LANGUAGE OF INCLUSION

DefenceISSUE 1 | 2013

INTERVIEWS PUBLIC SERVICE AND ASIO HEADS

ACCOLADESHONOURSFOR OURPEOPLE

SECRETARY OF DEFENCE FELLOWSHIP A TALKING POINT

Contents

Feature stories

Editorial Cover story

Editorial Team

David Edlington

(02) 6265 4650

david.edlington@defence.gov.au

Aurora Daniels

(02) 6265 3119

aurora.daniels@defence.gov.au

Defence is produced by Communication

and Media Branch, Department of Defence

www.defence.gov.au/defencemagazine

A free Defence magazine app is available on smart

phones and tablet devices, meaning each edition

can be downloaded at any time, anywhere.

To download the app, search for ‘Defence magazine’

in the Apple App Store and the Android Play Store.

pages 20-22

Serving them rightThe Australian Public Service Commissioner, Stephen Sedgwick, speaks to Defence about his agenda

for 2013.

pages 12-16

pages 17-19

Excellence honouredThree people associated with Defence received Public Service Medals and scores of Defence personnel were recognised with medallions in Australia Day accolades.

Cyber cooperationThe Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Director-General, David Irvine, tells of the relationship between ASIO and Defence in the area of cyber security.

Secretary’s column 4-5Building diversity in Defence.

Chief of the Defence Force’s column 6-7First anniversary of Pathway to Change.

News in short 8-9

Understanding our language 10-11

Excellence honoured 12-13

Exporting high achievers 14-15

Recognition for a job well done 16

Serving them right 17-19

Cyber-smart cooperation 20-22

Is your workplace a safe base? 23-24Base security is being ramped up around Australia as the last of the 33 Defence Protective Security Arrangements Review recommendations are implemented.

Bushfire support 25Members of the Defence Support and Reform Group provided asistance to communities threatened by bushfires in New South Wales and Tasmania in January.

The recipient of the 2013 Secretary of Defence Fellowship,

Dr Elizabeth Thomson, will study the language of Defence

to gain a greater understanding of our organisation’s culture

and identities.

pages 10-11

Sounds from the deep 26-27Decades of assisting submariners to identify what lies beneath the waves has earned DSTO’s Dr Doug Cato the 2012 Minister’s Award for Achievement in Defence Science.

Conservation in camouflage 28-29The Canberra Spider Orchid, a critically endangered native plant, has been discovered living in an operational Defence training area in the ACT.

Reducing the impact of climate change 30Defence Support and Reform Group is investigating mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of climate change-induced sea level rise, flooding and erosion on Defence infrastructure.

Closing the gap 31Defence is creating specialised pathways for Aboriginal jobseekers.

Defence 2 3Issue 1 2013

DefenceIssue 1 2013

Cover image: Lauren Black

By Dennis Richardson

Building Defence

diversity

THIS year is another busy one for Defence. We

must deliver a new White Paper by the second

quarter of 2013. Operationally, we will continue

the process of transition in Afghanistan. And we

must also continue to implement cultural reform

in Defence through Pathway to Change.

One of the first things I did this year was to

meet the new intake of Graduate Development

Program participants commencing in the

Department. I place a high priority on the

recruitment of graduates, as in my mind they

are the future leaders of the Department

of Defence. I was struck by the diversity of

backgrounds represented by the graduates in

this year’s Program, and the enthusiasm that

they demonstrated for their new careers in the

Australian Public Service.

As Secretary, one of my highest priorities is to

provide opportunities for the development of

all Australian Public Service personnel within

Defence. To assist me in this responsibility,

I have established a new Defence Civilian

Committee which will consider all matters

relating to civilian management across

Defence, including recruitment, development,

gender, diversity, disability and indigenous

programs. This Committee is now meeting on a

weekly basis.

I have also started meeting as many of you

as I can through ‘town hall’ meetings with

various Divisions in Canberra, and I will also

be doing this at regional Defence bases and

establishments. This will be a rolling program

that will continue throughout the year. My aim

is to get out of Canberra at least once each

month to get as broad a view of Defence and

its people as I can.

One initiative which provided an opportunity to

consider Defence’s future workforce was the

Gender in Defence and Security Leadership

Conference held in Canberra over March 12

and 13. I participated in this conference, which

was attended by 200 invited participants from

across the defence and security community,

as well as international and academic

representatives. The conference discussed

policy aspects, practical barriers and the

operational reality of building gender diversity in

defence and security institutions.

Most of you should be aware that the Prime

Minister has announced that the next Federal

Election will take place on September 14. The

Prime Minister also announced that on August

12, she will consult with the Governor-General

to dissolve the House of Representatives. The

caretaker period only begins at the time the

House of Representatives is dissolved, and

continues until the election result is clear, or,

if there is a change of Government, until the

new Government is appointed. From now

until further notice, it is business as usual for

Defence.

The Prime Minister also recently announced

changes to the Ministry, which now includes

Defence Materiel Minister Mike Kelly. We need

to continue to work hard to provide quality and

timely advice to our Ministers so that they can

carry out their duties effectively and efficiently in

their Ministries, the Cabinet, the Parliament and

the wider community. I have been pleased by

the quality of advice that I have seen so far, but

we must aim for continuous improvement.

One area I would urge drafters to pay close

attention to is to ensure comprehensive

consultation at as high a level as possible,

both internally and with all relevant external

departments and agencies, before submissions

are sent to our Ministers. Any submissions

which contain implications for the Defence

budget need to be scrutinised by the Chief

Finance Officer.

Finally, I would like to congratulate those

Defence personnel who received awards in

the recent Australia Day Honours List. It has

also been pleasing to recognise individual

performance through the award of Australia

Day Medallions, and I was proud to present a

medallion to Amanda Ongania, of the Defence

Support and Reform Group, in recognition of

her contribution as Base Support Operations

Manager for Russell Offices (South) and Anzac

Park West. My congratulations to Amanda, and

to all Australia Day honours recipients.

See coverage of Australia Day Honours and

Medallions on pages 12-16.

“I have established a new Defence Civilian Committee which will consider all matters relating to civilian management across Defence, including recruitment, development, gender, diversity, disability and indigenous programs.”

“I have started meeting as many of you as I can through ‘town hall’ meetings in Canberra, and I will be doing this at regional Defence bases and establishments, as well.”

Defence4 5

Issue 1 2013

DefenceIssue 1 2013

COLUMNSecretary’s

By General David Hurley

On path to

enduring changeWE HAVE just marked the first anniversary

since Defence released Pathway to Change:

Evolving Defence Culture.

When it was released in 2012, the Defence

leadership and I acknowledged that at times

some people in Defence have acted in a

manner that has harmed people.

Pathway to Change articulates our strategy

for achieving enduring cultural change. One

year on it is appropriate to examine where we

are on this journey toward change.

As an organisation we are making

tangible, measurable progress on the

recommendations arising from the suite

of Defence Culture Reviews. Of the 160

recommendations put forward, 48 have been

closed out and another 110 are under way.

The Australian Human Rights Commission

recently undertook its first audit to track

our progress following the release of the

Broderick Review into the Treatment of

Women at the Australian Defence Force

Academy.

In less than 18 months we have strengthened

our Equity and Diversity Training Programs at

ADFA and more than doubled the number

of trained equity advisers on campus to

40. These measures complement other

programs such as improved security and

greater access to support services including

emergency support, counselling and health

services.

More broadly across the Australian Defence

Force, we have established an office that is

dedicated to responding to incidences of

sexual misconduct and providing education

about the prevention of sexual misconduct

and assault.

The Sexual Misconduct Prevention and

Response Office (SeMPRO) will be officially

launched in July. SeMPRO and the

introduction of restricted reporting later this

year will mark an important shift toward a

victim-focused approach.

A further 20 recommendations from the

Broderick Review Phase Two that aim

to enhance gender diversity have also

commenced. Four are completed or

substantially progressed and a further 16

recommendations remain on track to be

substantially completed by August this year.

Our actions to date support the Senior

Defence Leadership’s goal for a more diverse,

inclusive and equitable ADF.

Following the removal of gender restrictions,

serving female ADF members now have the

opportunity to work in all positions in the ADF

with the exception of Special Forces, which

will be opened to women in 2014.

This move is not about encouraging

or coercing women into non-traditional

employment roles, but providing the

opportunity for anyone who has an interest

in these categories to pursue a combat

career. It means selection will be based on

a candidate’s ability to do the job not their

gender, and there will be no reductions to any

standards associated with this change.

Substantial progress is being made

against the Hamilton Review on the Use of

Alcohol in the ADF with a view to reducing

alcohol-related harm among the Defence

population. We have commenced work

to implement all eight recommendations

and, with the Australian Drug Foundation’s

assistance we have delivered a statement of

alcohol behaviour expectations, an alcohol

management guide for leaders and guidelines

for an ADF hospitality management program.

