AIRCDRE Jim Cole and Professor Robert King sign the contract

Director General Personnel - Air Force, Air Commodore Jim Cole has signed a five-year contract with the University of New South Wales (ADFA) for the provision of a range of residential short courses. The courses are aimed at improving the retention rate and experience levels of aerospace engineers in the Australian Defence Force.

'The short course program is the last of a suite of tri-Service Aerospace Engineer professional development initiatives to be put in place by the Engineer Sustainability Project (ESP),' AIRCDR Cole said. 'A lot of hard work has been done and the signing has formalised that.'

AIRCDRE Cole noted that the ESP was just one initiative of the Personnel Branch. 'We also have a Pilot Sustainability (PSP) and will soon have a Logistics Sustainability Project (LSP) and the LSP will look at the complete continuum right through the ranks,' he said. 'Eventually we'll have to address every category and mustering in the Air Force to see whether we have problems with sustainability or structure and when we identify them, put in place mechanics to address the problems.'

DGDETP, Air Commodore Ken Birrer added, 'These new postgraduate courses illustrate the way in which Defence's long-standing relationship with the University of New South Wales allows high quality solutions tailored to our needs to be developed quickly. University College has a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its engineering faculty'.

According to ESP Project Manager, Wing Commander Stephen Hayes, the residential short courses will provide professional development opportunities with a view to helping ADF Aerospace Engineers achieve a postgraduate degree in Engineering Science or Management Studies.

Speaking in support of the courses, Professor Robert King, Rector, UNSW (ADFA Campus), said, 'Mindful of the demands of posting cycles, University College offers flexibility and ADF Aerospace Engineers will be able to qualify for a master of Engineering Science in Aerospace Engineering entirely in the intensive delivery mode or through normal on-campus/distance models'.

'Alternatively, students may work towards a Master of Management Studies or access the full range of University College on-campus and distance postgraduate degree programs,' Prof. King said.

Other retention initiatives already in place for ADF Aerospace Engineers include the availability of professional development funding for attendance at seminars and short courses as well as payment for professional membership fees other than IEAust. In addition, eight Squadron Leaders and Wing Commanders have been selected to undertake full-time professional development studies in 2002.

The ESP has also made provision for ongoing funding for the Graduate Development Program put in place by DGTA-ADF in association with IEAust. This means that ADF Aerospace Engineers undertaking the GDP will have their assessment fees and ongoing membership paid for by the ADF as part of a drive for improved experience levels and the professionalisation of the aerospace engineer capability.

'While the issue of remuneration is yet to resolved, the ESP has largely achieved development and implementation of the retention initiatives approved by CAF in February this year,' WGCDR Hayes said. 'The ESP will be conducting a roadshow during November to brief all ADF Aerospace engineers on the complete range of outcomes from the project.'