May 22, 2003 (page 30), suggested that as a result of this
policy the ADF Sports Council had revoked the membership of the AAA
and as such it would no longer be recognised by Defence.
Col Nikoloc
has advised that the ADFSC has no authority to revoke the membership
of the AAA.
In any
case, rock-climbing and abseiling are a small subset of the activities
the AAA conducts and the AAA does not conduct them as sports.
Many alpine
activities do not involve rock-climbing or abseiling and, where they
do, they are conducted under Defence and Army adventurous training policies.
The AAA
is currently supported by Army as a National Army Sporting Association
(NASA) under a special “Adventurous Training” category within
Army Training Instruction 4-4 on NASA dated March 3, 2000.
We have
received no indication that there is any intention to change this status.
That said,
we are considering whether or not there might need to be a separate
management arrangement for adventurous training associations –
outside the “sporting” policy arrangements.
The activities
that the AAA conducts are clearly not “sporting” or competitive
activities.
We’ll
look at this as adventurous training policies are reviewed later this
year.
Brig Peter Lambert
President Army Alpine Association
Russell Offices, ACT
Whistlers
needed
In response
to WO2 Wayne Harper’s letter (Army, June 5), I disagree that there
is no requirement for a Defence Whistleblowers’ Scheme, because
in 1994, I was ordered to keep quiet about an incident by a senior warrant
officer.
This incident
has been well and truly investigated and is on the public record. I
discharged in 1998 after my career effectively ceased because I had
the “guts” to eventually make a complaint and push it to the
ombudsman, a parliamentary enquiry and the military justice audit.
If a whistleblowers
scheme had existed in 1995, I most likely would not have gone through
as much trauma, and the ADF perhaps would not have been subjected to
as much publicity.
The incident
was published in The Australian and on television.
I feel
some satisfaction that my efforts, along with the efforts of many other
courageous service personnel, have helped to establish this independent
avenue for aggrieved soldiers.
To reiterate
the comment by Claude Neumann in his reply to WO2 Harper, “credibility
lies at the heart of all we do”.
David Hartshorn
Ex 179829 SSgt
Toowoomba, QLD
Childcare
issues
I would
like to respond to the letter to the Editor submitted by Cpl K. M. Clark,
1 Bde, Robertson Barracks, NT, published on June 5.
Cpl Clark’s
letter refers to an article in the Defence Family Matters publication,
which details the financial reimbursement benefits that may be available
for emergency child care situations.
The letter
also outlines the difficulty in securing work-related child care for
Cpl Clark’s return to work following maternity leave.
These two
types of child care are vastly different and operate with their own
policy guidelines. Emergency child care is basically an entitlement
that allows for unexpected emergencies that involve the care of dependent
children.
This type
of care is governed by ADF Pay and Conditions manual Part 4, and was
developed by Personnel Policy and Employment Conditions with the role
of the DCO serving as an information source, as well as being one of
the approving delegates along with COs.
Work-related
child care is governed by DI(G) 42-2 (currently under revision) and
is managed by the DCO HQ Defence Child Care Program. Work related child
care is provided only where the local community is unable to meet Defence
families needs and is designed to assist Defence families to meet their
work and family commitments.
Work-related
child care is not a condition of service.
It is assumed
that Cpl Clark has commented on two different types of child care situations
to draw attention to the difficulty she is experiencing in securing
work-related child care and the perceived difficulty that someone requiring
emergency child care may encounter.
Defence
has embarked on a national child care expansion initiative to supplement
the undersupply of child care places where possible.
In the
Palmerston area, the Defence Child Care Program has successfully established
joint campus child care centres at Durack, which provides dedicated
Defence access to 130 centre-based child care places.
The Defence
Child Care Program is also currently investigating options for before
and after school care in this area.
The Defence
Child Care Program also sponsors 50 regular and 10 irregular hours child
care places with the Darwin Family Day Care Scheme Inc for Defence families
in the Darwin area.