Further guidance and advice on the program

will be issued through the chain of command

in due course.

Defence has also issued a social media policy

and we are progressively implementing a

range of other initiatives in response to the

findings of the Hudson Review of Social Media

and Defence.

The first anniversary of the release of Pathway

to Change is also a timely opportunity to

remind people of the mechanisms available

to respond to complaints or allegations of

inappropriate behaviour.

I encourage you to report the matter to your

chain of command as soon as practical

so that it can be addressed in a timely and

appropriate manner.

However, if you feel you are unable to

report the matter in your immediate work

environment, there are a number of other

reporting mechanisms available to you. The

following link provides some useful contacts

and information: http://intranet.defence.

gov.au/People/sites/dlapiper/comweb.

asp?page=55052&Title=Frequently

I recognise cultural change takes time but we

are on a positive track. We need to maintain

the momentum over the next 12 months so

that we continue to build a culture that gives

confidence to the Australian people and

creates a work force that genuinely reflects the

community it serves.

At its heart, Pathway to Change is about

respect and behaviours – towards Defence

and its institutions and, critically, toward each

other. Simply put, we must be just, inclusive

and fair-minded. Everyone at every level has

an active role to play in living the Defence

values to ensure that the ADF meets our

cultural intent to be trusted to defend, proven

to deliver, respectful always.

This year, ADF personnel marched in uniform

in the Sydney Mardi Gras for the first time.

The decision is in line with the Pathway to

Change document which clearly states that

Defence’s attitudes toward diversity and

inclusion must change.

We must value each and every ADF

member. Allowing ADF personnel to march

in uniform at Mardi Gras was a very strong,

visible statement that the ADF is open to all

Australians.

Recognising the significance of the occasion,

the Australian War Memorial also captured

images and interviews from the event to

be included in the War Memorial’s National

Collection as an historic record.

“At its heart, Pathway to Change is about respect and behaviours – towards Defence and its institutions and, critically, toward each other. Simply put, we must be just, inclusive and fair-minded.”

ADF personnel march in the Mardi Gras for the first time as a uniformed contingent.Photo: Able Seaman Dove Smithett

Defence6 7

Issue 1 2013

DefenceIssue 1 2013

COLUMNChief of Defence Force’s

ADF personnel now have access to 10 carer’s leave days each year, providing more flexibility for people to meet their family commitments. Above, Hayley and Chelsea await the arrival of their dad, Leading Seaman Brad Sharman, of HMAS Anzac, at Garden Island in Sydney after the ship’s six-month operational deployment.Photo: Able Seaman Dove Smithett

ADF carer’s leave improvements

Your say does really matterTHE YourSay: Defence Organisational Climate Research

survey launched on February 8 invites a random selection

of people from across Defence to share their experiences

and opinions about a range of work-related issues.

YourSay is one initiative from the recently rebranded

Directorate of Strategic People Research, formerly the

Directorate of Strategic Personnel and Policy Research.

The Directorate’s mission is to enable Defence capability

through the provision of accessible, timely and reliable

strategic people research.

The information produced by the team will help leaders

understand the needs of their people and improve,

develop and implement policies and programs that

enhance working life in Defence. YourSay will result in the

collection of a broad range of new information including

that related to organisational culture and diversity.

The survey will be conducted four times a year to a

randomly selected sample of at least 10 per cent of the

Defence workforce. Throughout 2013, close to half of all

Australian Public Service and Australian Defence Force

members will have an opportunity to be involved in the

research.

The insights from YourSay will be made available in

a variety of ways. Extracts of key findings from the

YourSay database will be reproduced in various Defence

publications.

Regular summarised data and reports (most of which will

appear on the Directorate of Strategic People Research

website) will be available.

YourSay research is voluntary and all those invited are

encouraged to have a say. Once results are collated a

summary of findings will be sent to invitees and will feature

on the Defence People Group webpage.

For further information, email People.Research@Defence.gov.au or direct specific YourSay queries to Your.Say@defence.gov.au

RECENT changes to Australian Defence Force

carer’s leave mean personnel can now access

10 carer’s leave days each year, rather than five.

There is also new provision for an additional two

days’ leave in unexpected emergencies involving

direct family members.

The changes took effect on December 1 last year.

The Deputy Secretary Defence People Group,

Carmel McGregor, says the changes are another

way Defence is providing more flexibility for

serving men and women in meeting their family

commitments.

“I am proud of what the Defence People Group

team, working with the Services, have achieved

in making this change happen and know that it is

a valuable addition to meeting the needs of our

serving members,” Carmel says.

She says the improvements also support

Defence’s Pathway to Change strategy for cultural

change.

Further information regarding the carer’s leave changes can be found at http://www.defence.gov.au/DPE/PAC

Graduate portal launchedFIFTY-FOUR members of the 2013 Defence Graduate

Program have started their Defence careers, with the

majority moving from interstate to Canberra to participate

in the program.

Defence has also launched the Defence Graduate Portal,

which consolidates information on graduate programs

across the Department with a search function to match

the interests or education of candidates to relevant job

streams.

The Head of People Policy and Culture, Richard Oliver,

says the graduate programs are popular because of the

training and work opportunities they provide.

“These young professionals are given exceptional training

covering a wide range of skills from departmental and

ministerial writing through to strategic policy to help them

progress with their careers in Defence,” Richard says.

“Because of Defence’s size and complexity, the

opportunities for varied work is often better in Defence

than elsewhere in the Australian Public Service.”

More than 60 graduates attended a ceremony on

November 30 to mark the completion of the 2012

Defence Graduate Program and celebrate their transition

to permanent Defence employees.

The graduates had the chance to participate in senior

officer briefings throughout the 10-month program as a

key component of their training and development.

More information is available on the Defence Graduate Portal at http://www.defence.gov.au/graduates

BROADENING HORIZONS

Last year five Defence graduates had the opportunity to participate in the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) Graduate Development Program and work together on a major project.

Sue Aji, Ben Carroll, Laura Fairbourn, Michael Lago and Jonathan McNeill were nominated as finalists for Major Project Outstanding Achievement Award by the APSC.

Their project outlined the strategic recruitment challenges within Defence and provided key recommendations to revise current applicant assessment methods that might speed up the recruitment process.

Hundreds of names to consider

A graduate settles into his new role in Defence.

A DEFENCE-WIDE competition to name the new

system to replace PMKeys, ADFpay and other people

management systems has attracted about 500 entries.

The new system consolidates Australian Defence Force

and Australian Public Service HR business requirements

and stabilises and modernises Defence’s HR systems.

The First Assistant Secretary HR Development within the

Chief Information Officer Group, Craig Pandy, says the

new system will roll out during the next three years.

The best 10 entries in the competition, which closed on

April 12, will be chosen by the Group and made available

on the CIOG intranet before being presented to the

Human Resource Development Board to choose the

winning name.

9DefenceIssue 1 2013

Defence 8Issue 1 2013

SHORTSNews

Defence 10Issue 1 2013

11 DefenceIssue 1 2013

AS THE 2013 recipient of the Secretary of Defence’s

Fellowship, Dr Elizabeth Thomson is going to paint a

picture of Defence language and culture. However,

the finished product won’t adorn the walls of the

National Gallery – it will be a word picture on paper.

Elizabeth will spend a year researching language,

diversity and social inclusion in the Australian

Defence organisation. Her work will address the

topic nominated by the Secretary, ‘Representing

the community we serve – Diversity in the Defence

workforce: How do we make an impact now?’.

Elizabeth feels “incredibly privileged” to be given

the opportunity to do the research and hopes that

her findings will inform a language strategy of social

inclusion in Defence.

The paper, entitled ‘Understanding Australian

Defence Organisation culture, identities and patterns

of language: Respecting and growing diversity in

the workforce’ is due to be released in early 2014. It

will present Defence with a greater understanding of

its culture, identities and patterns of language. It will

also delve into how Defence respects and promotes

diversity in its workforce.

Elizabeth is taking a sociolinguistic approach to

understanding Defence culture. This approach

employs social theory and linguistic theory to

investigate the relationship between language use,

social behaviour and culture. It demonstrates how

language use is a form of social behaviour and how it

can impact on cultural and situational contexts. This

approach will complement previous organisational

studies on culture and diversity.

Formerly the Director of Studies at the Defence

Force School of Languages (DFSL) in Melbourne,

Elizabeth will spend a year as a full-time researcher

with the Defence Learning Branch (DLB) in Canberra.

DFSL and DLB are both part of the Australian

Defence College, which sits in the Vice Chief of the

Defence Force Group.

Elizabeth has spent more than four years working

in a culturally diverse workplace at DFSL. Her time

there has provided her with an insight into the

benefits of social inclusion.

