If you live and work in a remote locality you may be entitled to special provisions and benefits, including Fares out of Isolated Localities (FOIL).
Fares out and leave, and allowance for freight on household goods are
available to all NTPS workers in isolated localities. There are also a range of
other benefits available to the majority of staff in remote localities.
What is a remote location?
A remote location is defined as a town, place, community or locality, outside
the environs of Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs where access to health,
education, social, financial, emergency, communication and professional support
services are limited.
What can I get?
Fares out and leave:
Fares out is paid travel for you and ‘recognised dependents’
from a remote locality to Darwin where that locality is situated above the 18th
parallel of latitude, or to Alice Springs in other cases (By-law 43.2). You can
use these fares to alternative destinations if it is the same cost. Fares out
can be taken after three months continuous service in a remote locality and can
be used from 1-3 times per year depending on your locality category. The value
of this entitlement can be calculated on return economy class airfare or
kilometer allowance. If you don’t use your FOIL entitlement annually, it’s
forfeited – use it or lose it!
You can access a maximum of 2 days fares out paid leave consecutive
with a weekend, public holiday or rostered days off (except if you are not
required to work during school holidays) (By-law 43.9-11).
Accommodation allowance can also be paid for a maximum of three
days when you access FOIL from most isolated localities (not Special Category
locations). This allowance is provided for you, not your dependents
(Determination 2 of 2003).
Allowance for freight on household goods: You can be reimbursed for
the cost of freight, including air freight, of household goods. There are limits
to weight (e.g. if you have dependents, 29 kilos per week or 116 kilos per
calendar month). You need to make the arrangements for the purchase and freight
of the goods, and provide proof of the payment (By-law 44.4-7).
If you are permanently stationed in Nhulunbuy or Yirrkala you are entitled to
payment of a weekly allowance (By-law 44.2-3).
Click here to access the PSEMA By-laws.
NOTE: the Special category now also includes Mt Todd, Owen Springs and Edith
Falls.
Rental concessions: You can receive 25% or 100% concession, depending
on your locality, if you rent accommodation from your employing agency or your
accommodation is provided by Territory Housing. Categories 1, 2 and 3 remote
localities can now claim 100% if you reside in agency supplied accommodation
(Determination 1098 of 2010).
Special Study Leave Program: For each year of service in specified
localities (does not have to be on a continuous basis or can be credited for
part of a year) you can accumulate credit points towards eligibility for study
leave on full pay to the extent of:
one semester, where 20 credit points have been accumulated; or
two semesters, where 40 credit points have been accumulated.
This leave can also be taken at half pay.
Family Travel Assistance Program: Where you are selected or approved
by a CEO to participate in professional development or in-service training
program in an urban centre, you may have payment of travel costs for your
family/recognised dependents to accompany you. This assistance can only be
approved once in a calendar year and does not include accommodation and meals
for your dependents.
Household Contents Insurance premiums: If you incur higher cost for
your household contents insurance than you would if you were stationed at the
nearest urban centre, you can be reimbursed the difference in cost. You need to
produce your paid policy. TIO rates are used to compare but while you are not
obliged to use them as your insurer, the difference in cost cannot exceed the
difference in the TIO rates.
Satellite television or internet service reimbursement: You can
receive up to $500 to offset the costs associated with the installation and
initial subscription towards a satellite based pay television or internet
service, and you can claim subsequent payments for these costs if you transfer
to another remote locality (Determination No. 1100 of 2010).
Are you getting your entitlements?
If not, talk with your manager. If you have having difficulties accessing
your entitlements contact your CPSU workplace delegate, your local CPSU
organiser, or our Membership Service Centre on 1300 137 636.
