DRS Attends Pacific 2010

As part of the on-going Defence Reserves Support (DRS) National Office program, DRS staff attended Pacific 2010 in Sydney from 26-29 January. They were assisted by Commander John Willy – a star of the DRS print advertising campaign and the DRS DVD.

Pacific 2010, the 2010 Pacific International Maritime Exposition, is the commercial maritime and naval defence showcase for the Asia Pacific. The event provides a meeting place for industry representatives to exchange ideas and to establish personal and business contacts. During the three days over 200 people visited the DRS stand and took away information.


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Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Gets Recognition via Employer Support Award

Staff of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) are committed to the care of sick and injured people, wherever they are.

Some staff take their considerable talent to parts far and wide through their activities as serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reservists.

RBWH has been recognised for the support it, as an employer, gives to the ADF Reserves through an award presented to the Director of Intensive Care Medicine Professor Jeff Lipman last week.

Professor Lipman was singled out in the nomination for the Defence Reserves Support Council (DRSC) sponsored Employer Support Award as going the extra mile to ensure his staff were given all the assistance needed to fulfil their Reserve commitments.

Professor Lipman said the service provided to the Reserves by staff from the ICU was testament to the commitment all his department’s personnel have to patient care.

“The staff at RBWH ICU are some of the finest intensivists around and it is very satisfying to see them take their skills to a broader arena,” Professor Lipman said.

The award was presented by Defence Reserves Support Council - Queensland Committee Chair, Tony Behm.


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Defence Reserves Support is involved in a program designed to provide young indigenous adults with life skills to secure and sustain continuous employment of their choice as well as being role models within their communities.

The DRS involvement allows these young adults to meet with a range of employers and, importantly, gives prospective employers an opportunity to view first hand the quality of the training and the individuals.

DRS-Northern Territory/Kimberley Manager Lieutenant Colonel Peter Herden said 10 people graduated from the Inaugural Defence Indigenous Development Program (DIDP) in 2009.

Over the seven-month course, the students undertook basic military recruit training and specialised NORFORCE patrolman training with the Department of Defence. They also received concentrated literacy and numeracy training, life skills programs and were assisted with a strong mentoring program.

All graduates received a Certificate Level 2 Qualification for both Rural Operations and General Education with most graduates now in full time employment or full time study.
Participants, drawn from the NT and Kimberley region, studied primarily at Charles Darwin University - Katherine Rural Campus.

"We are proud to be involved in the program, especially as it gives graduates the opportunity to learn skills that will help them gain civilian employment at the same time as serve in the Army Reserve,” said Lieutenant Colonel Herden.

“Some may also see a full time career in the Defence Forces as achievable and now possess the basic skills and confidence to make an informed decision on the future direction for them and their family.

“This year’s program will begin in April and we will again sponsor the end of course function, where we can promote the benefits of Reserve service to employers and the Indigenous community.”

The DIDP is a joint initiative between the Department of Defence, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training.

DRS Staff Member Receives Public Service Australia Day Medallion

"It's awesome! Completely unexpected."

This was Kylie Ormerod’s response to receiving her Australia Day Medallion for outstanding management in her role as the Acting Director, Employer and Industry Engagement.

In his citation, Lieutenant General Hurley said that Kylie’s “enthusiasm, professional manner and management coordination skills were clearly demonstrated” when she planned and administered the 2009 International Conference on Employer Support for Reserves.

The Medallion was awarded at a morning tea ceremony on February 23 that also marked the end of Kylie’s three years with Defence Reserves Support.

“The morning tea was my official farewell from CRESD,” Kylie said.

"My new job is Assistant Director, Defence Export Unit."

Kylie’s colleagues at DRS would like to wish her all the best in her new role at DMO and to thank her for her service.


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Captain Pat Trainor is no Stranger to Civic Responsibility

A father of three young children and a local councillor with the Shire of Tea Tree Gully, Pat’s civilian job involves managing large public works for Adelaide Airport Corporation.

2010 marks the 13th year that Pat has pulled on Army greens to serve his country in a military career that began as an infantry Private for his university regiment.

“I was a keen member of the cadets during secondary school and joined the Reserves while I was studying my civil engineering degree at Adelaide University,” Captain Trainor said.

“I wanted to do something for the country but I also wanted to be one of the boys. As a Private, I had less responsibility than the officers and my service was very flexible around my degree.

“I spent four years as an infantryman with the University’s Regiment and added a lot of competencies to my CV during that time. I collected trades! I qualified as a Rifleman, a Combat Signaller, a driver, an engineer…I got to explore a number of different qualifications and professions and was promoted to Lance Corporal six years after I’d joined.

“Around eight years after I’d joined up, the demands on my time in my civilian life increased. I got married and started a family and had begun working on my career as a civil engineer.

“I felt I’d learned what I needed to from the infantry and I wanted to do something that was a bit more relevant to my civilian job — managing civil engineering projects.

“Rejoining the Reserves as an Officer was a natural progression. My civilian job involves managing people and projects. The leadership training I get in the Reserves complements that role. It builds on what I do at Adelaide Airport Corporation at the same time as giving me experiences that make me into a more valuable employee in my day job.

“Project Management at the Airport puts me in charge of some big ticket infrastructure development projects. Coordinating plant and personnel, achieving cooperation among sometimes competing stakeholders and interests and making sure that the job gets done are skills that come in handy in both my civilian and military jobs,” he said.

Captain Trainor is a High Readiness Reservist, able to be called up with a months notice or less. In return for keeping himself fit, well-trained and available, he receives a bonus of $10,000 for every two years of HRR duty as well as $2,500 annually for health insurance and support.

“I’ve just finished a rotation with 9th Brigade Combat team, a support company that helps create the advantageous battlefield conditions our troops need for success. We clear and build obstacles, harden defences, do demolition work and generally give our troops better battle terrains.

“The Reserves has given me very meaningful personal and professional development opportunities as well as the satisfaction of serving my country. I’m willing to go anywhere, wherever my skills are required, and at short notice and am looking forward to serving in East Timor towards the end of this year to contribute to our efforts to rebuild the country,” he said.

The Employer Support Payment (ESP) expenditure for the month of January and the progressive expenditure for FY 09/10 are detailed in the table below.

Information on ESP is available on this website however should you require additional information or clarification on any aspect of the Employer Support Payment scheme that is not already covered by our website, you may email an enquiry to esp@defence.gov.au.


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