For investors, buying a DHA property is very much a hassle-free endeavour—you don't have to worry about tenant issues such as vacancy or rental payments.

This month, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, released the findings of the 2007 Defence Census, and we thought you might like to know a little more about the 'high calibre tenants' that not only protect our nation, but also reside in DHA investment properties.

'The census provides valuable information on the Defence workforce and Defence families that is not available from other sources,' Minister Snowdon said.

'The data plays an important part in framing personnel policies and initiatives that make a difference to Defence people, particularly Australian Defence Force (ADF) families, and allows Defence to better target its programs.'

An investment with a social conscience—paying dividends not only for your financial security, but also the security of your country

Investors play an important role in enabling DHA to provide and improve the standard of Defence housing across the nation. The vital role played by well-designed and well-located housing should not be overestimated; the provision of high-quality housing greatly contributes to the recruitment, retention and morale of ADF members.

At a glance—summary of key attributes of permanent ADF members for the year 2007

Defence personnel: the majority of members were male (87%), 45% were aged 20-29 years, 30% were 30-39 years, and 14% were aged 40-49 years.

Ethnicity: the majority were born in Australia (87%), 2% were born in New Zealand, 1% were born in an Asian country, and 1% in a European country.

Marital status: 39% of members were currently married and a further 16% were in interdependent partnerships. Nearly one third had never been married and proportionately fewer women than men were married or in interdependent partnerships (47% compared with 56%).

Children/dependents: 28% were members with dependents, 34% did not have dependents, and 4% had unaccompanied dependents.

Length of service: the median length of service was 6.8 years and 15% had completed 20 years or more of service.

Hours of work and nights spent away from home: members worked an average of 48.9 hours per week over the four weeks prior to the Census. A total of 28% worked more than 50 hours per week and 14% reported working more than 60 hours a week.

Most members had spent some time away from their usual residence during the previous year (81%), averaging between 15 and 16 weeks. About 15% had spent more than one-half of the year or more away from their usual residence.

Accommodation: 56% of members were living in service provided accommodation. Service residences off-base was the most common category of service-provided accommodation.