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Assistance for the Families of Lateral Transferees to ADF

Dear All

There seems to be some confusion about applications for citizenship, etc. I hope the following helps:

Under section 23 The Australian Citizenship Act 2007

ADF members qualify for citizenship after 90 days service with the ADF.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/aca2007254/s23.html

Under section 46 (2A)

Children who are under 16 may also apply for citizenship when responsible parent for that child makes an application for citizenship. The child must be under 16 at the time of application.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/aca2007254/s46.html

ADF members are required to sit the citizenship test, but this can be done before completing the 90 days service. In some areas there are waiting lists for sitting the tests so I would advise to book early!

Once you (and the kids) become citizens you need to apply for your Australian passports.

Spouses and children 16yrs & over are permanent residents and must complete lawful residence before qualifying for citizenship.

The new residence requirements apply to people who become permanent residents on or after 1 July 2007.

The new residence requirements for Australian citizenship in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 mean that applicants will need:

* four (4) years lawful residence in Australia immediately prior to making an application for Australian citizenship with at least 12 months as a permanent resident, and

* absences from Australia of no more than 12 months in total in the four (4) years prior to application, and no more than ninety (90) days in the 12 month permanent residency period prior to application.

http://www.citizenship.gov.au/learn/law-and-policy/legis_changes/res_req_changes/

The Department of Immigration keeps track of the days permanent resident visa holders spend out of the country and will issue a warning letter if they think you are spending too much time out of the country.

DFA are working to get the legislation changed so that spouses and children 16yrs & over gain citizenship with the ADF member, so I’ll keep you posted.

C
 
Hi
There seems to be some confusion over Private Health Insurance, I have a meeting lined up with Defence Health to discuss Lateral Transfer Families so will get back to you when I have some information.

In the mean time those of you who are posted to Darwin, including Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy (NT), Broome and Kununurra (WA), Townsville, including Tully (QLD), and Puckapunyal (VIC) might find the information on the information on the DFA website useful go to Resources on the main menu, then Key Programs for Families ADF Dependant Health Care Program is second on the list.
Hope this helps
C
 
This information come curtsey of the Families Liaison Officer for Defence Community Organisation in Darwin. She is a lateral herself, so if you have any Darwinny (?) type questions do try her.

dco.darwin@defence.gov.au

Written and complied by:

Eike Pakeha

Manager Academic Process Improvement

Charles Darwin University

DARWIN NT 0909

Phone: 08 8946 6180 Fax: 08 89466 928
Email: eike.pakeha@cdu.edu.au

As just discussed, find below some information that the parent/children of the Defence Personnel coming from the UK might find useful.
Feel free to use/give them my contact details if they have any specific inquiries about fees, entrance to course and how it all works in the Australian Higher Education (HE) system (the processes for HECS are identical at all Australian Universities, they may differ slightly when it comes to Admission and Enrolment into courses. No doubt being new in a country can be tricky for some, and systems may be confusing – so yes, tell them I am happy to respond to individual queries.

The Australian HE system differs quite substantially from the UK one.
In a nutshell

1) In the Australian higher education system, Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and the holders of an Australian permanent visa are classified as ‘domestic students’.
2) Commonwealth supported students are generally required to contribute to the cost of their higher education through a student contribution.
3) The Australian Government also contributes to part of the cost.
4) The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) allows eligible students to receive a discount of 20% on their fees, or defer their student contribution (through HECS-HELP) and repay it later through the taxation system.

In the case of permanent residents (unless they are on a humanitarian visa) (and the UK cohort would generally not be on such a visa) cannot defer their fees to tax or receive the discount. Having said that as soon students become Australian citizens, they simply take their “naturalisation papers” to the relevant University (Student Services section) and then the University will change their citizenship status in the student management system, and they can start deferring their fees to tax or receive the discount.

