Job Details

Other Ranks (Non Technical)

Writers (WTR) are responsible for clerical work in the day-to-day administration of the Navy. Writers are employed throughout the Navy in ships and shore establishments, including the Department of Defence in Canberra. The following is what is expected of today’s Navy Writer:

• Clerical duties, including filing, postage and handling of correspondence and maintenance of Books of Reference;
• Maintenance of personnel records utilising HR systems;
• Provide advice to sailors and officers on Conditions of Service Entitlements;
• Pay Administration and Financial Conditions of Service;
• Provide advice to Command and supervisors on human resource management issues;
• Assistance with the preparation of applications for various personnel entitlements;
• Provide advice to Command on ADF / RAN administrative governance, compliance and accountability requirements;
• Personnel Officer to the Commanding Officer (both at sea and ashore); and
• Processing of accounts.

Roles of a Writer

Employment areas for the junior Writer fall into two categories - professional and general duties. Whilst in shore establishments, most of the work that a junior Writer will perform falls under the professional duties banner. Whilst at sea, the junior Writer will also perform professional duties as well as assist the rest of a ship’s company to fulfill a host of ancillary roles and general duties.

Professional and general duties for these ranks can be broken down further as follows:

Professional Duties

Personnel Office

• Prepare correspondence, memorandums and directives;
• Receipt and dispatch classified / unclassified correspondence;
• Facilitate office administration;
• Maintain reference books;
• Administer ship’s mail movements;
• Maintain personnel records utilising HR systems;
• Process conditions of service requests;
• Prepare Commanding Officer’s administrative table; and
• Comply with Occupational Health and Safety regulations.

Financial Conditions of Service

• Provide advice on financial conditions of service entitlements;
• Process travel entitlements;
• Process accounts payable;
• Utilise the current Australian Defence Force Pay system;
• Provide advice on salary and pay related matters;
• Process pay transactions; and
• Working with colleagues and customers.

General Duties

Ships Medical Emergency Team (SMET)

• Writer staff at sea may form part of SMET teams and involved in the provision of first aid and medical treatment to casualties in exercise and real time situations.

Flight Deck Team

• Writer staff at sea may form part of a ship’s Flight Deck Team and will be appropriately trained to provide direct support to the Aviation capability of a ship.

Seamanship Evolutions

• Seamanship evolutions are a whole ship responsibility and as such Writers may be called upon to provide assistance in line handling, replenishment at sea, man over board and a host of other evolutions.

Whole ship duties

• Normally encompasses any event that the whole ship is involved in. This can include cleaning stations, Ship’s Defence Team and Boarding Party to name a few.

Ceremonial Duties

• Writers are often called upon to provide assistance in this area as part of a guard, shore patrol or other ceremonial duties.