Employment Training
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
Writer Course - 10 Weeks
Initial Writer Course - Supply & Health Faculty HMAS CERBERUS.
The Initial Writer Course is a residential course conducted in the Supply & Health Faculty at HMAS CERBERUS. The training is focused on equipping junior Writer sailors with the basic skills and knowledge required for service in a fleet unit or core employment in a shore establishment. The course is of 10 weeks duration and is comprised of the following three major components:
- Captain's Office;
- Financial Conditions of Service; and
- Pay Administration.
Captain's Office.
The Captain's Office component is designed to give trainees a base knowledge of the standard administrative practices of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). In particular, concentrating on the procedures required when working as part of the Commanding Officer's staff in the Registry or Personnel Office. The handling of the Commanding Officer's correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, classified and unclassified, is taught as well as the filing systems in use throughout the fleet. Trainees are introduced to the various Books of Reference and the current rules and regulations relating to personnel matters such as discharges, enlistments, promotions and postings.
Financial Conditions of Service.
Within this component, training is provided in accounts payable to external traders, leave and duty travel entitlements and associated allowances, living allowances such as Rental Allowance, and removal entitlements including the various associated allowances. There is also provision for training in computer based applications for ships' budget and financial management, and comprehensive training in the computer applications used to make payments to traders and Navy personnel.
Pay Administration.
The Pay component covers the rules and regulations governing the ADF pay system and the actual input of pay related data. The pay administration principles are examined with the emphasis being on compliance with the range of official publications. Writer trainees are also taught how to manually calculate members' salary, allowances and deductions. The Faculty operates a computerised pay training system that replicates the operation of the live system. This allows realistic training in the input and retrieval of pay data and the handling of management reports. Writer trainees are also taught how to interpret and use a range of pay related documentation.