News & Articles of Interest

Keep up to date - download our smartphone app
download the brochure to find out how......

27 Dec 2016	Russian ‘spy-submarine’ Podmoskovye back in service after 18-year refit The Russian Navy has received a new Delta IV ballistic missile submarine ‘Podmoskovye’ after the boat spent 18 years undergoing refit and modernization at the Zvezdochka shipyard. The Project 667BDRM Delfin-class (NATO classification: Delta IV) submarine had its missile compartment removed and is now capable of deploying “mini-submarines” with the aim of counteracting U.S. and NATO intelligence efforts. More.....
23 Dec 2016	Defence to review cases of withheld or refused honours and awards Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan said today Defence would review the applications it had received for historical cases of former Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who had their honours and awards withheld or refused. The majority of personnel whose medals were withheld or forfeited served during or shortly after World War II. Mr Tehan said the Government had accepted the first four of five recommendations from the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal report on its Inquiry into the refusal to issue entitlements to, withholding and forfeiture of Defence Honours and Awards. More.....
23 Dec 2016	NVN's December Newsletter NOTE from Webmaster: If you are a member and haven't been notified that your monthly newsletter is available to download, the email address you supplied on joining is incorrect or out of date. To correct this, contact the webmaster at: and he will copy and amend your address.
22 Dec 2016	Petitions to the House of Reps and the Senate The petitions are asking the government to rectify serious shortfalls in the way pensions are calculated, or I should say miscalculated, for former Defence Force Personnel. Below is a file that explains the background and reasons for the petitions. Also there are copies of the two petitions. It would be much appreciated if you, your family members and your friends would sign these petitions, scan them and email them back to the main petitioner Jim Hislop, whose email address is DFRDB Update..... Lower House Petition..... Senate Petition.....
21 Dec 2016	HMAS Adelaide crew helps seize $60M worth of cocaine off Tasmania Sailors aboard the Royal Australian Navy’s Canberra-class landing helicopter dock HMAS Adelaide helped the Australian Border Force seize 186 kilograms of cocaine and arrest ten men in a counter drug operation last week. HMAS Adelaide intercepted a vessel carrying $60.45 million worth of cocaine and escorted it into the port of Hobart. ADF personnel boarded the vessel in the Southern Ocean off Tasmania detaining the crew. Ten foreign nationals were arrested. More.....
21 Dec 2016	Australian Defence Force Members awarded Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation Australian Defence Force members from the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team Three (CDT3), Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV), Royal Australian Air Force Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV)/35 Squadron (SQN) and 9 SQN who served in Vietnam 50 years ago have been recognised with the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation (the Citation). More.....
21 Dec 2016	Support for veterans with drug and alcohol dependencies Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today announced the establishment of a panel of community-based providers to help treat members of the veteran community experiencing alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders. More.....
21 Dec 2016	Commemorative grants fund 66 local community projects Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today announced more than $160,000 had been awarded to 66 community projects honouring Australia’s wartime history. Mr Tehan said the projects, funded under the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service grants program, played an important role in community commemorations. More.....
20 Dec 2016	Release of Government response to Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today released the Australian Government’s response to the Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study. The Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study compared the physical, mental and social wellbeing of two groups of Australian veterans: 10,000 randomly selected Army Vietnam veterans and their families with 10,000 randomly selected Defence personnel who served in the Army during the Vietnam War era but did not deploy to Vietnam and their families. More.....
20 Dec 2016	Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victorian Chapter) President's December Musings are now available to download.....
20 Dec 2016	How many nations’ interests can you fit into a submarine? If you can fit your own nation’s interests into a submarine without it sinking, you’re doing well. But try to fit in the interests of a second and even a third nation and there’s danger that the submarine could sink you. More.....
20 Dec 2016	Australia and France sign Future Submarine Inter-Governmental Agreement Australia’s Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and France’s Minister of Defence, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, today welcomed the signing of an Agreement on Australia’s Future Submarine Program. The agreement establishes the framework between the Governments of Australia and France required for the development of the Royal Australian Navy’s new fleet of submarines. More.....
19 Dec 2016	Chief of Navy Christmas message
19 Dec 2016	Veterans' support services continue over Christmas Veterans can be assured that access to crucial support services will continue to be available throughout the Christmas and New Year period, Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Simon Lewis said today. Mr Lewis said that providing continued access to support services was very important during the festive season, especially as many of our veterans find this time of year challenging. More.....
19 Dec 2016	US Navy assessment backs Trump’s 350-plus ship plan A U.S. Navy report on its future naval force requirements is in line with U.S. president Donald Trump’s plans of building a 350-plus ship navy. Trump announced the goal of a 350-ship navy during a speech in September when he said his plan was based on a 2014 Pentagon quadrennial review of projected threats and U.S. responses. The 2016 Force Structure Assessment (FSA), unveiled by the Secretary of the Navy on Friday, recommends a 355-ship fleet including 12 carriers, 104 large surface combatants, 52 small surface combatants, 38 amphibious ships, and 66 submarines. More.....
19 Dec 2016	Australian Civmec unveils plans for new naval shipbuilding facility Australian heavy engineering company Civmec Limited has unveiled plans for its new shipbuilding facility that will be primarily targeted at naval defence projects. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Forgacs Marine and Defence Pty Ltd, Civmec is aiming at taking part in Australia’s A$89 billion naval ship and submarine upgrading program, which forms part of the Australian government’s projected A$195 billion overall defence investment over the next decade. More.....