Recently,
the NT Children’s Services Adviser provided advice to the Defence
Child Care Program regarding the development of new centres in the NT.
Applications
for license, zoning approval and advertising notice of intention has
occurred for centres at Nightcliff, Darwin Airport, Darwin City, Stuart
Park, Fairway Waters, Palmerston and Bakewell, Palmerston.
Enquiries
regarding waiting list applications can be directed to (07) 3229 2799.
As a general
principle, child care centres, including Defence child care centres,
allocate vacant places when the place is required.
It is understood
that Cpl Clark does not require care until July 2003.
Cpl Clark’s
comment regarding available benefits and reimbursement may be misinformed,
as CCB is available for registered care.
Registered
care is when you pay grandparents, relatives, friends or nannies for
child care. Registered care also includes care provided by some private
preschools, kindergartens and outside school hours care services.
The carer
must be registered with the Family Assistance Office.
More information
about registered child care is available by contacting the Department
of Family and Community Services on 136 150, or by visiting the Family
and Community Services web site at www.facs.gov.au
The Defence
Child Care Program works within the Department of Family and Community
Services framework to assist Defence families with their child care
needs.
Yes, finding
child care can be difficult, but it’s difficult for most people
and organisations at present, not just Defence families.
I hope
this provides more insight for Defence families who are seeking to utilise
child care to meet their work and family commitments.
Further
information regarding the Defence Child Care Program is available at
www.dco.dod.gov.au
Jennifer Smith,
Executive Officer Defence Child Care Needs, DCO HQ
Brindabella Park, ACT
Where’s
the water
Given the
majority of Australia is in the grip of the worst drought for 100 years,
when will the ADF members receive a refund of the compulsory excess
water charges levied by DHA on married quarter occupants?
Surely
by taking the money since last September (2002), DHA are saying ADF
members are not responsible water users, nor good Australian citizens.
WO1 K.A. Golden
RSM TC-A
Victoria Barracks, Sydney
Not
another ‘day’
There is
Red Nose Day, Secretary’s Day, Kids day and now Reserves Day.
Being ‘One
Army’, why is there the requirement to have a day to recognise
reserves?
I thought
the idea behind Anzac Day was to recognise those past and present, regular
and reserve – isn’t that enough?
To create
this disparity and then say we are ‘One Army’ is hypocritical.
The other
concern, is with the Defence budget being in such a state, do those
serving reserves get paid for attending the parades, while those funds
could be utilised in a more cost-beneficial way?
Capt Cam Thorley
HQ 1 Bde
Robertson Barracks, NT
Who’s
the problem?
I must
agree with WO2 Harper [Army, June 5] regarding the Defence Whistleblower
Scheme.
I am aware
that whistleblower schemes have been instituted in various organisations
for some time, and apparently this one has already been operating for
nearly a year.
I don’t
believe such a scheme is appropriate in the ADF.
The whole
thing smacks of a “dobbing-in” mentality, which is at odds
with the way Australians, and ADF members, regard one another.
Problem
resolution within our Defence Force is both a command and individual,
member-to-member, issue.
If the
system is to function effectively, I don’t believe setting up an
additional, anonymous process for disgruntled members is the way to
do it.
In my experience,
the whistleblower is often more of a problem than the whistleblowee.
Maj Peter McCrossin
Psychology Support Section, Vic
We’re
one big family
On behalf
of my family and I, I wish to thank the ADF and the Army, DCO Wagga
Wagga and Brisbane for their support, help and condolences on the tragic
death of our son and brother, Cpl C.A. Kolaritsch on June 2, 2003.
Special
thanks must go to all the soldiers of Kapooka at the time of my son's
death who in their own grief opened their arms and hearts to comfort
us and to share their memories of the life with Craig in the Army.
Now we
understand what Craig meant when he said “Mum, I love the Army
– it’s like being part of a big family”.
With our sincere gratitude,
Susan Jones, Narelle Rice, Herman
Kolaritsch
(mother) (sister) (father)
Gold Coast, QLD, Melbourne, VIC
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