She intends to focus on the language of leadership

and recruitment, and the adaptive language

strategies of long-serving members from diverse

backgrounds.

“The language of leadership is a really important way

of imparting a shared, organisational identity. The

language of recruiting offers potential new recruits a

valuable first impression of the organisation and what

they can expect,” she says.

“Long-term serving members have a wealth of

knowledge and experience in language use for social

adaption and inclusion.

“It’s important for people who will be involved in the

research to know that it will be an approved study, all

completely confidential and anonymous.

“Being more diverse, or socially inclusive, is

understood to produce a better organisation that is

more adaptive, more innovative, more productive

and is better able to respond to globalisation, yet

also has different ways of doing things.

“For that reason, there is a desire to be more diverse

and senior leadership has known that for some time,

but changing things is a challenge.”

Understanding

our languageThe work of the 2013 Secretary of Defence Fellow will be a talking point as it explores

links between language, behaviour and social inclusion.

As such, Elizabeth’s work plays an important role in

Defence’s cultural reform program.

She was personally presented with her certificate

by the Secretary, Dennis Richardson, and his

support of this research is indicative of Defence’s

commitment to bring about cultural reform under

the Pathway to Change: Evolving Defence Culture

strategy. Elizabeth will have regular meetings with

the Secretary throughout her fellowship.

“I think it says a lot about Defence. By taking

the time to understand itself from a range of

perspectives including a language perspective,

Defence leadership will have a fuller, richer picture of

the issue. I see a lot of good in an organisation that

really wants to understand itself like this,” Elizabeth

says.

In painting this picture of Defence, she hopes to

contribute to positive cultural change.

“Defence senior leadership want their organisation

to be more diverse, more culturally rich. My interests

and my heart are in this work, so I feel delighted to

be spending my time on this,” she says.

RESEARCH PROJECT’S THREE PARTS

l Looking at how Defence tells its story. What is its identity as an organisation? How is this identity expressed in the written and spoken language of leadership? Material will be open-sourced from Defence speeches, websites and media releases that reflect organisational identity.

l Looking at the way people use language to bond with each other. This will involve looking at places where inclusive language is used, such as interviews of potential new members.

l Looking at how members from a diverse range of backgrounds identify and affiliate with Defence. How have they adapted to the organisation throughout their careers. Do they have strategies and what language do they use to be part of the group?

Cover

By Michael Weaver

“Being more diverse, or socially inclusive, is understood to produce a better organisation ...”– Dr Elizabeth Thomson, 2013 Secretary of Defence Fellow

STORY

Secretary of Defence Dennis Richardson

awards Dr Elizabeth Thomson the 2013

Secretary of Defence Fellowship.

Photo: Lauren Black

THE Deputy Secretary Defence People Group,

Carmel McGregor, was honoured with the Public

Service Medal in the 2013 Australia Day Honours

alongside the former Deputy Secretary Strategy

and now Executive Director with the Australian

Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Peter Jennings.

The First Assistant Secretary Ministerial and

Executive Coordination and Communication

Division, Rachel Noble, was also recognised for her

previous work as Australia’s first National Security

Chief Information Officer in the Department of the

Prime Minister and Cabinet.

A self-confessed “public service tragic”, Carmel

says she is humbled by the award that recognises

her outstanding public service to employment

pathways for women in Defence and the reform of

Government administration.

“We always just toil away and hope what we

have done makes a difference. This is wonderful

recognition that some of what I have done is

viewed as having made that difference,” she says.

“I am proud to be a long-standing public servant

and have had the privilege to contribute to really

important pieces of public policy and delivery

throughout my career.”

She says the two issues have a common theme of

being a platform for reform and keeping pace with

the workforce needed for the future.

“We are one of the best public services in the

world, yet we don’t rest on our laurels or take

it for granted, so being involved in a review of

Government administration that looked at how we

could continue to evolve and keep ahead of the

game was a really wonderful opportunity.”

Having advocated greater opportunities for women

in Defence, Carmel also has some advice to inspire

her female colleagues.

“Have confidence in yourself, challenge the

stereotypes and boundaries that need to be

challenged. Develop networks and give and find

support for others,”she says.

“Once you have pushed the window open and

climbed through, reach back and pull someone

through it with you. Get involved in something

important. Be true to yourself.”

Peter Jennings is no longer traversing the hallways

of Defence on a daily basis, but he still has an

enormous affection for the organisation after being

recognised for the development of Australia’s

strategic and defence policy, particularly in the

areas of operations in Timor-Leste, Iraq and

Afghanistan.

He says a tougher edge will be required in the

emerging Asia-Pacific area and that Australia

will have to work harder to ensure it has a say in

regional security affairs.

“We need to manage the very challenging budget

situation while at the same time respond to a

growing array of strategic problems,” Peter says.

“Repositioning post-Afghanistan into a posture

supporting deeper defence engagement in our

region, and responding to cyber demands both

nationally and for the Australian Defence Force’s

needs, are also important strategic issues facing

Defence.”

His focus is now on strategic issues at ASPI,

however he says he really admires the commitment

of the civilian and Service people in the

organisation.

So does he think he will return to Defence?

“You just never, never know,” he says.

Three people associated with Defence were among 49 recipients of the Public Service

Medal in the 2013 Australia Day Honours.

Excellence honoured

By Michael Weaver

“We are one of the best public services in the world, yet we don’t rest on our laurels or take it for granted, so being involved in a review of Government administration that looked at how we could continue to evolve and keep ahead of the game was a really wonderful opportunity.”

– Carmel McGregor, Deputy Secretary Defence

People Group

Carmel McGregor

Peter Jennings

THE CITATIONS

CARMEL MCGREGOR For outstanding public service through administrative reforms including a crucial role in leading ‘The Review of Employment Pathways for APS Women in the Department of Defence’ and significant contribution in the development of the Reform of Australian Government Administration ‘The Blueprint’.

As the Deputy Public Service Commissioner, Ms McGregor developed

a repositioning agenda for the Commission which was accepted

by Government to lead the Australian Public Service (APS) reform.

This entailed a commitment to an APS wide human capital strategy,

organisational capability reviews, citizen survey, talent management

centre and enhanced workforce planning. Ms McGregor has also led

a number of high profile reviews into the Senior Executive Service, the

APS wide Enterprise Bargaining Implementation and, at the request

of the Minister and Secretary for the Department of Defence, a

review into the performance and treatment of women in the Defence

organisation, resulting in the publication of The Review of Employment

Pathways for APS Women in the Department of Defence. Since joining

the Department of Defence as Deputy Secretary Defence People

Group in March 2012, Ms McGregor has made significant inroads

into the development and implementation of programs to address the

representation and progression of women in the Defence APS.

PETER JENNINGS For outstanding public service through the development of Australia’s strategic and defence policy, particularly in the areas of Australian Defence Force operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Jennings has led innovative policy development in support of

Australia’s bilateral defence relationships with Papua New Guinea, New

Zealand and Singapore. He has also made a major contribution to the

development of the Australia-United States alliance in cyber and space

policy and development of Australia’s response to the US Global Force

Posture Review. His approach to the development of the 2000 Defence

Review was particularly effective, with his process being replicated for

the 2009 White Paper, and by other Government agencies seeking best

practice policy development.

RACHEL NOBLE For outstanding public service as Australia’s National Security Chief Information Officer.

Ms Noble was appointed as Australia’s first National Security Chief

Information Officer (NSCIO) in the Department of the Prime Minister and

Cabinet (PM&C) in April 2009. The position was created as an outcome

of the Government’s Review of Homeland and Border Security, with

a mandate to break down legislative, technical and cultural barriers to

information sharing within and between governments and the private

sector. Ms Noble was subsequently given the added responsibility

of coordinating cyber policy across the Australian Government. From

September 2011 to her departure from PM&C in April 2012, Ms Noble

acted as the Deputy National Security Adviser while also retaining close

oversight of the NSCIO and cyber policy coordination work.

AWARDS

Defence12

Issue 1 2013 13DefenceIssue 7 2012

Australia Day Achievement Medallions acknowledge the outstanding contributions and performance of public sector staff each year. Defence talks to one 2013 recipient.

caption

By Aurora Daniels

Exporting

high achieversWHEN working in a team of only three people to bring a

20-year-old IT system up to date and work new laws into

an old framework in a few short months, what keeps you

going in those 10-hour days in the office?

Chocolate and a sense of humour of course, says

Louanne Holmback-Piggott, who along with her team

members received an Australia Day Achievement

Medallion for their work in the Defence Export Control

Office (DECO).

“I would never have gotten through without Leonard’s Tim

Tams. They made it all worthwhile,” she laughs.

Louanne, Leonard Wills and Karen Bell are set to change

the lives of many exporters and the team’s DECO

colleagues.

“Defence actually administers parts of the Customs Act on

behalf of Customs, which is something many people don’t

know about the Department,” Louanne explains.

