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BOOST FOR NAVY’S WARFARE SAILORS
Wednesday, 14 December 2005 31/2005
Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence De-Anne Kelly announced today a major package to enhance the retention of skilled sailors of Navy’s Warfare Community.
Mrs Kelly said Navy was experiencing difficulties retaining Seaman officers and sailors of the Combat System Operators and Communication Information Systems Operators Categories and had been looking at innovative ways to encourage them to continue serving.
“A comprehensive package of short, medium and longer-term initiatives has been developed with the immediate focus on offering a financial incentive centred on completion bonuses of up to $10,000 per year,” Mrs Kelly said.
“Payments will be based on a sliding scale according to rank, competency and qualifications.
“The Navy’s medium to longer-term retention focus is on developing training and higher skilling opportunities to facilitate motivating and satisfying careers within Navy. Other initiatives affecting employment and conditions are being addressed through Navy’s Sea Change program.”
Defence has allocated $22 million over the next seven years for completion bonuses for sailors and officers of Navy’s Warfare Community.
The package builds on a similar initiative for Navy’s Marine and Weapons Electrical Engineers. This included a competency-based, tiered Retention Allowance of up to $15,000 per year as well as post-graduate education.
Mrs Kelly said early indications were that the retention initiatives for engineers had slowed the rate of separation of these skilled officers from Navy.
“The package for Warfare Community sailors and officers is further demonstration of the Government’s support for ADF personnel,” she said.
Mrs Kelly said this shortage was the result of a healthy Australian economy with its competitive workplace environment.
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