All of that is explained in detail in a publication that is annually produced and called HECS-HELP booklet http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/Quickfind/PayingForYourStudiesHELPLoans/HECSHELP.htm#6

In fact I recommend this DEWR website to anyone interested in studying, because it explains it all, from courses offered by all University, their fees, how Student Learning Entitlement works etc etc.
Each HE provider is required to publish the fees for the first year of the course – and they do so by sending the information to DEWR, and they publish it to the above site. Note the site includes presently 2009 fees.

All Universities charge fees at the unit level (and they can differ within a course, it all depends on the discipline the student studies, eg Law, Business, Economics, Medicine et al are the highest fees), Science the lowest, Nursing and Education and Humanities in between and so on.
Every University is required to publish a fee for each individual unit by the 1 October for the following year.
Out 2009 Fees are on this site:
http://www.cdu.edu.au/hesa/fees.html and it includes a table of units and fee http://www.cdu.edu.au/hesa/Documents/2009HEUnitListforWeb-inclfees v5.pdf

Once a student has decided what to study, they should look at the course first, say, an Associate Degree in Legal Studies http://eagle.cdu.edu.au/NTU/Apps/co...D5AA7227FE66A6196925760D007D977A?OpenDocument
the course lists all the units a student needs to complete, when you click on a unit it shows you individual fees.

Just to add DFA are asking the Department of Education to allow ADF spouses and children to qualify for HECsHELP.

C
 
Family Information Network for Defence

You or your family members can also discuss any aspect of ADF pay, entitlements, allowances or conditions of service with the Family Information Network for Defence (FIND). You are encouraged to contact them on 1800 020 031. This is a toll-free, confidential service. It is available to Service members and their families anywhere in Australia, from 9.00am to 4.00pm Canberra time, Monday to Friday. Messages can be left on their answering service out of hours or sent via email to dsc.find@defence.gov.au Emails will be answered promptly on the next working day.

Last updated: 26 May 2006

http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/Find.htm

You will need the ADF Members PMKEYS number.

C
 
Hi, I had a Question about private vs public schooling in Australia, if anyone has a similar Q I would recommend that you get in touch with the Regional Education Liaison Officer for your area,

http://www.defence.gov.au/dco/Education.htm

While he cannot direct you to particular schools, what he can do is explain the particular education systems in your state – yup every state is different! Here in New South Wales we have Private Schools, Selective Schools, Public Schools, catchment areas, out of area quotas, ..makes me glad to just have dogs!

For advice about which schools may be suitable for your children the best thing to do is speak to other
laterals in the area.

Hope this helps

C
 
Dear all

Please be kind to yourselves and take a break.
It is a long slog to get out here and an even longer slog to get settled so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be kind to yourself and your other half.
Have a break from checking the emails every morning and evening, writing lists and trawling through the web. It will all be there tomorrow.
Enjoy those very English things as they cannot be replicated out here – Yulefest in June is not quite the same!

C
 
Dear All

Could I suggest you have a look at DFA's website under Moving - there is whole heap of information about entitlements, rent contributions, and who's who. Please remember that DHA are a contractor to the Defence Support group, and not as such part of Defence, they are governed by the contract terms.

If you have any problems with DHA I recommend that you get in touch with the area Defence Relocations & Housing Manager, they are a Defence Employee and are responsible for ensuring DHA comply with the contract they have with Defence (list of phone number on DFA website).

C
 
If you have children who are dyslexia, asthmatic, gifted, or have any other ‘special’ provisions within the education or medical system, please get in contact with Defence Special Needs Support Group before arriving in Australia.

http://www.dsnsg.org.au/index.htm

They are also able to offer assistance to spouses with special medical needs.

