NSW Commissioner of Corrective Services Peter Severin travelled to Malaysia recently to shake hands with Bathurst resident and father of two Private Greg Davis during his three-month deployment as part of Rifle Company Butterworth.
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The commissioner joined 19 executives and small business owners from across the ACT, NSW and southern Queensland on Exercise Boss Lift 2017 to gain first-hand experience in the training their civilian employees undertake in the Army Reserve.
Bathurst’s Stacey Whittaker and Abbey Barrett were also part of Exercise Boss Lift.
The arrival of the NSW Commissioner came as a surprise to PTE Davis, who has worked for Corrective Services in Bathurst for more than 10 years.
He joined the local Army Reserve unit in 2010.
“At the Corrective Services all the best operators that I was working with were ex-military and particularly ex-Army, so in 2010 I decided to enlist,” he said. “Our local unit is fantastic. We all work together so well, and it’s the camaraderie that makes me keep coming back.”
Prior to Exercise Boss Lift, Ms Whittaker was busy co-ordinating arrangements to support the local Army Reserve depot’s open night which will be held on February 14 as part of the Bathurst Business Chamber’s after hours series.
Head Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division, Rear Admiral Bruce Kafer said more than 100 Australian Army Reserve soldiers are in Malaysia for three months of intensive training and activities supporting Australian Defence engagement in South East Asia.
“We have more than 20,000 Australian Defence Force Reservists who make a vital contribution to the defence of Australia,” RADM Kafer said.
“Recognising the contribution their civilian employers make, in releasing employees for training and operational service, is crucial in the Reserve’s ability to deliver relevant capability to Defence.
“The Reservists are an important part of the structure and capability of the Australian Defence Force. For this reason we have a number of support programs to assist employers and Reservists to understand the benefits of Reserve service as well as their rights and responsibilities.
“This includes an Employer Support Payment Scheme that provides financial assistance to eligible employers to help offset the costs of releasing employees.”
For more information on the benefits available to current and future employers of Defence Reservists, visit www.defencereservessupport.gov.au or call 1800 803 485.
For information on getting involved in the Australian Army Reserve at your local depot, visit www.defencejobs.gov.au or phone 131 901.
