Raising the inquiry standard

Inquiry Officers help improve standards of Defence administration inquiries. Photo illustration by Pte John Wellfare, Army newspaper

By Sgt Sybelle Foxcroft

TWENTY-four officers undertook the first two-day Inquiry Officer Course on September 7 and 8, in a bid to improve the standard of Defence administrative inquiries.

The course, conducted by the office of the Inspector General ADF (IGADF), has been developed in response to criticism made in a number of military justice reviews that inexperienced, untrained Inquiry Officers (IO) had been a factor leading to the poor standard of some inquiries conducted in Defence.

The conduct of administrative inquiries is also a strong focus of the current Senate Inquiry into Military Justice.

In November 2003, the Administrative Inquiry Training Working Group was appointed and tasked to review IO training, develop training material and implement a plan to address the identified deficiencies.

The two-day training course will run three or four times a year.

To fulfill investigations and advisory functions, IGADF is required to maintain a register of suitably qualified people to act as members of inquiries, investigating officers and inquiry assistants.

The course is not only open to officers who volunteer to undertake inquiry work with the IGADF, but also to other persons, military or civilian, eligible for appointment as IOs by appointing authorities – including commanding officers.

For more information contact the officer manager 1800 688 042.