More changes for living-in

Click picture for Living in accomodation table

AS A result of a review of accommodation arrangements for Members Without Dependants (MWOD), carried out in 2003, there are major changes happening to the way living-in accommodation (LIA) is run.

The aim of the review was to develop a long-term strategy for providing LIA.

Some of the changes were announced on December 10 last year [and reported in Air Force newspaper] and some were announced on June 10 this year. To make sure that LIA is used to support our operational capability, certain members will usually be required to live-in.

These members now have priority to occupy LIA over those who are not required to live-in.

 

Who is required to live-in?
Members might be required to live-in because they are:

• undertaking a training course;
  
• performing the role of duty personnel;
  
• filling a specific position on a base determined by the CO;
  
• under the age of 18;
  
• below the rank of wing commander or equivalent and either in transit or on a short visit to the locality;
  
• posted to a seagoing billet;
  
• posted to an Army unit at less than 28 days notice to respond; or
  
• an Army MWOD in the first 12 months after completing their initial Army training.
  

 

What if a member is not required to live-in?
If a member is living-in now, then they can stay in LIA unless their CO needs to give their room to a member who is required to live-in.

Base commanders can offer LIA that is not required to support operational capability to members who are not required to live-in.

Rental Assistance (RA) is still available for those members not required to live-in. There are many rules about RA.
There is more information in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual about when a member can get RA and how much.

 

Are there still different types of LIA?
Yes. There are still five levels of LIA. Each level of LIA has rooms that are different in size and have different features.

A member will only have to pay for the level of room they occupy.
What has changed is:

• The level of LIA a member should occupy will depend on their reason for living-in (see the table in this article).
  
• If four members share a room, a member will now pay 25 per cent of the normal rate for the room. Previously, the fourth person did not pay. This level of sharing is aimed at reinforcing the lessons of communal living. All who share a room in these situations will make an equitable contribution.
  
• If five or more members share a room, none will not be charged for LIA.
  
• Level 2 and 4 rooms are gradually being phased out. While they are still around, these rooms will be used to make up shortfalls in the level of LIA a member should be occupying.
  
  These changes will take effect from September 5 this year.

  
  

  LIA LEVELS	REASONS FOR LIVING-IN
  Level 1*	Recruit
  Level 1**	Navy Category School Training, Infantry Initial Employment Training
  Level 3	Initial Employment Training for Army, Air Force, Career Development Training for less than six months and Officer Cadet Training
  Level 5	Training for periods of greater than six months
  Level 5	Required to live-in for operational reasons*** usually for periods greater than six months
  	* usually more than four persons to a room ** a minimum of two and a maximum of four trainees per room, with shared ablutions *** these reasons are listed in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual

  
  

 

Why were the changes made and who made them?
The changes were made for three main reasons:

• there is a shortage of suitable LIA;
  
• LIA was not being used to the maximum degree necessary to support Defence capability; and
  
• the amount of LIA needed is expensive to provide and Defence needs to make the best use of the money it has.
  

The review team included people from all three Services, Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group, the Defence Personnel Executive and the Chief Finance Office. The Chiefs of Service Committee and the Defence Committee approved the findings of the review.

 

How were the changes worked out?
The changes were based on thorough research. Some things that were looked at included:

• comments from commanders;
  
• data from previous reviews and research into LIA;
  
• visits to a majority of Defence bases; and
  
• the way overseas defence forces organise their LIA.
  

 

What is being done about the shortage of suitable LIA?
Project Single Leap will improve the standard of accommodation for those members required to live-in for a long training course or for operational reasons.

Defence has money for up to 6400 rooms to meet this need. It will take some time to get this number of rooms, but a start is being made.

The rooms may be provided on base or off base.

 

Where is more information available?
More detailed information about the policy changes will be placed on http://intranet.defence.gov.au/pac and http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac from July.

Go to “What’s New”, and look for a link to “Living-in Accommodation”. To find out more about the Single LEAP Project visit http://www.defence.gov.au/csig and click on the quick link to Infrastructure Division and then scroll to Single Leap.

This article has been provided by Adrian Wellspring, the Director of Housing and Removals Policy.

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