ADF Defence Attitude Survey Findings

Defence Attitude Survey Findings

The Department of Defence today released a summary of the latest Defence Attitude Survey findings. Publication of the 2006 Summary of Results follows the administration of the survey late last year to a 30 per cent sample of Australian Defence Force members and Defence civilian employees.

Participation in the attitude survey is voluntary. It gives Defence personnel an opportunity to comment candidly on employment-related matters including leadership, conditions of service and remuneration, career intentions, wellbeing and family issues.

The 2006 survey findings highlight Defence personnel perceptions of the positive aspects of working in Defence, as well as areas of concern to personnel that may require more attention.

Data from past survey findings have been used to shape programs such as ADF locality allowances, child care, spouse and partner employment, remuneration arrangements and improvements to career management. Survey data also helped to develop several of the ADF retention initiatives announced by the Government in December 2006 and as part of the 2007 08 Federal Budget.

The 2006 findings show that areas needing greater attention in the view of Defence personnel include ADF pay, work-life balance, workload and working hours.

The survey was undertaken before military and civilian personnel received two installments of a 12.6 per cent pay rise and before a range of ADF financial retention measures was announced. The Government has committed $3.1 billion over the next 10 years to improve ADF recruitment and retention. Some of the significant programs include $226 million for bonuses and allowances for ADF members in critical positions or employment areas with key skill sets and $585 million to reform the ADF other ranks pay structure. Significant pay adjustments are also now flowing from a new ADF pay structure that recognises the work value of different military employment groups and rewarding them accordingly.

Defence has a current project to improve ADF career management. This program recognises that balance between individual needs and Service needs and military capability has a strong influence on whether ADF members decide to stay or go. Defence also is considering the development of a work-life balance benchmark to measure and better manage the impact of ADF service on members and their families.

The 2006 Defence Attitude Survey was the seventh to have been conducted since attitudinal data was first collected in 1999. Defence senior management has access through the survey to the anonymous views and opinions of almost 62,000 personnel, giving a strong baseline of data for workforce planning and policy development.

The 2006 Defence Attitude Survey Summary of Results is available for download.

ENDS

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