The Employer Support Payment (ESP) Scheme was introduced in June 2001 to provide financial assistance to employers, in order to compensate for costs and any potential losses which are attributable to the absence of an employee who is performing defence service.

 

 

Under the ESP Scheme, employers are able to claim for a payment (which is subject to taxation) equivalent to the average weekly full-time adult ordinary-time earnings (currently $991.20 per week).

Eligibility for payments under the ESP Scheme will depend on the following criteria being met:

ESP can be paid for a maximum of 78 weeks for a single period of continuous service.

 

ESP is payable for full-time and part-time employees (paid on a pro rata basis for P/T employees).

 

 

Where a leave form for Defence Forces Leave in excess of 5 continuous days is submitted to Human Resources, a claim form will be forwarded to the Head of the relevant work unit for completion. The form can also be downloaded from: http://www.defence.gov.au/reserves/docs/ad138-1.pdf

 

Claim forms must be completed by the Head of the relevant work unit and submitted to the Department of Defence within 6 months of the first day of service for which the claims are made. Claims submitted outside of this period require special justification.

 

Payments arising from eligible claims will be paid into the budget of the work unit.

 

 

The ESP Scheme does not create an additional employee entitlement to Defence Forces Leave.

Clause 41.0 of the UNSW (General Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2006  and clause 37.0 of the UNSW (Academic Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2006  discuss staff entitlement to defence forces leave.