Facilities

Accommodation

Students will be required to “live-in” on the base for the course duration. Each student will be provided with a single room furnished with basic necessities (single bed, desk, wardrobe, and some shelving) and clean linen provided weekly.

Students are advised that storage facilities in rooms and accommodation blocks are limited and they should therefore pack only those items that are necessary.

Laundry facilities are available.

Students will be required to clean their accommodation to a high standard for weekly inspection and maintain this standard throughout the course.

Mess

Students are required to be a member of the OTS Students’ Mess while attending OTS. The Mess is a club for Officer trainees, which is used for after-hours socialising and relaxing. Like all clubs, RAAF messes have rules and customs that must be followed. Mess etiquette is an important tradition in the Air Force and you will be instructed in Mess etiquette early in the course.

All members of the Mess are required to pay a $62.50 mess fee, covering subscriptions and Dining-In-Night costs.

The OTS Students’ Mess is your club and you may invite guests to join you in the Mess for a meal, provided you gain approval from the President of the Mess Committee and pay the appropriate charge for your guests. Guests will be required to adhere to the dress and behaviour standards expected of members.

The requirement to live on the base does not prevent you from having family and friends visit the base during weekend free time. However, base / trainee accommodation is not to be used for accommodating visitors overnight.

Computer Facilities

The Computer Resource Centre at OTS provides students with access to over sixty networked workstations with printing facilities.

Students will be given access to the Defence Intranet, the Internet and Defence e-mail accounts. Please note: Access to all personal online e-mail services, such as Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and Google Mail, is not allowed through the Defence computer network. There are also strict regulations as to what may be accessed and downloaded through the Defence firewall.

Students are not required to bring their own PCs, but, should you wish to bring your own computer it will be a benefit to you in your studies as most courseware and notes are now produced on DVD. This is a concerted effort, by OTS, to be more environmentally aware.You will be responsible for your own equipment and any associated support required.

You will not be able to connect to the Defence network via your PC and the only reliable Wireless ADSL support is via Telstra® (Next G), most other mobile phone and wireless ADSL network providers have extensive black spots on and off base.

Library

The base library is available to students and provides resources relating to their study.

Sporting facilities

Sporting facilities available to students include tennis courts, a gymnasium including after hours access, a swimming pool, golf course and sports ovals.

 

Base facilities

RAAF Base East Sale provides the following on base facilities:

Facility	Days Open	Opening Time
Tracey’s Place (General Store)	MON-TUE WED-FRI SAT	0730-1730 0730-2000 1100-1400
Hairdressing	MON- THU FRI	0900-1700 0900-1500
Defence Credit Union	MON-FRI FRI	0900-1600
Roulette Cinema	TUE & SAT nights	1900
Post Office (including EFTPOS)	Within Tracey's Place
RAAF Clothing Store and Tailor Shop	MON-THU FRI	0800-1630 0800-1430

Chaplains

The OTS Chaplain has a formal classroom role and an informal involvement with OTS students, and is also available for consultation on request. The OTS Chaplain will arrange the coverage of specific denominational needs as required.

A Chapel is located on the base. There are many local congregations of different denominations should you desire to be part of one of them. Check the local phone book, or ask the OTS Chaplain for more information.

Medical and Dental

The RAAF provides members with all appropriate medical and dental treatment free of charge as part of the conditions of service. Should you require hospitalisation, you will be sent to a local civilian facility. Your next of kin will be informed should you become seriously ill. However, in less serious cases, the responsibility for such notification rests with you.

Transport

Motor vehicles. Private motor vehicle use is permitted during Initial Officer Course. Students may only use their vehicles whilst on leave or during stand-down periods. Non-covered, on street car parking is provided for Initial Officer Course students.

Victorian road rules. RAAF Base East Sale adheres to the Victorian road rules. Road rules vary from state to state, for the most recent information on Victorian Road rules including registration requirements, incoming members are advised to check the information provided on the following website: http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Local Public Transport. RAAF Base East Sale is located approximately 7km from the Sale CBD. Transport to the Sale CBD from RAAF Base East Sale is limited to taxis.