19 Dec 2016	US Navy tests unmanned swarming boats The U.S. Office of Naval Research has recently tested autonomous unmanned swarming boats during a demonstration in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Using a combination of software, radar and other sensors, officials from the Office of Naval Research (ONR)—together with partners from industry, academia and other government organizations—were able to get a “swarm” of rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and other small boats to collectively perform patrol missions autonomously, with only remote human supervision, rather than direct human operation, as they performed their missions. More.....
18 Dec 2016	Exercise Ocean Raider
16 Dec 2016	Navy League of Australia(Vic-Tas Div) December newsletter is now available to download.....
16 Dec 2016	Destroyer Brisbane launched The second Hobart class destroyer marked a major milestone in its construction when she was officially named Brisbane and launched in Adelaide on 15 December. Mrs Robyn Shackleton, wife of former Chief of Navy and Commanding Officer of HMAS Brisbane II, Vice Admiral David Shackleton (retired), was guest of honour and launching lady, sending the destroyer on her way with the traditional toast and smash of a bottle. “The launching of this ship marks the beginning of a new adventure for Brisbane thanks in no small part to the dedicated people constructing her and fitting her out,” Mrs Shackleton said. More.....
14 Dec 2016	Naval shipbuilding in Australia: the case for a regulatory overhaul The government’s decision to pursue multi-decade domestic ship and submarine building programs sits oddly with decades of economic reform. Successive governments have striven to maintain competition in the Australian economy, and for good reason. Competitive markets drive efficiency, promote innovation and contain costs. But what’s left of the local car industry attests to the unintended consequences of such policies. More.....
13 Dec 2016	Defence White Papers at 40 November marked the 40th anniversary of the first Defence White Paper, presented to Parliament in November 1976 by James (later Sir James) Killen, Defence Minister in Malcolm Fraser’s coalition government. Today ASPI releases its latest Strategy paper in which I look at the history of Defence White Papers. It addresses questions such as: How is it that Australia managed for the first 75 years after Federation without a Defence White Paper and then produced seven in 40 years, the last three within seven years? How have the White Papers evolved over this time? What do they now achieve? More.....
12 Dec 2016	Australia, DCNS and boosting the sovereignty of our new subs by Peter Briggs Australia’s next submarines will be the most sophisticated naval vessels under construction in the world and they will be built here in Australia with Australian workers using Australian expertise and Australian steel. The strong desire to maximise Australian content has more to it than mere symbology. In fact, as David Nicholls argued recently, it goes to the level of sovereignty achieved and will be a critical determinant of the operational capability provided to Navy, and define Australia’s control over the design, along with local industry’s involvement in its support. More.....
12 Dec 2016	Alliance legends and lacuna (2)—ANZUS Australian questions about what Donald Trump will do to the alliance recall Robert Menzies’ fear that ANZUS would be ‘a superstructure on a foundation of jelly’. If Trump has the Oz alliance assumptions quivering, that dread of a shaky base has been around since the moment of conception. More.....
11 Dec 2016	Chinese, US Navy ships maneuver off California U.S. Navy cruiser USS Bunker Hill took part in a maneuvering exercise with People’s Liberation Army (Navy) ships off the coast of Southern California, December 9. Jiangkai II-class frigates Yancheng (FFG 546) and Daqing (FFG 576), and the Fuchi-class oiler Tai Hu (AOR 889) joined Bunker Hill exercising communications and safety of navigation, and maneuvering into various formations. More.....
10 Dec 2016	Ballarat patrols North West Shelf The north west coast of Western Australia, also known as the North West Shelf, is home to Australia’s vast and strategically vital oil and gas infrastructure. HMAS Ballarat is part of the ongoing Australian Defence Force operations in the region to ensure security and stability of these critical assets by providing a sustained presence capable of detecting, locating and acting on threats to Australia’s interests. More.....
09 Dec 2016	Australia contracts BAE Systems for air warfare destroyer maintenance Shipbuilder BAE Systems has been awarded a five year, $70 million contract to maintain the Australian Navy’s new air warfare destroyers. The contract will see BAE Systems manage the delivery of support as the ships transition out of the build phase and into service with the Royal Australian Navy. More.....
09 Dec 2016	USS Zumwalt reaches San Diego homeport USS Zumwalt, the U.S. Navy’s next-generation destroyer, completed her maiden voyage reaching the new homeport of San Diego on December 8. Zumwalt departed Bath Iron Works shipyard September 7 and made several port visits to eastern U.S. Navy fleet concentration areas, such as Norfolk and Mayport, Florida. The nearly four-month transit was not without trouble for the first-of-class warship, however. More.....
09 Dec 2016	US Navy co-hosts biofutures forum in Queensland, Australia The U.S. Navy and Queensland government started a two-day Biofutures Industry Forum at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 7. The forum builds on a statement of cooperation signed between the two sides under which U.S. Navy’s Great Green Fleet warships would refuel with biofuels in Queensland. More.....
09 Dec 2016	Interactive First World War app launched Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today launched a free educational app about the First World War Battles of Fromelles and Pozières to mark their 100th anniversaries this year. The Australian Government commissioned the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to develop the app which allows users to explore both Battles via a 3D map that contains contemporary diary entries narrated by actor Hugo Weaving. Mr Tehan launched the app at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, which has received a $22.5 million commitment from the Anzac Centenary Public Fund to upgrade its facilities. More.....
09 Dec 2016	Belgium First World War exhibition tours Australia Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said Belgium authorities were funding a travelling exhibition of WWI artefacts as a sign of their deep appreciation of the service and sacrifice of Australian soldiers. The Belgians Have Not Forgotten exhibition features wartime artefacts, photographs, maps and film footage from the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in Zonnebeke, Belgium and is supported by the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, the Zonnebeke Council, the Flemish Government and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Australia. More.....
08 Dec 2016	Damage Control exercise on HMAS Parramatta