“Firearms, parts of planes, some chemicals, encrypted

radios … and not just products for use in Defence either.

“In the past, if an exporter provided a list three pages long

of products to be exported from Australia as part of their

application, then DECO staff had to type it all in by hand.

We have been running on a paper system up until now.”

Moving to forms being emailed into the system directly is

leaps and bounds ahead and brings the area on par with

other industries.

DECO is implementing additional controls, which until now

have not been looked at in Australia and are hard to define.

“With the new Defence Trade Controls Act 2012, we will

be controlling intangible information, such as emails and

faxes involving intellectual property. We have also added

in brokering and brokers which are often not located in

Australia, which can add other issues,” Louanne says.

“It was a phenomenal task to overhaul the whole system

and it was much overdue,” Louanne says. “It has been a

very constructive working partnership with CIO Group to

get the first phase of the new system defined.”

Louanne is still working with Leonard and Karen on

finalising the Tiger Team’s efforts as they step into phase

two, which will be rolled out by the middle of this year.

She has enjoyed every minute since she resumed her

career with Defence as an APS3 six years ago.

“My husband Ian was in the Army so I followed his career

for 10 years while I was a mum to my three children. I

actually worked for Bunnings looking after 11 stores for

eight years before I decided I missed Defence. I had been

working with DSD when I met Ian,” Louanne recalls.

“The idea was just to sit at APS3 and get told what to do,

but I guess I’m just not that sort of person,” she laughs.

“I loved working in DECO so when I was asked to take

on the Tiger Team it was a big decision for me. I thought

it was an important job and I was told I could pick my

people. Karen has the history in the area, I had the

procedural knowledge and Leonard took on the IT side of

things – so I decided to take the plunge.”

Husband Ian is glad his wife’s long hours have paid off.

“She works very hard and is very smart. It didn’t really

shock me that she received this medallion because she

does deserve it. What I admire most about Louanne is

how quickly she makes friends and they stay friends for a

very long time. She is very caring about her staff too,” he

says.

Louanne says it is thanks to Leonard and Karen that the

team received recognition for their work.

“We all pulled some very long hours, especially Leonard. I

am proud of the contribution we’ve made. DECO and the

Tiger Team made it an absolute pleasure,” she says.

“This is my first award from Defence and it is really lovely

to have had our work noticed, although we don’t expect a

pat on the back.

“As long as Defence industry notices and tracking exports

are easier, then it will all be well worth it.”

The full list of Defence recipients of 2013 Australia Day Medallions is on page 16.

OFFICE ISIN CONTROL

THE Department of Defence is responsible for administering controls on the export of defence and dual-use goods, and the granting of authorisations to export, in the form of permits and licenses. Within Defence, this role is done by the Defence Export Control Office (DECO).

DECO’s mission is to ensure Australia exports responsibly by:

l  Providing advice on the control status of goods

l  Issuing permits and licences for the export of controlled defence and dual use goods

l  Authorising end-user and non-transfer certificates for the import of controlled defence and dual-use goods

l  Providing assistance with re-transfer approvals for foreign-sourced defence items

l  Delivering outreach programs to assist exporters in meeting their obligations under the relevant regulations and legislation

l  Contributing to Australia’s international efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction through participation in multilateral non-proliferation and export control regimes.

“The idea was to just sit at APS3 and get told what to do, but I guess I’m not that sort of person.”

– Louanne Holmback-Piggott, Defence Export

Control Office Tiger Team leader

15 DefenceIssue 1 2013

Leonard Wills and Karen Bell were on Louanne Holmback-Piggott’s DECO Tiger Team and also received Australia Day Medallions. Photos: Lauren Black

AWARDS

Defence14

Issue 1 2013

Serving them

right The Head of the Australian Public Service Commission, Stephen Sedgwick, recently

spoke to Defence about his agenda for 2013 and how the public service needs to

transform if it wants to be at the vanguard of policy making in a changing world.

By Jehane Sharah

THE Australian Public Service Commissioner, Stephen Sedgwick, forecasts a challenging period ahead.

The Commissioner warns that the Australian Public Service will have to adapt in response to socioeconomic and geopolitical shifts under way, saying that these will require new ways of thinking just as much as they will demand adjustments to process.

He points to an ageing population and workforce, as well as structural changes to the economy and a tightening fiscal environment as key challenges that public administrators face. Moreover, he says citizens are increasingly demanding more of Government and the Public Service.

“As needs change over time, the Public Service will need to change and adapt as well, and in doing that respond to greater expectations of our citizens of our transparency, about the efficiency of what we do, the relevance of what we do and our capacity to always to be ahead of the game,” Stephen says.

A prominent item on the Commissioner’s agenda for 2013 is a push for the Public Service to become more future-oriented, something he says is more “instinctive” for Defence than it is for many other agencies.

He says while the Public Service excels at responding to Government demands, it needs to improve its capacity to plan ahead and chart its way forward.

“We’ve got a very strong service culture across the Public Service; we’re quite responsive – we can deliver virtually anything the day before yesterday,” he says.

“But we can also be quite reactive. We’re trying to get people to also accept that their day job is

to think: ‘what will be coming down the track?’

and to build capability to deal with that”

In line with the geopolitical shift towards Asia, he

says public servants must become more attuned

to the cultures and politics of countries in the

region.

“Our economy and our society are going through

major changes as Australia’s place in the world

is changing,” he says. “There’s a need for us as

a society, but in particular our Public Service, to

have a much deeper and broader understanding

of what drives the major economies and

societies of Asia; and for many of us that’s not

been instinctive.”

Chief of the Defence ForceSteven Newsome

Secretary of DefenceAmanda Ongania

Office of the Secretary and Chief and the Defence ForceLTCOL Harry Dempsey, Karen Bell, Louanne Holmback-Piggott and

Leonard Wills

Joint Operations CommandLEUT Troy Baird, FSGT Bradley Crockett and WO2 Mark Lang

Vice Chief of the Defence ForceWalter Anitdormi, Brett Daley, Joshua Davies, Katrina Edwards,

Gregory Ernst, Jennifer Fordyce, Linda Jelfs, Christopher McCabe,

John Meyles, MAJ Andrew Moss, Marena van Eyk and John Wade

NavyLS Hannah-Shamayel Amigh, LEUT Richard Bisset, CPO Victoria

Brading, LS Lee Carmont, AB Tristan Cocks, PO J’arne Dance,

PO Garry Fearns, LS Liam Fitzgerald, LS Amanda Garstin, LS Kate

Greenwood, CPO Nicole Grundy, PO Danny Haber, PO Troy Hartas,

LS David Harvey, LS Zane Hayes, AB Joel Heit, LS Carolyn Hite,

Valerie Hogston, PO Mark Hollingsworth, LEUT James Kelly, CPO

Brendan la Fontaine, LS Nataleen Lockyer, LEUT Kane Mackey, AB

Joel Maxwell, CPO Brett Meldrum, CMDR Anthony Miskelly, LS Ross

Mitchell, AB Matthew Murphy, Dorothea O’Conor, AB Emily Porritt,

SBLT Michelle Rayner, PO Jason Richardson, Steven Ridley, LEUT

Lloyd Rowe, Kathleen Swanson, AB Jason Thomsen, WO Robert

van Eldik, PO John Walter, LS Michael Watkins and LS Ryan Wilton

ArmyWO2 Daryl Alderton, LCPL Batholomew

Arundell, SGT Rebecca Baker, SGT Kevin

Batiste, LCPL Christopher Bond, CPL

Damien Cannizzaro, CPL Michael Cantrell,

CPL Dianne Cefai, Brett Cooper, 2LT

Karen Davey, SPR Shane Derwent, SGT

Vincent Donlon, PTE Simon Elgie, CPL

Julian Foale, BDR Corey Freckleton,

Paul Furness, Rebecca Gaskin, SGT

Kapua Gutchen, CAPT (AAC) David

Hill, SGT Dale Hodges, PTE Keiran

Jarvinen, PTE Aaron Johnston, CPL

Lance Keighran, LCPL Steven Love, SGT

Melissa Lucas, SGT Samantha Lund,

WO2 Gregory Maher, MAJ (AAC) Trevor

Matthews, Amanda McEvoy, WO2 Michael

McLennan, CAPT Brian Mills, SGT Ian

Mirfield, LCPL Luke Moran, LTCOL (AAC)

