Leave processing reviewed

RECENT audit activities by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) have identified a number of policy and administrative shortcomings relating to the management of annual leave across Defence.

This, coupled with the release of DI(G) PERS 60-2-Defence leave administration – policy and management, which includes a requirement to audit leave, has prompted the Air Force to review its processes.

The Air Force has traditionally filed leave applications at the unit in which they were submitted and approved.

At the completion of a financial year, applications would be archived at unit level. In order to accommodate the requirements of ANAO, the Archives Act and the newly released DI(G), this process will be upgraded. The Directorate of Military Administration for Air Force (DMA-AF) will introduce a permanent personal leave file for all members and the processes will be changed to facilitate better leave management.

The purpose of the new leave folder is to file source documentation for all leave transacted on PMKeyS and to facilitate rapid retrieval of documentation for audit purposes. The introduction of a more stringent leave audit process will ensure that all members receive their full and correct leave entitlement. The introduction of the Air Force leave file will facilitate that process.

The leave file will form part of a member’s service documents, will be registered on the Defence Records Management System and will accompany the member on posting. On discharge the member’s file will be archived, in accordance with the requirements of the Records Disposal Authority, for a period of 130 years after the birth of the member.

The Defence Publishing Service will soon commence production of the new Air Force leave file. Sufficient numbers will be printed to ensure adequate supplies are available to provide one for each serving member.

For more information on the leave folder and leave audit processes please visit the DMA-AF website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/DMA-AF/ or talk to your base military administrator or senior mustering adviser (a list of these appointments is on our website).

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