REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS – Section 2: DEPARTMENTAL & BRANCH INFORMATION REMOTE CATEGORIES
REMOTE CATEGORIES
1. General Information
A remote location is defined as a town, place, community or locality outside the environs of
Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs, where access to health, education, social, financial,
emergency, communication and professional support services are limited. The correlation of
remote location factors, including the cost of goods and services determines the category of
remoteness, and eligibility for remote locality entitlements, as declared by the Commissioner,
Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (OCPE).
There are 4 levels of remote categorisation, where Special Category is the least remote, with
Category 1 up to 3 in increasing remoteness.
Legislation underpins the determination of a locality’s remote category. The Public Sector
Employment and Management Act is an Act "for the regulation of the Public Service of the
Northern Territory and the human resource administration and management of other agencies
established for government or public purposes, and for related purposes".
The Public Sector Employment and Management By-laws are made by the Commissioner and
generally relate to conditions of employment matters. There are fifty-four (54) By-laws and Part
5, By-laws 42 – 44 relate to Remote Locality Provisions. The PSEM Act, Determination No 2 of
2003 (Schedule 1) and Amendment of Determination No 2 of 2003 - 27/10/09 (Schedule 2)
provides entitlement information and identifies the remote locations within each category.
The significance of this categorisation to the remote workforce lies chiefly in the entitlements
that are made available to NTG employees, where entitlements are tiered according to the
remote category of the employee’s work location.
2. Definitions
Remote Locality: A locality falling within the four categories defined by the OCPE: special
category, category 1, 2 or 3 remote locality.
Eligibility: an employee whose normal place of employment is in a remote locality.
Dependent: For the purpose of Remote Localities provisions, a dependent is:
- An employee’s spouse (including de facto spouse) and children who reside with the
employee and not in receipt of an income which is in excess of the weekly adult
minimum wage
- Any other person approved by the Commissioner.
3. Responsibilities
3.1 Remote Health Staff Resident in a Remote Locality
Be aware of remote localities and entitlements
Provide correct information in accessing entitlements
3.2 Area Service Manager / Town-Based Manager
Be familiar with PSEM legislation, By-laws and Determinations relevant to Remote Locality
Provisions
Provide information on the PSEM Act to new employees
Approve applications for Remote Locality Entitlements as appropriate
3.3 Department of Business and Employment
Review and process applications for Remote Locality Entitlements as appropriate
Developed by: Professional Practice Group Page 1 Reviewed: Feb 2009, Jan 2010,
Endorsed by: Professional Practice Coordinator
Release Date: June 2007 Next Review: January 2013
REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS – Section 2: DEPARTMENTAL & BRANCH INFORMATION REMOTE CATEGORIES
4. Procedure
Remote localities across the Northern Territory and the category of remote locality determine
employee entitlements under the remote locality provisions. An employee stationed in a
remote locality, may be entitled, subject to eligibility, to the following remote locality
entitlements.
Rental Concession: to employees who rent from their employing agency or Territory
Housing
Study Leave Credit Points: for each completed year of remote service in the locality
Family Travel Assistance Program: that provides payment of travel costs for the
employees family / recognised dependents where the employee participates in a
professional development or in-service program in an urban centre
Household Contents Insurance: reimbursement of the difference in premiums where an
employee incurs a higher cost than had they been stationed in the nearest urban centre
Fares Out of Isolated Localities (FOIL): the number the employee is eligible per year is
determined by category of remote locality
Accommodation Allowance: up to three days to be utilised in conjunction with FOILs, when
the employee stays in non-departmental accommodation, ie private or commercial
Reimbursement of Freight costs: for transport of household goods to a set weight limit,
pending eligibility, per calendar month
For details regarding each of these entitlements as they apply to each category, please refer
to Determination No 2 of 2003, Amendment of Determination No 2 of 2003 - 27/10/09 and
Determination No 1 as provided at the beginning of each calendar year.
5. Forms
Nil (For forms relevant to entitlements, see related Atlas Items)
6. References and Supporting Documents
Related Atlas Items:
Fares Out Of Isolated Localities
Perishables & Freight Reimbursement
Study Leave
Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment
Public Sector Employment Management Act
Determination No 2 of 2003
Amendment of Determination No 2 of 2003 - 27/10/09
Determination No 1 (per calendar year)
Public Sector Employment and Management By-laws
- PSEM By-laws Part 5
Northern Territory - Map
Issue No 3, February 2006 OCPE, Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) News
Developed by: Professional Practice Group Page 2 Reviewed: Feb 2009, Jan 2010,
Endorsed by: Professional Practice Coordinator
Release Date: June 2007 Next Review: January 2013