Pay and Conditions

Part 1: Higher duties allowance

4.1.1 Overview

1. Higher duties allowance may be paid to encourage and reward members when they perform duties in vacant higher positions.

2. This Part has four elements.

   1. To recognise when a member performs the duties of a position that attracts a higher responsibility than their own position.

   2. To set out who is eligible for higher duties.

   3. To set out who can direct a member to perform higher duties.

   4. To set out how higher duties allowance is worked out, and how it can be ended.

4.1.2 Principles

1. Higher duties may be used for a member directed to perform the duties of a position at a higher rank or skill level.

2. Payment of higher duties allowance is not automatic on performance of duties at a higher level. A directing member decides whether or not to direct a member to perform duties at a higher level.

   To be eligible for the allowance, a member must meet additional conditions set out in this Part.

   Example: To be eligible to be paid higher duties allowance a member must have been directed to perform the higher duties. The member must also meet the minimum and maximum time periods set out in Division 2 and other requirements in this Part.

3. The following basic principles can be seen in the limits on higher duties allowance in this Part.

   1. Higher duties is not paid when there is no difference between the ranks of the positions. In certain circumstances a member may be paid for a higher pay grade or specialist skill at their rank.

      See: Division 3 section 4.1.19, Basis of higher duties allowance

   2. The member may perform higher duties in a position one or more ranks higher than their own. The member must perform the duties of the higher position for the allowance to be payable.

   3. The member must be assessed as capable of performing the duties of the higher position.

   4. A specialist officer cannot be paid higher duties allowance for a level of professional or trade competence that they do not hold.

4.1.3 Member this Part applies to

This Part applies to members on continuous full-time service and Reserve service. It sets out conditions for eligibility for the allowance. These conditions must be met for the period when they perform the duties of any of the following position types.

1. Positions in the Permanent Forces.

2. Positions in the Reserves.

3. Star rank positions.

4. APS positions.

5. Some foreign military force positions.

Note: In the total workforce model, the following arrangements apply.

1. Continuous full-time service may be described as service in Service category 6 or 7. A member who is in Service category 3, 4 or 5 and Service option C is also on continuous full-time service.

2. Reserve service may be described as service in Service category 3, 4 or 5. A member on Service option C is not on Reserve service.

3. A member of the Permanent Forces may be described as a member in Service category 6 or 7.

4.1.4 Member this Part does not apply to

This Part does not apply to the following members.

1. An aviation specialist.

2. A member in the Navy or Air Force in the Officer Aviation Pay Structure Specialist Pathway.

3. A member who is a trainee.

4.1.5 Definitions

This table defines terms used in this Part.

Definitions

Term	Definition in this Part
Continuous full-time service	Means the same as in section 1.3.15. See: Chapter 1 Part 3 Division 1 section 1.3.15, Continuous full-time service
Directing member	Means the same as in section 4.1.10. See: Division 2 section 4.1.10, Directing member
Employment category	Means a category set out in any of Schedules B.2, B.9 and B.11 of DFRT Determination No. 2 of 2017, Salaries. See: Chapter 3 Part 1 Schedule B.2, Officer pay grades Schedule B.9, Warrant Officer Class 1 pay grades Schedule B.11, Other Rank pay grades
Specialist officer	In this Part, a specialist officer is a member whose pay is set out in any of the following schedules of DFRT Determination No. 2 of 2017, Salaries. Schedule B.5, Specialist Officer – Chaplain and Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officer Schedule B.6, Specialist Officer – Dental Officer Schedule B.7, Specialist Officer – Legal Officer Schedule B.8, Specialist Officer – Medical Officer Schedule B.14, Specialist Officer salary rates – Aviation, Parts 3 and 4 Schedule B.15, Senior Officer Specialist – Medical Officer Schedule B.16, Senior Officer – Dental Officer Schedule B.17, Senior Officer – Legal Officer
Vacant position	Is defined in section 4.1.6. See: Section 4.1.6, Meaning of vacant position

4.1.6 Meaning of vacant position

1. A position must meet both of the following conditions to be a vacant position.

   1. It is an established or deployed position in the ADF or it has APS duties.

   2. It is temporarily vacant.

      Example: A member is on leave for a month. Their position is temporarily vacant, so a decision could be made to fill it on a higher duties basis.

   Related Information: A member can only be directed to perform higher duties in a vacant position. See Division 1 paragraph 4.1.8.c, Member eligible to perform higher duties

2. A vacant position may also be known as a vacant established position.