08 Dec 2016	Austal rolls out ninth Cape-class patrol boat Australian shipbuilder Austal has rolled out Hull 380 at its Henderson shipyard ahead of the launch later this week. Hull 380 is the ninth Cape-class patrol boat designed and constructed by Austal and the first of two to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 2017. The patrol boat will undergo final fitout before sea trials in January 2017. Delivery to the navy is on schedule for April 2017. More.....
08 Dec 2016	US Navy: First female sailors graduate in blue jumper uniform A number of female sailors graduating boot camp with their division on December 2 made history by becoming the first U.S. Navy sailors to graduate with the new female enlisted dress blue jumper uniform. Previously, the uniform traditionally known as the dress blue “Crackerjack” has only been worn by males, but as part of the Navy’s efforts towards uniformity in service members’ uniforms, will now also be worn by females. More.....
07 Dec 2016	Pearl Harbor: New submarine exhibit unveiled The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park has received a new submarine exhibit in honor of the 75th commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Rear Adm. Frederick “Fritz” J. Roegge in partnership with Chuck Merkel, executive director of the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, unveiled the exhibit on December 6. Roegge, commander, submarine force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, spoke to more than 150 guests, military and civilian, about the importance of the submarine force during World War II. More.....
07 Dec 2016	Upgrade of the Osborne South Naval Shipyard The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced the Department of Defence and Odense Maritime Technologies of Denmark were working together on the infrastructure upgrades needed for the delivery of the Government’s continuous naval shipbuilding program. Minister Pyne said Odense Maritime Technologies would work with a range of stakeholders including Defence, the South Australian Government and ASC to deliver a surface vessel shipyard that supports both the minor and major surface vessel programs now and into the future. More.....
06 Dec 2016	Royal Navy frigate escorts Russian destroyer through the Channel Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland escorted the Russian Navy’s Udaloy-class destroyer as it started a transit through the English Channel. The Devonport-based frigate deployed from its base in Plymouth early on Saturday morning (3 December) to a position at the western edge of the Channel to meet the Kulakov as she arrived in UK waters. More.....
06 Dec 2016	Supporting female veterans and families Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan praised the contribution of our female Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and veterans and called on all Australians to recognise their service and sacrifice. Mr Tehan attended the first-ever Female Veterans and Families Forum in Canberra today where female veterans and representatives from veterans and family groups discussed ways to improve services. More.....
05 Dec 2016	HMAS Ararat Mission Readiness Evaluation
05 Dec 2016	Two sailors dead as Indian warship tips over during undocking Two sailors were confirmed dead while a number of others are being treated for injuries after the Indian Navy frigate INS Betwa tipped over on Monday as it was being undocked at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The incident occurred in the Cruiser Graving Dock during undocking evolution wherein it is suspected that the dock blocks mechanism has failed. More.....
05 Dec 2016	Australian Navy depth sounder helps New Zealand in quake aftermath The Royal Australian Navy laser airborne depth sounder flight has deployed to assist in disaster relief efforts off the South Island of New Zealand. The Cairns-based flight has conducted a hydrographic survey of the sea floor in the coastal margins of the north-east coast of the South Island following the recent 7.9 magnitude earthquake near Christchurch. More.....
02 Dec 2016	USS Zumwalt continues homeport transit after repairs in Panama After experiencing a breakdown while transiting the Panama Canal on November 21 the ship was first towed to the former U.S. naval base Rodman and later moved to Balboa, Panama for repairs. According to a U.S. 3rd Fleet statement on Thursday, a team repaired USS Zumwalt’s propulsion systems and the ship was able to continue its journey on November 30. More.....
02 Dec 2016	Supporting veterans and communities The Government will honour veterans in towns and cities around Australia with more than $530,000 in grants to ex-service organisations for community projects. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said the latest round of 32 grants under the Veteran and Community Grants program would benefit veterans, their families and communities. “These grants will fund a diverse range of projects and equipment, including facilities upgrades to improve venue accessibility, computer equipment and social outings,” Mr Tehan said. More.....
02 Dec 2016	Ex-HMAS Tobruk (II) to become Queensland dive wreck Ex-HMAS Tobruk will continue to serve Australia—now as a tourist destination—when it is scuttled off the coast between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay as a dive wreck. Minister for Defence Personnel the Hon Dan Tehan MP said today marks the final chapter for a fine Navy ship which has served Australia well since her commissioning in 1981. More.....
01 Dec 2016	ADF given greater power to target terrorists The Parliament has today passed important legislation giving the Australian Defence Force (ADF) greater power to target terrorists with lethal force. The Criminal Code Amendment (War Crimes) Bill 2016 aligns Australia’s domestic law with international humanitarian law and provides legal certainty for Defence personnel fighting terrorist groups in combat zones. Until now, Australian domestic law restricted the ADF from targeting key players in Daesh’s combat operations who were not directly involved in hostilities. More.....
30 Nov 2016	Local industry the focus for Offshore Patrol Vessel project The multi-billion dollar Offshore Patrol Vessel project has reached a significant milestone with the release of the Request for Tender to the three shortlisted designers. The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the Request for Tender will see Damen, Fassmer and Luerssen team up with Australian shipbuilders. “We want to ensure the tenderers’ responses maximise Australian industry opportunities through a local build using Australian made steel." More.....
30 Nov 2016	Preliminary results from study into veterans’ suicide The Government today released the most statistically robust data ever compiled into the prevalence of suicide among current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) study Estimation of incidence of suicide in ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel used data from the Defence Department’s Personnel Management Key System, which contains information on all people who serve or have served in the ADF from 1 January 2001, and the National Death Index (NDI). More.....

