Member Services
For less than $3.00 a day our tax deductible membership fee provides members with the following key services:
PROFESSION
Lobbying at all levels of government to influence policy formulation and decision making to achieve:
- law enforcement & national security legislative reform
- Comprehensive occupational health & safety within the law enforcement environment for our members working at home and abroad
- Robust but fair employment & integrity measures for AFP & other law enforcement employees
- Appropriate human & financial resourcing of the AFP to enable our members to professionally achieve the Governments and AFPs operational objectives
Providing specialist representation in relation to legislated command and control powers impacting on law enforcement employees
Educating politicians and the public in relation to issues impacting on the law enforcement profession and our members
Providing members with free educational material in relation to law enforcement and national security issues including, but not limited to:
- AUSPOL Journal
- APJ Australian Police Journal
- UNICIVPOL Journal
- AFPA Bulletins
EMPLOYMENT
LEGAL
The AFPA provides various legal services not normally available to law enforcement employees which include:
Automatic Legal funding (subject to legal advice and AFPA Rules) for:
- Federal Court and criminal court matters
- Commonwealth Law Enforcement Ombudsman inquiries
- Death in Custody & Coronial inquests
- Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity hearings
- Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission Investigations and
- Other Government or public inquiries involving our members within law enforcement or national security
In house professional legal advice and immediate advocacy relating to:
- Professional Standards
- Internal Investigations
- Employee suitability assessments
- Natural Justice responses
- Paid & unpaid suspension from duty
- Employment termination
- Unlawful or unfair dismissal
Professional assistance in regards to Comcare & Veterans Entitlement Act claims; Criminal injuries compensation; and Third Party claims
INDUSTRIAL
The AFPA provides various industrial services not normally available to law enforcement and national security employees which include:
• Improving remuneration and conditions of employment by providing:
- Collective and individual negotiation
- Employment and Industrial law legal advisory service
- Advice on terms and conditions of employment
• Advocacy before tribunals
• Representation in relation to individual and collective disputes
• Representation in hearings (including unfair treatment, dismissal and redundancy)
• Expert advice on Command Powers outside of the AIRC jurisdiction
• Assistance with salary and performance reviews
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY(OH&S)
The AFPA provides various occupational health & safety services on behalf of law enforcement and national security employees which include:
- Representation on the AFP Occupational Health & Safety Committee
- Professional assistance in relation to Comcare claims, Veterans Entitlements claims, criminal injuries compensation and Third party claims
- Engagement of expert and independent health and safety studies
LIFE
The AFPA provides various financial and lifestyle services & discounted products for law enforcement employees including:
HEALTH & LIFE ASSURANCE
• Access to discounted Health cover through AUSPOL Health’s special offer for law enforcement and emergency services personnel, volunteers and their families
• Access to discounted Life Assurance up to the value of $1.1 Million Dollars for an AFPA member
• Access to discounted Life Assurance up to the value of $1.1 Million Dollars for a legal spouse of an AFPA member
DISCOUNTED FINANCIAL LOANS
• Access to discounted loans through Members Equity Bank
SOCIAL & SERVICES CLUBS
• Automatic membership of Canberra Services Club (Home of RSL Peacekeepers Sub Branch, Peacekeepers & Peacemakers Association)
• Automatic membership of Canberra Club (affiliated with national & international exclusive clubs)
• Automatic membership of Canberra Rugby Union Club (affiliated with national & international Rugby clubs)
HOLIDAY HOMES & DISCOUNTED TRAVEL
• Access to Police Holiday homes
• Access to discounted travel & accommodation
GENERAL DISCOUNT PRODUCTS & SERVICES
• Automatic membership of Union Shopper discount services & product range
• Automatic membership of Defcom discount services & product range
• Other discounted services and products exclusive to the AFPA
WELFARE
The AFPA provides various welfare services not normally available to law enforcement employees. All of these services are subject to terms and conditions upon application. These services include:
MEMBER WELFARE ASSISTANCE
- 24/7 Member critical injury/illness financial assistance (previously 'Trauma Insurance')
($10,000)
- Injury Welfare Benefit (to & from work)
(Up to $1,000 per week based on net salary for up to 12 weeks after exhaustion of paid sick leave)
- Bereavement Welfare Benefit for loss of your legal spouse
($5,000 immediate payment)
FAMILY WELFARE ASSISTANCE
- 24/7 unconditional Member Death Benefit
($100,000 payment)
- Emergency financial assistance upon Death of a Member
($10,000 immediate payment)
GENERAL WELFARE ASSISTANCE
- Access to AUSPOL – Police Welfare Foundation
- Access to AFPA Welfare support
- Access to Free basic Last Will & Testament service
- Organising other welfare support services such as AFP Welfare Officers, AFP Health Services, AFP Chequered Ribbon Association, and AUSPOL Police Welfare Foundation to assist AFPA members and their families.
Fortnightly salary deductions - 1%
AFPA membership is 1% of base salary, plus composite penalty rate and if applicable any higher duty allowance. Fortnightly salary deductions to the AFPA are currently set at a cap of $36 and a base of $16. The cap and base will automatically adjust in relation to future pay rises. The $36.00 cap currently reflects the recent pay increase of 4% on 1 July 2009.
The AFPA also has a base payment of $16 per fortnight which, with rounding, reflects 1% of AFP Band 1 salary level. The AFPA introduced the base payment to satisfy contractual obligations with insurance providers and more importantly, AFPA fiduciary responsibility in relation to the services provided to members.
Unfortunately, some temporarily casuals employed by the AFP are joining the AFPA at 1% of their base salary but working very limited hours. This has led to some casuals paying membership as little at $2.50 per fortnight but being entitled to our full Legal funding and Welfare services. A situation that is not financially viable or sustainable. The set base of $16 per fortnight only affects a very small number members and will protect AFPA services for all members.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the AFPA National Office on Ph 02-62851677

