The pay and conditions for Defence Australian Public Service (APS) employees are covered by the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement 2024 (DECA).
Defence offers a competitive benefits package to assist with both small and significant aspects of life.
Defence provides:
- Competitive salary rates that are subject to periodic increases in accordance with the DECA 2024. Eligible staff have opportunities for advancement through the salary range at each classification and lump sum payments each year for those at the top of the salary range.
- 15.4% employer superannuation contribution.
- Additional financial allowances that recognise the unique nature or service of some roles or workplaces, e.g. first aid officer, language proficiency, electrical licence.
- Financial support for relocation available to assist employees required to move to another locality in their employment with Defence.
- Remote locality benefits, including additional allowances and leave, to acknowledge the additional challenges that can come with working in a location that Defence has determined to be remote.
- Salary packaging and salary advance (to cover the cost of public transport or a bicycle to get to and from work) opportunities.
- Flexible working arrangements. These arrangements may include flexible work hours, flexible work locations including the option to work from home, and flexible work patterns.
- Standard working hours of 37.5 hours per week. There are opportunities for flex time for APS level 1-6 employees, and time-off-in-lieu for executive level employees, for those hours worked in addition to the standard working week.
- Generous leave provisions including:
- 20 days of annual leave (with the opportunity to purchase more)
- 18 days of personal/carers leave
- 18 weeks of paid parental leave for primary care givers. 8 weeks of paid parental leave for secondary care givers (increasing to 18 weeks by 2027).
- additional day of Defence leave per calendar year
- Christmas stand down period provided as an additional paid break during the Christmas/New Year period
- 3 months long service leave for employees with over 10 years of eligible Government service, with an additional 9 calendar days of long service leave accrued each year after the initial 10 years
- 5 weeks paid ADF reserve leave per year (to fulfil service obligations in the ADF Reserves)
- options for leave without pay
- Investment in your career and personal development at all stages of your career.
- Support for accreditation and continuous professional development for engineering, science, accounting and legal professionals.