DEFENCE IMPLEMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REVIEW OF THE ADF CADETS SCHEME

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, today commended the Department of Defence for the progress made on implementing recommendations of the review of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Cadets Scheme conducted by LTGEN Frank Hickling AO CSC (Retd).

The review was commissioned by the then Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, and Dr Kelly to consider how the ADF Cadets Scheme could be improved to ensure that it reflects the community expectations for a youth development organisation.

“The review considered and identified, through community consultation, what the objectives of the ADF Cadets Scheme should be, along with community expectations around accountability and transparency in its administration,” Dr Kelly said.

“I am very pleased with the progress Defence is making in working to implement the large majority of the 48 detailed recommendations made by the review panel”.

“In addition to implementing the agreed recommendations, Defence has made changes which formalise and enhance the governance and accountability structure for the Cadets Scheme while preserving the command arrangements vested in the Service Chiefs.”

“I am confident that the changes proposed through the Review, and Defence’s commitment to implementing the recommendations, will result in a strengthened youth development organisation that has clear accountability and duty of care arrangements, and meets the expectations of the community and the youth of Australia who participate in the scheme,” Dr Kelly said.

“The Government is committed to growing the ADF Cadets Scheme and is providing an additional $10 million per year until 2017/18 to support this aim.”

A summary of the Defence response to each of the recommendations of the Review report is available at www.defence.gov.au/dpe/cadetreview/

For more information about Cadets in general, visit: www.cadetnet.gov.au.

Please note Defence Media has a new phone number: 02 6127 1999.

Media contacts:

Mark Sjolander (Dr Mike Kelly):                 02 6277 4840 or 0407 102 220

Defence Media Liaison:                             02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664