Portal worth a look

IF YOU haven’t visited Air Force People Central, then you may be missing out on vital career information. The personalised, interactive web portal was developed as part of the RAAF Personnel Strategy to give people greater access to career development information.

DGPERS-AF identified the need for a fundamental shift away from a centralised personnel management system to a system where individuals share the responsibility for managing their own career.

If you don’t have regular access to computer equipment, ensure your supervisor continues regular contact with personnel management agencies on your behalf. A number of functions are available through Air Force People Central and more will be added as the system matures.

Job search
THIS facility allows people to view information about employment opportunities within Australia and overseas, including position details, location, current incumbent and posting due-out date. This feature will be expanded to include detailed job descriptions and competencies.

Hot issues
THIS facility allows Personnel Branch staff to communicate immediate information to individual users. Depending on the information to be relayed, this may be to all Air Force members or to selected ranks and specialisations/ musterings or even to specific locations.

Expressions of interest
THIS function is now the primary means by which Personnel Branch will issue Calls for Expressions of Interest. This facility also allows people to electronically process and submit expressions of interest. DPO/DPA staff will be able to electronically track the progress of the forms from individuals.

Plain English guides
THESE guides provide extensive information and relevant links on personnel management issues. Air Force People Central will replace the DPO/DPA web sites and will provide information based on functionality and not rank. Information available in these guides includes postings, promotions, career progression, transitions, Reserve service and professional development and training.

Personnel policies
SOON to be added are personnel policies under review or development as well as access to directives issued by CAF and Personnel Branch.

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Be the master of your domain

The introduction of DOMAIN, the Defence Online Management and Instructional Network, will reduce the length and expand the availability of many training courses.

DOMAIN, one of the largest corporate e-learning systems implemented in Australia, was launched on March 19. Available on the Defence Restricted Network, it is being rolled out in three phases between now and 2005.

A number of smaller standalone e-learning systems operating across Defence will be incorporated with DOMAIN to make it a single Defence-wide system. The network will also eventually provide some aspects of career and trade courses through the Internet to members at their homes and even on operations.

DOMAIN does not seek to replace the need for courses to be taught face-to-face or in practical hands-on exercises. It provides Defence with an e-learning capability to support more traditional training. E-learning offers training through the use of interactive multimedia demonstrations, case studies and presentations using audio, multimedia and video.

Courses can be accessed on demand and courses or selected aspects of the training can be repeated as many times as required.

Courses already available on DOMAIN include desktop applications such as the Microsoft Office suite of products, information courses on PMKeyS and basic navigation, and legislated courses such as Occupational Health and Safety. Students can enrol for and complete these courses on the DRN at their own pace.

There are also courses that form part of more traditional career specific courses, designed to reduce the time away from the workplace and family by placing theory or background subjects into an integrated e-learning package.

Six Air Force promotions courses are scheduled to be available under Phase 2 of the DOMAIN project in July.

DOMAIN’s Learning Management System provides an information system that administers both instructor-led and e-learning courses and maintains student records.

DOMAIN can be accessed at http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/det/domain/

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