C
 
DCO SYDNEY INVITES YOU TO THE ‘WELCOME TO SYDNEY FUNCTION’

Date: Tuesday 2 February, 2010
Time: 1030am – 1200noon

For further information please contact DCO Sydney
02 9393 3314 and ask for the Family Liaison Officer
or
Email: DCO.SydneyFunctions@defence.gov.au

I have removed venue details, so remember to ask when contacting DCO! Could I encourage as many laterals (old & new) to come along,

C
 
Firstly a BIG THANK YOU TO DCO Williamstown FLOs for this great article taken from the Buzz News
http://thebuzznews.webs.com/infofromtheflo.htm

If you are going to Singletown or Williamtown the above link will be very helpful


DCO stands for Defence Community Organisation.

On behalf of Command, the DCO provides a broad range of individual and program related services to the ADF community - Commanding Officers, uniformed members (including single members) and families.

Many of these services aim to support ADF personnel and their families to balance the demands of military service with personal and family commitments. These services and programs are delivered by DCO Area Teams, located on or near major ADF establishments all around Australia.


DCO’s National Strategic Priorities include:

1. Critical Incident Support - minimize the negative effects on families when ADF members die in service or are critically injured

a. notification of PEC and NOK or other family as necessary

b. facilitate travel of families to be with ADF member who are seriously injured

c. support families of members affected by critical incidents, including COI

d. assist family in dealing with media and political interest

e. short term emergency mental health support to ADF members where there is no other available ADF mental health support



2. Absence from Home Support - aim to minimise the impact on families due to absence from home on deployment or other service-related reasons.

a. participate in deployment briefings

b. contact NOK by letter and phone

c. organise social functions

d. conduct psycho educational programs/workshops that aim to enhance self-reliance of ADF Families

e. provide brief targeted social work intervention



3. Self Reliance - to enhance the capabilities of families to adjust and adapt to the demands of the ADF lifestyle

a. brief direct social work intervention

b. identify community-based resources to support ADF families

c. absence from home and mobility support services

d. improve links between ADF and community

e. foster development of self-help groups within ADF community


4. Command and Management Advice –

a. advise Command on individual cases

b. provide training on family support services

c. advise Command on family and welfare related matters

5. Mobility Support -

a. reduce impact of disruption in education of children

b. improve partners’ ability to find employment

c. assist families with special needs

d. access to childcare


To achieve these priorities all DCO offices are staffed with a multi skilled team of workers including:

Defence Social Workers (DSWs),
who are qualified professionals, and are knowledgeable about the Defence lifestyle and system. Social Workers are able to provide confidential counselling and casework services to assist you to understand and address personal, family and Service related problems and issues. The DSW also assists members and their families through community development programs, group work and educative programs and referrals to appropriate services and agencies within the community. They also provide advice, assistance and professional reports to Command as required, particularly for requests based on compassionate or family grounds.

Military Support Officers (MSOs),
who are uniformed members from the three Services and who provide support, advice and assistance to individual clients and undertake a liaison function with units and Command. They have a particular role with Command and families in the event of illness if there is a death of a serving member. MSOs provide advice, assistance and practical support to members and their families in relation to military matters.

Regional Education Liaison Officers (REDLOs)
who are professionally trained teachers who understand both the different State and Territory education systems and the Defence environment. They are available to provide advice to Defence families on education issues, particularly matters relating to mobility and relocation. REDLOs can assist with the transition between the various State and Territory primary, secondary and tertiary education systems.

Family Liaison Officers (FLOs)
provide community based information, support and assistance to individual members, partners, families and Defence sponsored groups. These services are available at any time, however FLOs are particularly proactive in regard to welcome activities in relation to a new posting and settling in to a new area, or during the deployment of ADF members.

C
 
Guys

Please be VERY VERY careful with your dealings with DHA. Make sure that YOU understand your entitlements, the procedures and cost of the housing they are offering you.
They are NOT defence employees but Commonwealth contractors.
They are required to make a PROFIT and this often comes from ‘up selling’ properties.

If you have any questions PLEASE contact the Defence Relocation and Housing Manager for your area, he/she is a defence employee should be able to give you impartial advice.

C
 
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