Career Transition Entitlements

In this article, we focus on what you’re entitled to, under the Defence Career Transition Assistance Scheme (CTAS) if you’re leaving Defence involuntarily through a Medical Discharge, a Management Induced Early Retirement (MIER) or a Redundancy.

Basically there are five elements you have entitlements to:

1. 23 days approved absence (must be taken before you discharge), plus
2. Up to $518 for Financial Counselling, plus
3. Up to $253 for a CV (Coaching), plus
4. Up to $2820 for Career Transition Management Coaching, plus
5. Training Courses (qualifications) that align to the minimum industry standard for the type of job you’re targeting for your level.

Note; items 2-5 above must be completed within 12 months of your discharge date. Those being medically discharged may be able to extend the expiry date to use these entitlements, with a letter from the Doctor explaining why you were unable to undertake the training.  Also note that CTT in not accessible if you have secured employment within 12 months of your discharge.  This may not apply to CV and CTMC.

1. Under DVA, there may also be additional funding for more courses to be undertaken and also the ability to offer a potential employer up to three months working for them paid for by DVA (called Work Trials). Check this with your DVA Case Manager.

Here is a link to Defence’s latest version of the CTAS overview which explains each of the above CTAS components. http://www.defence.gov.au/transitions/support/ctas/ctas.htm. The link to the current 2014 Defence Transition Handbook can be found on this page http://www.defence.gov.au/transitions/support/separating/transition_support_services/index.htm. Shown below is an extract from page 48 of this handbook, which is the latest version of the CTAS Entitlements table.

Please confirm the details above with your local Transition Officer to ensure you understand how each of these entitlements apply to you in your situation.

Before deciding on any provider of services aligned to the entitlements at your disposal above, please ensure you do your Due Diligence and canvas sufficient organisations thoroughly enough to ensure the services you end up getting are the best for your situation.

When evaluating providers, your focus is on the services to be provided to you, not the cost of the services to Defence, because the funding level that Defence will provide was decided when they last updated the PACMAN.

To help you understand the services we provide and how they vary to other providers, please call us on 1300 366 104, or email info@transciv.com.au for a copy of our services.