Under the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001, employers must release reservists when they are required to undertake periods of ADF service including military training.

When a reservist employee is released for required training, deployment or any other appointment associated with Defence service, they must not be forced to take any form of paid or unpaid leave.

The amount of leave a reservist may need to apply for when required to undertake reserve service will vary.

Leave for Defence service can include:

  • initial recruit training
  • initial employment training
  • annual exercises / camps
  • specialist courses
  • deployment for service
  • general Reserve service

Employers are not required to pay a reservist’s salary while they’re rendering Defence service. However, employers are encouraged to develop a supportive Reserve leave policy.

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