Richard Morgan, WO2 Virginia Morris,

PTE Emma Moseley, SIG Benjamin

Murphy, WO2 Guy Musgrove, Denise

Nixon, Carmen O’Keefe, Suzanne O’Shea,

LCPL Errol Parsons, CAPT (AAC) Eric Percival, Melissa Perrin, SGT

Daniel Phillpott, WO2 Darryl Rice, SPR Ben Adam Richardson,

Sarah Riordan, LCPL Benham Roberts, CPL Ronald Round, CFN

William Sefton, CPL Peta Siggers, Daniel Silk, Tanya Small, Graham

Sproule, Jeanette Stafford, Bradley Standford, CPL Colin Stocker,

WO2 Kirstin Tanner, WO2 Matthew Tanner, PTE Brian Thomas, CPL

Kathryn Toogood, PTE Gareth Toon, CPL Anthony van Andel, CPL

Jessica van Beek, CPL Peter Wagels, Dariel Walker, CHAP Bradley

Watson, PTE Toby Williams and CPL Kate Young

Air ForceACW Taylor Allix, WOFF Brynley Bell, FLTLT Paul Bowler, CPL Sean

Campbell, LAC Stephen Collison, SGT Paul Denley, SGT Scott

Duncan, John Duncombe, WO2 Anthony Eddie, FSGT (AAFC)

Sheryl English, SGT Steven Fechner, CPL Paul Fletcher, FLGOFF

(AAFC) Brian Fossati, LACW Melissa Gray, FSGT Andrew Halloran,

CPL Deborah Harris, FSGT Michael Hartley, CPL Kylie Higgs,

FLTLT Brenden Hobbs, CPL David Hockey, FLTLT James Hutchins,

SQNLDR Darrell Johnson, SGT Andrew Kleef, CPL Phillip Lavender,

Mandy Lewis, FSGT Vicki Lousick, Sarah Manuel, FLTLT Paul Martin,

CPL Adrian Moore, SQNLDR Gary Mott, LACW Abigail Murray,

CPL Nathan Organ, FSGT Scott Presneill, SGT Michael Repacholi,

SQNLDR (AAFC) Laurence Rice, FSGT Debbie Robertson, FSGT

David Roney, FSGT Wade Shipway, CPL Jenna Spinella, SGT

Matthew Thurling, Leigh Watson, FLTLT Raymond Werndly, Amanda

Williams, CPL Benjamin Woods and CPL Lachlan Wray

Chief Operating OfficerMalcolm Basaure, WO2 Robert Chandler, Belinda Cooper, Theresa

Coxon, Shane Dare, Stephen Dent, Mark Gannon, David Gilmour,

Joanne Hunter, Adam Kalman, Lindsay Kranz, Sarah Lacey, Janice

Law, Kim Mallett, James McLachlan, Sriravi Ooruthiran, Lisa Phelps,

Neil Phillips, Pamela Sherpa, Kathryn Shields, Daniel Smith, Jennifer

Smith, Philip Walker, Brian Wallace and Kevin Woods

Defence Materiel OrganisationTim Barthelson, Peter Boraso, Andrew Cini, John Cowan, Rodney

Cumming, Walter Daly, WGCDR Kevin Durant, Pamela Fitzgerald,

Raymond Forster, Natalia Goloborodko, Alyse Hague, SQNLDR

Stephen Jones, Gregory Moore, Steven Mullens, Mark Nolan,

James Podmore, Russell Poore, Yvonne Sacco, Noel Sargent, Mark

Spratling, Michael Stewart, Donna Tucker and Margaret Vandenberg

Intelligence and SecurityAndrew Bone, Tim Burmeister, CPO David Chadwick, Eloise Clare,

Byron Higginbotham, Norman Jones and Melissa McKenna.

Defence Science and Technology OrganisationDR Brian Craig, Hans Evertz, Michael Footner, Rebecca Heyer, DR

Monique Kardos, Rhys Lehmann, Brett Northey and Ihor Zahorujko

Recognition for a

job well done

The Australian Public Service Commissioner, Stephen Sedgwick.Photo: David McClenaghan

AWARDS

AUSTRALIA DAY MEDALLIONSWhether for outstand-ing performance of core duties or for work on special projects, Austra-lia Day Medallions are reserved for the highest level of recognition, ac-cording to Fiona Dolan, program manager at the National Australia Day Council.

“It is a particularly special way of recognis-ing staff contribution to Australia. Many projects, large and small, impact our nation every day,” she says.

“Some of these projects and the people who un-dertake them are promi-nent and receive public recognition. Yet there are many others who make a national contribution at a less-visible level.”

SERV ICEPublic

17DefenceIssue 1 2013

Defence16

Issue 1 2013

The Australian Public Service Commissioner, Stephen Sedgwick, praises Defence for its willingness to share expertise.Photo: David McClenaghan

19 DefenceIssue 1 2013

Much of the Commission’s agenda over the past two

years has been influenced by the Blueprint for Reform

of Australian Government Administration – a reform

agenda designed to strengthen the Public Service –

and a lot of that work will come to fruition over the next

12 months.

A key innovation will be amendments to the APS

values, now before the Senate, that will see the

current 15 principles of good public administration

condensed into five: impartial, committed to service,

accountable, respectful and ethical.

The Commissioner says while public servants are

personally accountable for upholding the 15 values,

many struggle to remember them, and that simplifying

them is a solution to this problem.

The Australian Public Service Commission will also

start running an annual employee census – part of

its reporting obligations as part of the State of the

Service report – and will share the detailed results with

agencies, saving $4 million a year across the Public

Service.

Much has changed in the decades since Stephen first

joined the Public Service in the early 1970s.

Stephen says the Public Service is no longer the

monoculture it once was, but a top item on his agenda

for 2013 is a push for greater workforce diversity.

He wants to see more done to promote diversity and

is particularly concerned by figures that show that

across the Public Service recruitment of indigenous

Australians and disabled people is going backwards.

He would also like to see more women promoted to

SES roles, noting that while women make up over half

the Public Service overall, their representation in senior

executive roles is less than 40 per cent.

Other human resources challenges include the need

to maintain recruitment of younger people to ensure a

generationally balanced workforce, given the ageing

population.

“Skills and technical competence are important but

it’s also the capacity to accept that there will be times

when you’ll need to put together teams that value

difference, with different perspectives in the sense of

disciplinary backgrounds and experiences, in order to

get a holistic, well-rounded understanding of what the

problem is, and then you can work out what some of

the solutions are,” he says.

“It’s the importance of being able to bring different

perspectives to bear. It goes back to why there’s a

reemphasis of the diversity of workforce, not just in

terms of gender and ethnicity, but to try and make sure

we’ve got a range of different skills and perspectives

either across departments or in departments so we’re

always open to fresh understandings.”

The Commissioner is also keen to promote

collaboration between agencies and help facilitate

more efficient ways for them to achieve better

outcomes.

He says the Commission is working on initiatives

to improve the sharing of best practice and reduce

the costs borne by agencies trying to pursue better

outcomes.

“One of our enduring realities for quite some time to

come is that the budget pressures aren’t going to go

away,” he says.

He praises Defence for its willingness to share its

expertise.

“Some agencies are less well attuned to strategic

planning, workforce planning and capability

development for example than agencies like Defence

are,” he says.

“We’re very grateful that Defence is willing to share

its expertise. Not everyone operates at the scale

and complexity of Defence – the systems that work

for Defence won’t necessarily work for some of the

smaller employers – but some of the thinking behind

work of that kind is quite readily shared and we’re

finding there’s a willing audience.”

He says there is a shifting view among politicians

about the role of the Public Service and that many

now feel it should play a more active role in identifying

what the Government’s agenda should be.

“I’m seeing a switch back to recognising that delivering

on the agenda of the Government of the day is the

day job but also accepting that part of that day job is

to be forward looking, to be future oriented, and to be

thoughtful and to be an active partner in contributing to

that agenda.

“Individual Ministers and individual Governments are

going to have different views and different preferences

in that space.

“The critical thing for the Public Service is that we’ve

got the capability to be able respond to whatever view

of that matter the Minister may have from time to time,

because we are an enduring institution and we need

to be able to adapt and respond to different styles at

different times of our life.”

“As needs change over time, the Public Service will adapt to respond to greater expectations of our citizens of our transparency, about the efficiency of what we do, the relevance of what we do and our capacity to always to be ahead of the game.”

– Stephen Sedgwick, Australian Public

Service Commissioner

Defence 18Issue 1 2013

DAVID Irvine leads one of the least known organisa-

tions you’ve actually heard of. Before the 1970s, few

outside the Australian Security Intelligence Organisa-

tion (ASIO) even knew it existed. While the need for

secrecy hasn’t changed much since the 1970s, the

agency’s work has changed dramatically, with the

emergence of cyber security demanding the attention

of ASIO and its security partners.

“We have become so dependent upon the internet for

our daily lives that we’ve created another form of vul-

nerability that we need to mitigate,” David says.

“That vulnerability could occur in the command and

control systems of military forces, it could occur in the

emergency response mechanisms of governments, it

could occur in the financial transactions being con-

ducted every day.”

