Division 4: Specialist Officer – increment and competency arrangements

This Division sets out provisions for advancement through ranks and competency arrangements for the following specialist officers.

1. Chaplains.

2. Dental officers.

3. Legal officers.

4. Medical officers.

5. Martime Spiritual Wellbeing Officers.

1. A Chaplain or Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officer is eligible for incremental advancement in the specialist officer salary structure 12 months after the later of the following dates.

   1. The day the member is posted to a position requiring a higher competency level than the member previously held.

   2. The day the member advances to a higher division or class.

   3. The day of the member's last increment advancement.

2. A dental officer is eligible for incremental advancement in the specialist officer salary structure 12 months after the later of the following dates.

   1. The day the member is assessed as holding a higher dental level than the member previously held.

   2. The day the member is promoted to a higher rank.

   3. The day of the member's last increment advancment.

3. A dental officer in the specialist officer salary structure is eligible for increment advancement 12 months after the day they become eligible for payment under that structure.

4. On advancement to a higher division or class a Chaplain or Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officer is paid the lowest increment for the competency level for their new division or class.

4A. On promotion a dental officer is paid the lowest increment for the dental level for their new rank.

4B. Despite subsections 4 and 4A, a member will be paid a higher increment of salary set by the CDF if the CDF believes it is reasonable, based on the member's relevant experience, qualifications and skills.

5. On advancement to a higher competency or dental level under section 3.2.44 or 3.2.45, the member's increment level is the lowest increment for that competency or dental level.

3. A medical officer is eligible for an increment advancement in the specialist officer salary structure (up to the maximum increment level in the relevant Part of Schedule B.8 in DFRT Determination No. 2 of 2017 that applies to the medical officer) on their increment anniversary.

3A. For the purpose of this section, increment anniversary means the day 12 months after the later of the following days.

1. The day that the member begins to be paid salary under one of the following.
   
   1. Schedule B.8, Specialist officer salary rates – medical officer.
   2. Schedule B.15, Senior officer specialist salary rates – medical officer
2. The day the member last advanced to a higher military medical level.
3. The day of the member's last increment advancement.

^{Note: The placement of a member from a medical level to a military medical level is not an increment advancement.}

5. On promotion from rank to rank, a medical officer retains the same military medical level (MML1, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A or 4) and the same increment level they held before promotion.

   ^{Note: The member's increment advancement date will remain unchanged}.

6. If a member advances to a higher military medical level under section 3.2.47, the member's increment is the lowest increment for that military medical level.

6A. Despite subsection 6, if one of the following applies, the member’s increment level is the increment that has the next higher salary than their salary immediately before they advanced.

1. The member advances to MML3A.

2. The member advances from MML3A to MML4.

8. For medical officer who becomes eligible to be paid under Schedule B.8 Part 2 or 4 of DFRT Determination No. 2 of 2017, Salaries, the medical officer's initial increment level is the higher of the following.
   
   1. The entry level increment for their Force and rank.
   2. An increment level approved by Surgeon General Australian Defence Force above the entry level increment for the medical officer because of their qualifications, clinical experience, and currency of skills.

If a member is promoted to one of the following ranks, the member’s rate of salary is the rate payable under Schedule B.15 of DFRT Determination No. 2 of 2017, Salaries for the lowest increment for their new rank.

1. Brigadier.

2. Major General.

1. A legal officer in the specialist career structure becomes eligible for an increment level advancement (up to the maximum increment level for their legal level) on the later of the following dates.

   1. The day that is 12 months after the legal officer entered the specialist career structure.

   2. The day that is 12 months after the legal officer advanced to a higher legal level.

   3. The day that is 12 months after the legal officer was promoted to a higher rank.

   4. The day that is 12 months after the legal officer's last increment level advancement date.

2. A legal officer who is promoted retains the competency element of their legal level.

   2A. A legal officer who is promoted is to be paid one of the following.

   1. The rate of the lowest increment for their legal level at the new rank.

   2. The rate of an increment level above the minimum for their legal level that the CDF is satisfied is reasonable having regard to the member’s relevant experience, qualifications and skills.

3. On advancement to a higher legal level under paragraph 1.b, the legal officer's increment level is the bottom increment for that legal level.

1. A Chaplain or Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officer is placed in a competency level by the CDF based on the member's relevant experience, qualifications and skills.

2. A Chaplain or Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officer may be placed in or advanced to a higher competency level if the CDF is satisfied that the officer meets the requirements for that competency level.

3. A Chaplain or Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officer may advance to competency level 3 if the CDF is satisfied that the officer meets all of the following.
   
   1. The officer meets the requirements for competency level 3.
   2. The officer is posted to a position that requires competency level 3.

1. A dental officer is placed in a higher dental level if the CDF is satisfied it is reasonable after considering the member’s relevant experience, qualifications and skills.

2. A dental officer may only advance to a higher dental level if the CDF is satisfied that the officer meets the requirements for that dental level.

1. The CDF may approve the qualification, skill and experience requirements for a legal level for legal officers.

2. The CDF may designate a position as requiring a specific legal level.

3. A legal officer holding legal level 1 or 2 may only advance to a higher legal level if the CDF is satisfied that the legal officer meets the professional requirements for the legal level.
4. A legal officer holding legal level 3 or 4 may only advance to a higher legal level if the officer meets all of the following.
   
   1. The CDF is satisfied that the legal officer meets the professional requirements for the legal level.
   2. The Chief of the member's Service is satisfied that the legal officer is posted to a position that requires that legal level.

1. A medical officer is placed in a higher military medical level by the CDF based on the member’s relevant experience, qualifications and skills.

2. A medical officer advances to a higher military medical level if the CDF is satisfied that the officer meets the requirements for that military medical level.