The Navy Personnel Action Team (PERSAT) will be withdrawn from active service after 18 months in operation.

PERSAT was formed in December 1999 with a mandate to identify and action any issues contributing to high separation rates and low recruiting.

The issues addressed by the team included the general concerns of the wider Naval community regarding job satisfaction, workloads, leadership and values, non-financial conditions of service and specific recruiting activities.

In announcing the closure of PERSAT, Chief of Navy, VADM David Shackleton said its original lifespan was originally 12 months, with this extended to 18 months due to the high number of submissions received.

"The number of submissions to PERSAT has been steadily decreasing over the past few months, so much so, that the average submission rate has diminished to one a fortnight," said VADM Shackleton in reasoning the decision.

"The diminished number of submissions is very pleasing in that it indicates that there has been a reinvigoration of the divisional system rather than sending submissions directly to PERSAT. I am also aware that a number of the issues you raised have been and are continuing to be addressed by Systems Command."

In all, 963 personal submissions were received, not including the information gathered at the many focus groups facilitated by PERSAT team members.

"Your submissions have been of great assistance and have helped me and the Systems Commander to focus on people issues," said VADM Shackleton.

"Your contributions also assisted in the production of the Navy Human Resource Management Plan by DGNPT, the setting up of two Navy recruiting liaison positions and the continuing work being carried out within Systems Command relating to personnel issues. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the PERSAT team, all of you who submitted personal submissions and to those members who attended the focus groups."