Defence Signals Directorate Reveal their secrets....Protect our own
Career Development

DSD offers a wide range of learning and development tools and opportunities to help staff manage and advance their career.

Induction Training
When you first start working at DSD, you are provided with structured induction training to introduce you to the DSD and Defence working environments. 

Sigint Academy
DSD has its own signals intelligence (Sigint) academy, the DSD Academy, to train staff in contemporary signals intelligence practices.  

Vocational Training
DSD is committed to ensuring staff have access to a range of corporately-funded vocational development opportunities, including various APS and Defence training avenues such as the Defence Business Training Centre. In addition to these opportunities, DSD will consider individual staff requests for other corporately-funded vocational training as required.

Management and Leadership Training
Staff have access to a suite of innovative management and leadership courses to enhance individual and organisation leadership capability. 

Technical Training
DSD offers specialist technical training through a variety of computer networking and programming courses. 

Studybank
Under the Defence Employees' Certified Agreement (DECA), support is available to employees who wish to undertake external studies with a TAFE or tertiary institution. Depending on the relevance of the study to DSD’s business, employees may be eligible to receive financial assistance and/or time away from the office for study.

DSD People Capability Framework
DSD has implemented a People Capability Framework, which outlines the leadership and professional capabilities required to work at different levels and within different business areas across the organisation. Staff can use the framework as a tool to assess their own capabilities and manage their personal career development.

Streams Framework
As part of the People Capability Framework, DSD has introduced the concept of professional ‘streams’ to differentiate between the specialised professional capabilities that exist across different areas of our business. There are 13 major streams, which are grouped into three tiers: analytical, business and technical. Each staff member should be able to identify with one or more streams based on the skills and capabilities they hold. Streams are used as a tool to assist with personal career development and organisational capability planning.

Performance Management Scheme
Defence has a performance management system called the Performance Feedback Assessment and Development Scheme (PFADS). PFADS allow employees and their supervisors to develop a clear and shared understanding of performance expectations, including the standard of work expected and how performance will be assessed.

Pay rises under the DECA are linked to participation in PFADS.