CHANGES
are under way that will improve Defence’s ability to account
for personnel who are travelling when a major incident occurs.
The program, called Finding Our People, will introduce reporting
requirements for ADF and APS personnel travelling in Australia
or overseas.
The program is being implemented by Head Defence Personnel Executive
Major General Mark Evans following lessons learned after recent
events such as the Indian Ocean tsunami and Bali bombings.
These incidents highlighted the need for Defence to be able to
confirm the location and status of members and provide assistance
wherever possible, particularly where there is a threat to health
or personal safety.
Finding Our People will be established in two phases. The first
phase will address the need to account for personnel travelling
over the Christmas and New Year period.
All ADF and APS personnel travelling overseas must ensure their
unit security officer holds a copy of their completed AB644 Notification
of Proposed Overseas Travel form. Personnel travelling within
Australia need to ensure their supervisor holds a copy of their
contact details for the duration of their leave.
The second phase, to occur in 2006, will result in a number of
changes to leave forms, PMKeyS and policy documents to capture
and centralise information already held about personnel travelling
on short-term duty overseas.
For further information regarding the Find Our People program,
contact HPDE administrators Soozie Parker on (02) 6265 5379 or
0418 441 249, or Lieutenant Commander Annette Nelson on (02) 6265
4378 or 0417 668 093.
In
case of disaster
Outside
Australia
If a disaster or mass casualty incident occurs overseas, personnel
in the affected location need to contact their supervisor or ring
61 2 6455 1455 to advise they are safe or if they need assistance.
Alternatively, they can advise the nearest Australian diplomatic
mission.
In
Australia
If a disaster or mass casualty incident occurs in Australia, personnel
in the affected area are to contact their supervisor or ring 1800DEFENCE
(1800 3333623).
