Training Course Entitlements
Members are reminded that a national policy exists pertaining to entitlements for those persons attending recognised Fire Service courses such as Phase courses, Drivers courses, Vehicle Extrication courses etc but does not encompass local “in service” training days such as refreshers.
Only established Courses recognised by the Professional Development Unit and Regional Training departments are applicable.
The policy is called “Entitlements, Processes and Authorisations when attending Fire Service Training Courses” and can be found on K Net via the Fire Service Information menu under Policy documents.
The policy is applicable to all attendees and this can include instructors as well as students.
The policy was formulated between the Union and the administration primarily to facilitate courses of less than 5 days duration although those of 5 days or longer are also included.
The policy allows for a number of alternatives related to time off and/or overtime depending on whether the individual attendee is on or off duty at the time of the course.
There is no requirement for an attendee to change leave with another person in order to make themselves available for any of these courses and members are advised not to do so
Weekend Travel
There continues to be some confusion related to eligibility for Weekend Travel when members are undertaking overtime shifts on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, night or day.
Weekend Travel is averaged in to your wages every fortnight to compensate you for any additional travel time to or from work, on your normal Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday duty shifts over the year.
However when you undertake an overtime shift on these days you must claim it to receive it. It is not automatically calculated into the days overtime earnings for you.
Those on overtime may claim weekend travel and any additional normal travel time that may be applicable.
Those on Relieving duties, Saturday, Sunday or Public Holidays and who are eligible for travel time because they are travelling further than their base or home station may choose whichever is the greater of the two allowances, Travel Time or Weekend Travel. They cannot claim both as those on overtime can.
Weekend Travel is only applicable when travelling to work from home or to your home from work. It can not be claimed when travelling between Stations, for example when double shifting.
Weekend Travel entitlement commences after midnight Saturday morning and ends midnight Sunday night and from midnight to midnight on public holidays.