In response to cyber risks, Prime Minister Julia Gillard

announced the National Security Strategy in January,

and identified a new Australian Cyber Security Centre

(ACSC) to enhance the defence of Australia’s digital

networks. ACSC will have representation from across

Government, including the Cyber Security Operations

Centre (CSOC) in the Defence Signals Directorate

(DSD), the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) and

ASIO’s Cyber Espionage Branch.

David says effectively leveraging the capability with-

in other intelligence agencies in this way will help to

manage the risks.

“In terms of national security information it’s essential

that the technical expertise of DSD and the counter-

espionage expertise of ASIO is brought to bear.”

ACSC will locate the Government’s most sophisticated

cyber security capabilities in one facility by the end of

2013 to ensure a fast and effective response to cyber

incidents.

ACSC will see ASIO build on existing partnerships with

other security and intelligence agencies, David says.

The establishment of CSOC in 2010 by the then Minis-

ter for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, has proven the

benefits of greater collaboration within Government.

“ASIO is an active participant and member of CSOC,

the joint Defence-ASIO-AFP-Attorney-General’s

Department unit which is actively working to protect

cyber systems both within the Government and, where

possible, externally to Government,” David says.

“We are excited to see this concept expanded through

the National Security Strategy later this year as part of

the new ACSC.

“It is a very good example of the way in which the

counter-espionage capability, the technical cyber

capability and law enforcement capabilities have been

brought together to address a particular issue that has

arisen with the advent of the IT world and IT intercon-

nectivity.”

Defence and ASIO have both felt the effects of cyber

attacks. Last August, hacktivists opposing national

security legislation reforms named ASIO and DSD as

targets in a campaign of malicious cyber activity. Last

November, a hacker stole records from the UNSW@

ADFA website including the personal information of

cadets and staff.

While no national security information was compro-

mised in these incidents, intrusions have been reported

on other Government networks, including Parliament

House. In 2012, there were 1790 cyber security inci-

dents identified or reported to the CSOC and 685 of

these incidents were considered serious enough to

require a CSOC response.

By Adam Wilson

As a central player in the Australian intelligence community, Defence works closely with

the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other Government agencies. ASIO

Director-General David Irvine speaks with Defence about the relationship.

Cyber-smart

cooperation The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Director-General, David Irvine.

21DefenceIssue 1 2013

Defence20

Issue 1 2013

SECUR IT Y

David says cyber defence and cyber hygiene have to

become an integral part of our IT mindset, and that

mindset applies equally to both the public and private

sectors.

“The private sector is facing similar problems in

terms of protecting potentially sensitive information

from organised crime, hacktivists and other threats.

I think there is a significant potential, which is being

worked on, to enable the Government cyber security

expertise to work with the private sector cyber security

expertise,” David says.

He says DSD has assisted by developing a list of cyber

hygiene measures to help protect ICT systems.

“If you take even the first four of those steps, you will

significantly increase your levels of protection against

hackers and people who want to embed malicious

software into your systems.”

The collaboration extends beyond cyber security into

the broader realm of intelligence, national security and

counter-terrorism.

“One of ASIO’s principal tasks and focal points of

operational activity has been in protecting Australians

from terrorist acts, particularly at home,” David says.

“At least four – possibly more – mass casualty attacks

have been prevented in Australia in the last seven or

eight years, and that’s very important.

“While ASIO has responsibilities in countering

terrorism, espionage and sabotage, in fulfilling those

responsibilities we share a lot of the capability with our

Defence colleagues.

“We would also regard DSD and DIGO as key partners

in the national effort.

“We work together on a number of intelligence

priorities where one can contribute to the ability

of the other to meet those priorities. We don’t go

into lots of detail for obvious reasons, but that is

happening all the time.”

Those relationships are so close that both staff and

information are shared between agencies in ways

that you might not expect to see between other parts

of Government.

“We exchange personnel, we second personnel

backwards and forwards. We are constantly

exchanging information and we’re constantly looking

at issues in ways in which we can help each other

solve them,” David says.

Another area of clear partnership is in personnel

security.

“There is a natural affinity and natural

interdependence between the Australian

Government Security Vetting Agency, which is

part of Defence, and ASIO as partners in assisting

Government in personnel security,” David says.

The decision to locate the new ASIO building in

the Russell precinct close to R6 and continue the

proximity of ASIO and Defence personnel should

help to maintain the close relationship between the

two organisations.

“We are looking forward to moving. The new, modern

and green building will enable us to bring our staff

together into one headquarters in a way that we have

not been able to do for a long time,” David says.

“We’re very excited about the new building and we’re

pleased that it is close to our Defence partners,

and we enjoy being, in a sense, part of the Defence

complex.”

COUNTERING THECYBER THREAT

THESE strategies are expected to be mandated across Government in 2013:

l  Application whitelisting (only allowing specifically selected programs and software libraries to be executed)

l  Patching applications

l  Patching operating systems

l  Restricting administrative privileges

Last year, there were 1790 cyber security incidents identified or reported to the Cyber Security Operations Centre and 685 of these incidents were considered serious enough to require a response.

The new Australian Security Intelligence Organisation building. ASIO Director-General David Irvine is pleased the building is part of the Defence complex.

Base security is being ramped up around

Australia as the last of the 33 Defence

Protective Security Arrangements Review

recommendations are implemented

Is your workplace a

safe base?

ALL but two of the 33 recommendations made in the Review of Defence Protective Security Arrangements have been completed, and work on those outstanding is well under way. The Director General Base and Customer Support Services, Commodore Jaimie Hatcher, says implementing some of the more complex and wide-reaching elements of the Base Security Improvement Program (BSIP) has been challenging.

He says security threats have not diminished since 2009, when the Prime Minister announced a review into Defence’s protective security after the arrest of individuals planning an attack on Holsworthy Army Barracks.

The BSIP improves procedural and physical measures through plans, emergency procedures and base security culture to protect Defence personnel.

“There are some legislative changes that are complicated in terms of allocating powers to various people and confirming certain elements of common law. That’s one challenge – getting the governance in place to be able to execute and exercise the sorts of powers to achieve enhanced base security,” Jaimie says.

One of the other remaining recommendations relates to identification, search and seizure powers and requires new laws to be passed by Parliament before it can be fully implemented. Phase one of this initiative has commenced at Holsworthy Barracks and allows Australian Federal Police to conduct searches of vehicles and visitors to detect and deter the illegal

movement of dangerous items. Phases two and three – expected to be implemented in April 2014 following the

passage of two separate legislative instruments – will see contract security guards, as well as

Australian Defence Force and Australian Public Service personnel given similar

powers.

“The command on the base and the senior base support staff

will determine who’s going to do the searches. It won’t

be everybody, it will be a select group of people.”

By Jehane Sharah

The Director General Base and Customer Support Services, Commodore Jaimie Hatcher. Photo: Lauren Black

23DefenceIssue 1 2013

Defence22

Issue 1 2013

25DefenceIssue 7 2012

THOUSANDS of staff fled office buildings as they sought safe refuge from gas leaks springing up around their precinct. Australian Federal Police closed roads while emergency and municipal services kept watchful eyes on the crisis.

The whole-of-base evacuation exercise late last year was the first of its kind held at the Russell Precinct and Anzac Park West in Canberra to test emergency management plans for the Base Security Improvement Program.

The Senior Australian Defence Force Officer for Russell Precinct and Anzac Park West, Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt, says Defence has a responsibility to its workforce to ensure the effectiveness of its emergency management planning.

“It’s really very important for us to make sure that we can identify where the problem areas might be by giving them a run,” he says.

The Base Support Manager for Russell Precinct and Anzac Park West, Bruno Blasi, says there are particular security challenges at Russell Precinct because, unlike Defence bases, it is an open environment.

Bruno says the exercise required extensive planning and coordination – including liaison with other government departments and agencies – and covered previously uncharted territory.

“It was the first time we’d deployed our external base command post, implemented our road closure plan, and activated our new radio network to communicate with all Emergency Control Organisations from each building.”

Bruno says the exercise was very successful with buildings evacuated and personnel assembled in much less time than anticipated.

An exercise in Defence firstsThe other outstanding recommendation will

see improved security infrastructure built on a number of bases, including new turning lanes to ensure vehicles can be turned away from entering a base; pop-up bollards; and electronic security systems to provide better surveillance capability.

Jaimie says the tender process is under way and works will commence in July/August this year and are expected to be finished on schedule by end 2014, marking the completion of BSIP.

But he explains the threat has not diminished since 2009.

“The threat assessment since Holsworthy hasn’t changed and you could argue that the threat assessment since 9/11, in terms of a protective security requirement, has not changed,” he says.

“People’s memories fade in terms of their perception of what the threat might be. So the challenge for us in a tightening budget environment is to ensure the security response to these threats is risk-based, affordable and appropriate.”

Jaimie supports a risk-based approach to security, pointing out that Defence can never be completely fortressed in terms of its physical security as to do so would be prohibitively expensive.

