Don’t lose leave

BEFORE the end of the financial year members should find out if they are likely to be caught by the leave lapsing provisions.
The lapsing of leave occurs when a recreation leave credit expires three years after the end of the leave year for which it accrued.

Your orderly room or administrative support area can determine the amount of leave at risk of lapsing on July 1. The most effective way to avoid lapsing of leave is, wherever possible, to apply for and start a period of annual leave (of an amount equivalent to that at risk of lapsing) on or before June 30. You cannot avoid the leave lapsing if you apply now to take leave in the next financial year.

Service requirements may well preclude the opportunity to take annual leave during the remainder of this financial year, so a standard application to carry-over leave into the next financial year can be submitted through your chain of command to DGPERS-AF, which will then seek approval from CDF.

CDF might defer the expiration of the leave credit by an additional year, if satisfied that leave was not able to be granted to the member within the three-year accrual period owing to critical service requirements. However, in all cases the onus will be on the member to justify why the leave has not been taken. Carry-over of leave should not be assumed. Commanders will be advised shortly by message from DGPERS-AF of the details required in such applications.

The most important point, though, is members are encouraged to contact their unit orderly rooms or administrative support areas and clarify their leave position. The point of contact at DGPERS-AF is Squadron Leader Ken Robinson on (02) 62652233.

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