Employer Support Payment (ESP) Scheme

ARE YOU GETTING PAID OVER A $1000 a week for your employee to be absent? 

—You can if your employee is an ADF Reservist.

Reservists are increasingly providing their skills and expertise to maintain the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) capability. Reservists have been deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, provided humanitarian relief to communities in Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Thailand, Rwanda and Somalia, and helped bring peace and security to Timor-Leste and Bougainville.

Australia will continue to support the efforts of its Reservists on ADF operations through the assistance provided by the Employer Support Payment (ESP) Scheme.

“The ESP Scheme offers financial assistance to employers, including self-employed Reservists, to offset the costs and possible losses associated with the absence of Reservist employees on Defence service,” says Doug Stedman, director of the ESP Scheme. “It enhances employer support for Reserve service, therefore increasing the availability of Reservists to undertake Defence service.”

ESP claims are only approved once eligibility criteria have been met. Payments are based on average weekly full-time adult earnings (currently $1,070.40 per week in respect of full-time employees and increasing to $1,123.30 per week from July 1 2008). In some circumstances, higher level payments may be approved.

“These payments have proved vital, especially for small businesses that would otherwise struggle to replace personnel who are absent on extended leave while undertaking Reserve service. All the eligibility information, how to apply for and lodge the ESP claim forms is available on our Defence Reserves website,” says Stedman.

Payments can be used to allow a business to employ a casual replacement while an employee is absent overseas on an operational deployment.

Without such a scheme the ADF would be unable to obtain the services of many talented Reservists who make a substantial contribution to Australia’s operational commitments.

For further details and to access ESP Scheme information and the required claim forms, visit www.defence.gov.au/reserves or call 1800 803 485.