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Officers’ pay to make the grade
Volume 49, No. 12, July 12, 2007 |
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PAY REWARDS: The ADF has submitted a proposal to the DFRT to place all officer categories on the Graded Officer Pay Structure, which pays members based on their contribution to ADF capability. Pictured is FLTLT Scott Dagg making his contribution at RMAF Base Butterworth.
Photo by CPL Mark McConnell |
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Recruitment and retention are two hot issues that probably rob the Service Chiefs of a few hours’ sleep.
A major milestone for improving officers’ pay was the introduction of the Graded Officer Pay Structure (GOPS) on October 5 last year.
GOPS is a 10-grade pay structure for O1-O6 officers. The new structure spans their salaries and has rolled in the qualification and skill (Q&S) components for Flying, Submarine Service, Special Operations and Special Action Forces allowances.
GOPS does not cover O7–O8 officers, who have a separate banded salary structure.
“The best thing about GOPS is that it provides a structure that allows members to be paid based on their contribution to ADF capability, rather than time spent in rank,” Director of Military Salaries and Allowances Policy COL Terry McCullagh said.
Under the ADF’s proposal, ‘contribution’ will be measured against three principles: work value, capability and sustainability. The proposal also recognises the enduring nature of command value.
This principle recognises that when a member works in a command role, they gain valuable skills that benefit their future employment and contribution to the ADF, and therefore, their pay should stay at the command rate.
The ADF submitted its proposal to place all officer employment categories in the GOPS based on these principles to the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) and requested that GOPS placement take effect from August 9, in line with changes to the other ranks’ pay structure.
DFRT is considering the proposal, and the ADF is hopeful that the proposal will be approved by the end of July.
While work value, capability and sustainability are the agreed principles for officer placement within GOPS, each of the Services has its own view on which principles should have greater emphasis.
“An essential consideration for GOPS placement for Air Force is its alignment with the Air Force Personnel Strategy, which is focused on re-shaping the Air Force workforce structure to meet new capability requirements out to 2015 and beyond,” Director General Personnel – Air Force AIRCDRE John Hewitson said.
The DFRT conducted a focus group to hear officers’ views on the Air Force proposal at RAAF Base Williamtown on May 31. The discussion was open and productive, and DFRT will take the outcomes into consideration when it makes its decision on the overall ADF proposal over the coming months.
For more information on remuneration reform updates, including detail on the ADF GOPS proposal, visit www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/
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