“There needs to be an acceptance to some extent that we’re not going to stop every single security breach, but we want to stop the important ones that threaten people and we want to make sure that everybody understands the importance that we don’t react to particular incidents inappropriately.”

Aside from physical security, Jaimie is also keen to promote information security,

although it is not specifically part of BSIP’s

goal.

“We’re hopeful that indirectly a cultural

change through physical security will make

people more aware of information security

obligations as well,” he says.

BSIP is just one element of Defence’s base

security, with security posture adjusted as

necessary based on intelligence from national

and state security and policing agencies.

Jaimie urges all Defence personnel to view

security as a personal responsibility.

“One of the fundamental elements is for

people to be observant and to report things

that they think are unusual, even if they

believe they’re trivial, because that reporting

contributes to the intelligence picture we

have. It helps us understand whether the

threat is changing and therefore it means

we’re able to put measures in place before

the risk materialises,” he says.

“So my call to all of the people in the

Department of Defence, particularly at the

bases, is to be observant and to report

incidents and issues because it all helps to

complete the puzzle.”

He is positive about the enhanced security

culture in Defence and says while attitudes

towards security still vary from base to

base to a degree, he has seen a significant

improvement across the board.

“Holsworthy, I think, made it really clear to

everybody that it’s not just certain parts of the

Defence organisation that are responsible

– everybody now has a responsibility to

contribute to the security of our bases

and our people. That to me would be the

fundamental change or shift since 2009.”

ACHIEVED SO FAR UNDER THE BASE

SECURITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM:

l  Updated security plans informed by security

risk assessments

l  Understood and rehearsed security and

emergency incident procedures

l  Increased base security culture

l  Incident alert procedures

l  Clarified command and control

arrangements

l  Improved access control arrangements

l  Integration of internal and external response

mechanisms to serious security incidents

l  Improved identification procedures

SOME BASES ALSO NOW HAVE:

l  Increased security guards

l  Enhanced communication systems

l  Minor equipment purchases and

infrastructure improvements

l  Increased surveillance

MEMBERS of the Defence Support and Reform Group

provided vital assistance to communities threatened by

bushfires in Tasmania and New South Wales in January.

When multiple fires threatened lives and property in Tasmania

on January 4, Hobart-based members of the Directorate

of Operations and Training Area Management (DOTAM)

joined the state emergency management team to coordinate

support from the Australian Defence Force.

The Directorate of Customer Access Management (DCAM) in

Cooma, New South Wales, also demonstrated the value and

skill of its people when the Cooma-Monaro Rural Fire Service

battled to contain a large and dangerous bushfire less than

20km from the town.

DOTAM’s Major Bob Parker says that after fire went through

the Tasmanian village of Dunalley, initial reports indicated

that “over 50 dwellings had been destroyed and there was

concern that some residents could not be accounted for, so

it was important to search the fire-affected dwellings”.

The DOTAM team organised for personnel from 12/40 Royal Tasmania Regiment, 2 Force Support Battalion, 29 (City of

Hobart) Squadron and DOTAM to join SES and specialist

NSW fire personnel under the control of Tasmania Police.

Major Brent Maddock says that as the threat to the Tasman Peninsula increased, contingency plans were needed.

“There were a number of people being evacuated from the Tasman Peninsula by private pleasure craft and commercial ferries. We worked with state agencies to scope a plan for a mass evacuation by water,” he says.

Fires had cut power so when generators were flown

from RAAF Base Amberley to Hobart Airport on a C-17

Globemaster, DOTAM’s staff coordinated the movement

of the generators through Hobart Airport to their delivery to

Nubeena, on the western side of the Peninsula.

On January 8, the Cooma-Monaro Rural Fire Service

requested assistance at their Emergency Control Centre

because of the regional fire situation. More than 20

volunteers from DCAM provided support to the Rural Fire

Service and the community in communications, operations

and logistics.

Tammy Askell worked in the media room, dealing with

enquiries from news crews, helping with community contact,

giving information and advice to residents, and updating the

Facebook page.

“It was controlled bedlam,” she says. “We were very busy.

There was no time for training, we just did it.”

Debbie Huggett, one of the communications room

volunteers, had a similar experience.

“There was no time for explaining or hand holding. It was

about thinking on our feet to make a meaningful contribution,”

she says.

“We were the interface with units on the ground. We’d keep

an eye on the unit status and their needs, for example if they

needed more water, more fuel or calling in a helicopter.”

Michele Price and Hayley Denning volunteered in the

logistics room, organising procurement and keeping track of

purchase orders and finance.

“It was very busy. We were looking after accommodation,

flights, food, transport, and arranging schedules for pilots,”

Hayley says.

Charles Bradshaw, who had been a radio operator with the

Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service, volunteered to help on his

day off.

“Most of the information was delivered through the radio so

it was full on. I was lucky, I got into the groove quickly,” he

says.

The Assistant Director of the DCAM Service Delivery team,

Melissa Roberson, says the Rural Fire Service praised the

DCAM volunteers for their efforts.

Bushfire supportErin Clugston, Hayley Denning, Amy Kilpatrick and Danielle Devine, some of the Directorate of Consumer Access Management staff at Cooma who provided support during a bushfire crisis in January.

SUPPORTCommunity

Defence24

Issue 1 2013

MORE than 45 years of listening to the sounds of

the deep blue has paid off for Dr Doug Cato, whose

main body of work is in marine acoustics, focusing

on the ambient noise of the ocean from both

physical and biological sources.

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation

(DSTO) Marine Environment Principal Scientist

received the 2012 Minister’s Award for Achievement

in Defence Science late last year from the Defence

Science and Personnel Minister, Warren Snowdon.

Mr Snowdon describes Doug’s extensive research

in underwater acoustics and communication by

marine mammals as an impressive achievement.

“Dr Cato’s achievements span the oceans. They

contribute to the efficient operation of our Navy and

safeguard the well-being of marine animals,” he

says.

Research conducted by Doug contributes to sonar

and submarine studies allowing submariners to

better identify what they can hear when submerged.

Complementing this is more than 30 years

of experience in marine bioacoustics, animal

communication and the impact of human-produced

noise on marine animals.

Doug says he is enjoying a career path where his

life’s work is used to assist Defence interests.

“Some people do science for the curiosity but for

me the fact that someone will use what I do is great

because Navy do a fantastic and very important

job,” he explains.

Doug’s role has also proves highly important. Mr

Snowdon says that Navy’s acoustic disturbance

strategies are recognised as among the world’s

best thanks to his work.

“They’re based on Dr Cato’s thorough research and

have been accepted by NATO forces,” he says.

Decades of assisting submariners to identify what lies beneath the

waves has earned DSTO’s Dr Doug Cato the 2012 Minister’s Award

for Achievement in Defence Science

By Corporal Nick Wiseman

Sounds from

the deep

“Dr Cato’s achievements span the oceans. They contribute to the efficient operation of our Navy and safeguard the well-being of marine animals.”

– Warren Snowdon, Defence Science and

Personnel Minister

Nothing stands inthe way of researchIN the 1960s Australia didn’t have submarines, but Doug needed access to one for his research. One day he heard the Royal Navy was visiting town and thought he’d check out if there were any submarines around.

The young, and perhaps naive, scientist at the time contacted the submarine squadron commander and asked them outright if he could just borrow one for the day.

Doug says little knowledge of the Defence administration processes at the time probably saved him hours of paper work.

He was surprisingly given approval immediately for half a day’s access to two submarines following an exercise in the Coral Sea.

“Being quite young and new to the Defence system maybe I didn’t know what I was asking,” he laughs.

“Ten years later I would never have had the hide to do that.”

“His characterisation of ambient sea noise in

the Australian Indo-Pacific region known as

Cato Curves has been used to determine sonar

performance for more than 30 years and informed

the acquisition of the sonar suite for the Air Warfare

Destroyer program.”

Doug says the award is a surprise and an honour.

“You get recognition from the fact Navy uses what

I do and from the international scientific community

for published works,” he says. “But it was nice to

get something like this on top of that.”

Dr Doug Cato, of the Defence Science

and Technology Organisation, proudly

displays his 2012 Minister’s Award

for Achievement in Defence Science.

Photo: David McClenaghan

TECHNOLOGYScience and

Defence26 27

Issue 1 2013

DefenceIssue 1 2013

“Defence is taking a lead role in the conservation of this critically endangered species, and is doing it by doing what we do best: training soldiers to have the capability to defend Australia and its national interests.”

– Anneke Staring, Defence Support Southern NSW Environmental Officer

THE Majura Training Area provides crucial habitat

for the Canberra Spider Orchid. It only grows in

the ACT and before 2010, there were only two

populations of the orchid, adding up to about

230 plants all together, says Anneke Staring,

an Environmental Officer from Defence Support

Southern NSW.