Archives

News

Newsletters

DVA
Information of Interest

Request for Committal of Ashes to the Sea. Download form.....

Current Repatriation Benefits for Gold Card Veterans -
As of 01 January 2018
This is a list of products that are available on a Doctor's prescription for Gold Card Repatriation Patients. Download the list.....

DVA Mobile Apps

The new Operation Life mobile application is designed to help those at risk deal with suicidal thoughts and is recommended to be used with the support of a clinician.

The High Res (High Resilience) app helps you manage stress, build resilience and optimise performance on the go.

The PTSD Coach Australia app can help you learn about and manage symptoms that commonly occur after trauma.

ON TRACK with the Right Mix mobile app from the Department of Veterans Affairs helps you to keep track of the number and types of drinks you consume; the amount of money it's costing you and lets you know about the impact the alcohol has on your wellbeing and fitness levels.

Guide to the assessment of rates of veterans’ pensions
Guide to the assessment of rates of veterans’ pensions (GARP) is used to assess the extent of incapacity from war caused or defence caused injury or disease for the purposes of determining the rate of pension. Download.....

Planning ahead kit
Overview: Planning Ahead is a publication designed to help veterans and their families prepare for bereavement. There is also a checklist that can be used to record the contact details of important people, businesses and organisations that may need to be notified in case of your death. Download.....

DVA Concessions Fact Sheets
Factsheet CON01 - Concessions in NSW
Factsheet CON02 - Concessions in Vic
Factsheet CON03 - Concessions in QLD
Factsheet CON04 - Concessions in SA
Factsheet CON05 - Concessions in WA
Factsheet CON06 - Concessions in Tas
Factsheet CON07 - Concessions in NT
Factsheet CON08 - Concessions in ACT

War Service

Check your ship's eligibility for war service.....

News & Articles of Interest

DVA Information of Interest

DVA
Information of Interest