How to get it right when filling in a HDA form

SIMPLE mistakes are often made on many applications for higher duties allowance for members acting in a position two or more ranks higher.

The Director-General Personnel - Air Force, Air Commodore Ken Birrer, estimated that about 80 per cent of applications required corrections which “not ony ties up my staff contacting personnel to remedy the errors, but the person who is entitled to HDA is not being paid at the applicable rate while the application is being held up”.

“The circumstance in which member is able to perform the full duties of a position two or more ranks higher would be exceptional, particularly given the skillsets, qualifications and experience driving establishment of a position at a particular rank in the first place,” AIRCDRE Birrer said.

“In particular, it would not normally be expected that a pilot officer would competently be able to fulfil all the duties commensurate to the rank of squadron leader and the same for a leading aircraftman to sergeant. In this type of circumstance, I require full justification as to why the member should be paid two ranks higher; the signing off of the application not sufficient.”

He said this must be considered when annotating full or partial performance. Where an application recommends partial performance, the rank and/or paygroup to be paid should be specified on the form.

AIRCDRE Birrer also recommended that personnel completing the application consider, if the member receive HDA is a SNCO or warrant officer, whether the rank the member is requested to be paid at is appropriate – perhaps the better solution is five per cent loading.

Another common error is the incorrect directing authority – the direction to perform HDA must be by a member who is at least one rank higher than the vacant position and the member’s chain of command.

The directing authourity should ensure that the whole form is complete, including position number, appropriate rank for the HDA and signature.

For inquiries: SQNLDR Tammy Hodge on (02) 6265 2233 or CPL Linda Figgins on (02) 6265 2264.

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