“When we think of a military training area we think

of guns, grenades, explosions, soldiers digging,

crawling, attacking and patrolling,” Anneke says.

“Certainly a tiny orchid with a crimson, yellow and

green flower that is no bigger than a 20c piece

doesn’t immediately come to mind. And yet here

it is.”

The amazing discovery of the orchid at the

training area has helped to improve the future

prospects of the orchid.

“We do routine threatened species monitoring as

part of our environmental management. In 2006

a single specimen of the Canberra Spider Orchid was found at Majura, but in repeated searches between 2007 and 2009, we couldn’t find a single one,” Anneke says.

“This is actually not all that surprising. The orchids are only about 10cm tall with a single flower with colours that blend in perfectly with their surrounds.

“In 2010, though, our routine monitoring uncovered a new population of orchids at Majura. We followed this up with an extensive search of the area and found nine populations, containing up to 500 plants. This was an incredibly important discovery as it effectively tripled the number of surviving plants.”

Threatened species monitoring is part of the environmental management of the Majura Training Area, and Defence has well-established environmental management strategies.

“The aim is to maintain the estate in a condition that supports capability and the long-term sustainability of the environment,” Anneke says.

“When we found these orchid populations we wanted to make sure that our management strategies would help to ensure the survival of the orchids at Majura.

“The Canberra Spider Orchid is protected under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and we have a responsibility to look after it, so we contacted the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, People and Communities (SEWPAC) and the Australian National Herbarium. We told them

The Canberra Spider Orchid, a critically endangered native plant, has been

discovered living happily in an operational Defence training area in the ACT

Conservation in camouflage

about the discovery and started discussions about conservation.”

The management of the area is now being conducted in accordance with a special recovery plan put in place by SEWPAC. Somewhat surprisingly, Defence has been told to essentially keep on doing what it was already doing.

“We are continuing our regular environmental management, with weed control, feral animal control, bushfire hazard reduction and management of herbivore grazing,” Anneke says. “The military training is also continuing, with strategic, navigational and manoeuvre activities going on among the orchid populations.”

And of course, Defence environmental staff keep a close eye on the orchids.

“A really important part of the discovery was that the increased population means that we can now allow the experts to come in and collect seed pods and attempt propagation. This wasn’t possible before because of the small number of

populations left in the wild,” Anneke says.

The Australian National Herbarium has managed to successfully propagate some seeds in its laboratory in Victoria, and they hope to use these to establish a new population in an ACT nature reserve.

“It’s such a good outcome. Defence is taking a lead role in the conservation of this critically endangered species, and is doing it by doing what we do best: training soldiers to have the capability to defend Australia and its national interests,” Anneke says.

“This is only one of the many species on Defence land across Australia that benefit from our approach to sustainability and environmental protection.”

“The discovery of this orchid at long-standing military training site is significant, both for the conservation of this species and for showing the Australian community that conservation and capability can go in hand in hand.”

Canberra Spider Orchids have been found at Majura Training Area.Photo: L. Guja

Canberra Spider Orchids being grown

from seed to add to the small number

growing in the wild.

EN V IRONMEN T

Defence28 29

Issue 1 2013

DefenceIssue 1 2013

Defence30

Issue 1 201331 Defence

Issue 1 2013

Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon congratulates the Defence Indigenous Development Program graduates at HMAS Cairns last November. Photo: Brian Cassey

“I’ve no doubt that, through their determination and hard work, these 2012 graduates will become role models for others in their communities.”

– Warren Snowdon, Defence Science and

Personnel Minister

THE Defence Indigenous Development Program

(DIDP), a key part of the Department’s strategy to

increase the percentage of indigenous employees, is

now open for nominations.

As part of the Government’s indigenous employment

disadvantage strategy, Close the Gap, all

Commonwealth departments are working towards a

2.7 per cent indigenous employee rate by 2015.

Livingston Jacobs, of the Cherbourg community 25km

north-west of Brisbane, graduated from the seven-

month DIDP late last year and enjoyed the experience.

“The DIDP has opened my eyes to the opportunities

available to me,” he says. “I want to do something

positive with my life, and this program showed me

some options I have.”

Livingston completed the Certificate II Resource

Industry Infrastructure (Mining) and is thinking about

joining the Army.

The Defence Science and Personnel Minister, Warren

Snowdon, says the DIDP provides young indigenous

adults from remote communities with the education,

training, life skills, confidence and opportunities for

securing and sustaining ongoing full-time employment.

“I’ve no doubt that, through their determination and

hard work, the 2012 graduates will become role

models for others in their communities,” he says.

The Head of People Policy and Culture, Richard Oliver,

says the program focuses on developing language,

literacy and numeracy skills in an Australian Defence

Force setting. It is delivered jointly by the Department

of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations,

State and Territory education departments and local

TAFE institutions.

“The true value of this program is evidenced by what

grads choose to do with their newfound skills and

confidence,” Richard says.

Of the 44 graduates in 2012, many plan to join the

ADF, and at the end of January, eight DIDP Katherine

graduates had enlisted; one in Navy, five in Army and

two in Air Force. Six DIDP Cairns graduates enlisted

in Navy – all Boatswains Mates – and Defence Force

Recruiting’s Cairns office has been working with 10

other graduates for positions in all three Services.

Closing the gapDefence is creating specialised pathways for Aboriginal jobseekers through

a dedicated program.

Maryanne Wees, from South Goulburn lsland off

Arnhem Land, already has a family connection

with the military as her father is in Norforce’s North

West Mobile Force. Maryanne also completed the

Certificate II Resource Industry Infrastructure (Mining).

“I want to secure a better future not just for me, but for

my younger sister as well,” she says.

Richard says Defence is committed to ensuring an

inclusive and diverse workplace to attract top talent.

“We are working closely with the Australian Public

Service Commission, Defence Force Recruiting

and the three Service Headquarters to attract and

retain more indigenous public servants and more

indigenous officers, sailors, soldiers, airmen and

airwomen,” he says.

“We are committed to advancing indigenous

employment opportunities and experiences ...

hopeful that our involvement encourages indigenous

participants to consider a career with Defence.

“The DIDP and other initiatives coordinated by our

Directorate of Indigenous Affairs – such as the ADF

Indigenous Pre-Recruitment Course, the indigenous

Student Study Tour and participation in the APSC

trainee, cadet and graduate programs – are taking us

closer to the recruitment target and also to our goal of

being more diverse and inclusive.”

Nominate for the 2013 DIDP program at www.didp.com.au or call 1800 447 827.

Planning for the future

DEFENCE Support and Reform Group is investigating

mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of climate

change-induced sea level rise, flooding and erosion on

Defence infrastructure.

In 2011, Infrastructure Division began a two-stage study

to determine mitigation and adaptation strategies to guard

against the impact of sea level rise, storm surge and

coastal erosion at selected Defence sites.

The study considers the impacts of climate change on

Defence capability and infrastructure, as well as the

heritage and natural ecosystems present at those Defence

sites.

The Head of Infrastructure Division, John Owens, said

the work being undertaken by his team was extremely

important.

“This is a great opportunity for Defence to act now to

manage climate change risks in the future,” John said.

“The study will provide Defence with infrastructure

mitigation strategies that will assist in reducing the impact

of some aspects of climate change on Defence sites

throughout Australia.

“While the study focuses on Defence sites specifically, the

team also contributes to whole-of-Government forums on

climate change, such as the Interdepartmental Committee

on Climate Change Adaptation.”

Using a combination of new and existing data and

modelling, the study makes projections to assess risks

to Defence sites and determine suitable strategies for

adaptation and mitigation of these climate change effects.

Strategies considered in the study include measures such

as adjusting the design specifications for new works,

increasing drainage capacity, undertaking works to protect

buildings, relocating activities and functions, and raising

the height of access roads.

Stage one of the study is now complete. It identified the

risks associated with climate change impacts on major

bases using 2040, 2070 and 2100 as benchmarks.

The second stage of the study will develop mitigation and

adaptation strategies for those bases identified at risk by

2040 and 2070. This stage will also include more detailed

investigation of sites assessed as being at risk, including

physical assessments. The results of the study will be

factored into future planning for Defence bases.

INDIGENOUS

Infrastrsucture Division within Defence Support and Reform Group is investigating strategies to reduce the effects of climate change on Defence land.

“This is a great opportunity for Defence to act now to manage climate change risks in the future.”

– John Owens, Head Infrastructure

Division

Find us online at www.defence.gov.au/defencemagazine

Defence

Defence app now available!Download your free smartphone and

tablet app now! Available on iPhone, iPad

and Android devices, the app allows

readers to keep abreast of corporate

issues affecting the Department of

Defence – any time, any place. Search

for ‘Defence magazine’ in the Apple App

Store and in the Android Play Store.