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31 May 2016	Jutland sacrifices remembered 100 years on The Royal Australian Navy has marked the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland with a commemorative service at the Navy Memorial in Canberra. The decisive First World War naval engagement – the largest of the war – was fought in the late afternoon of 31 May 1916 and continued until the early hours of 1 June. More.....
31 May 2016	MRCA Rehabilitation Long-Term Study The MRCA Rehabilitation Long-Term Study is a joint DVA-Department of Defence project that will examine the effectiveness of rehabilitation arrangements under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) within both the Australian Defence Force and DVA, over the long term. More.....
31 May 2016	Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victorian Chapter) President's May Musings are now available to download.....
29 May 2016	Military repatriation chance to welcome home Australians Australia will welcome home 33 Australian service personnel and dependents, including 22 Vietnam War veterans, on Thursday, 2 June in one of the largest, single military repatriations in this country’s history. The returning Australians, 21 Vietnam veterans, three servicemen and eight dependents, had been interred at Terendak Military Cemetery in Malaysia, with the single other casualty of the Vietnam War still interred overseas returning from the Kranji Military Cemetery in Singapore. More.....
27 May 2016	Vietnam veterans' children receive education funding The Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), Simon Lewis PSM, has congratulated 34 students from across Australia who have been selected to receive funding under the Long Tan Bursary scheme. More.....
27 May 2016	Remains of six First World War soldiers identified The Australian Army has confirmed the identification of a further six Australians from the 250 Australian and British World War One soldiers recovered from a mass burial site at Pheasant Wood in France in 2009. The soldiers newly identified are: Second Lieutenant James Benson, Private Justin Hercules Breguet, Private Clifton Sydney Brindal, Private Sidney Broom, Private William Burke, and Private Robert Thomas Maudsley. More.....
27 May 2016	NVN's May 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that your monthly newsletter is available to download, the email address you supplied on joining is incorrect or out of date.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.
27 May 2016	Atomic survivors visit Stirling The Australian Ex Services Atomic Survivors Association visited HMAS Stirling recently, as the group was in Western Australia preparing to travel to the site of the atomic tests at the Monte Bello Islands in the 1950s. Secretary of the Association Jim Marlow spoke about the plans the Association had made to erect a plaque on the site of the atomic tests. More.....
25 May 2016	Navy League of Australia(Vic-Tas Div) May newsletter is now available to download.....
25 May 2016	Agenda for Change 2016: strategic choices for the next government The defence of Australia’s interests is a core business of federal governments. Regardless of who wins the election on 2 July, the incoming government will have to grapple with a wide range of security issues. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute will soon release a Strategy report which provides a range of perspectives on selected defence and national security issues, as well as a number of policy recommendations. More.....
24 May 2016	Tailored for maritime combat Navy’s ‘working rig’, the Disruptive Pattern Navy Uniform or DPNU that has been worn since 2009, is scheduled to be replaced by late 2017. The Maritime Multi-cam Pattern Uniform will incorporate changes to the fabric, print pattern and uniform design. With a unique six colour palette, the new style is planned to result in a balance between suitability for everyday work and protecting personnel from exposure to battle damage. More.....
24 May 2016	Sea, air and land updates Sea State USS Zumwalt, the lead ship of the US Navy’s next-generation guided missile destroyers, was formally delivered by shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works last Friday. The eagerly awaited 610-foot ship features a tumblehome hull form and is designed for surface warfare, anti-aircraft warfare and naval gunfire support. More.....
20 May 2016	Soil testing starts at Albatross and Creswell The Department of Defence has commenced an environmental investigation at HMAS Albatross and nearby HMAS Creswell to evaluate the potential presence of chemicals which were historically used in fire fighting foams. Defence commenced phasing out this form of foam from 2004 when it became known that PFOS and PFOA were emerging as potential contaminants. More.....
20 May 2016	75th Anniversary of Commissioning of 'Q' Class Destroyers 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the commissioning of the eight 'Q' class destroyers. To honour this occasion, the Ex HMAS Quickmatch Association is having a sunset commemoration and wreath laying ceremony at the NSW Penrith RSL on Thursday March 16th, 2017. A luncheon is to be held at the RSL the following day, Friday 17th at 1300.
20 May 2016	Australians Reunited – Terendak Repatriation, 2 June 2016 On Thursday, 2 June 2016 Australia will welcome home 33 Australian service personnel and dependents, many of whom were casualties of the Vietnam War, from cemeteries in Malaysia and Singapore. It will be one of the largest single repatriations of Australian service men and dependents in Australia’s history. More.....
19 May 2016	What the Australian public really think about Chinese investment in our maritime ports Article by Hannah Bretherton, a researcher at the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI). In March the US State Department dropped a line to the Australian people via The Australian newspaper to let us know how fearful we are of Chinese investment. To illustrate their point, they homed in on the deal that saw Chinese company, Landbridge, acquire an 80 percent share of the lease to operate the Port of Darwin. More.....
18 May 2016	One step closer to hypersonic flight Chief Defence Scientist Dr Alex Zelinsky today congratulated an Australian-United States team on the success of an experimental hypersonic flight at the Woomera Test Range. The experimental rocket reached an apogee of 278 km, achieving the targeted speed of Mach 7.5 (seven and a half times the speed of sound). "The success of this test launch takes us one step closer to the realisation of hypersonic flight," Dr Zelinsky said. More.....
17 May 2016	Thinking deeper about Australia’s offensive cyber capability Article by Liam Nevill, an analyst in ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre. At the launch of Australia’s new Cyber Security Strategy last month, the Prime Minister confirmed what many have been guessing for years: Australia possesses offensive cyber capabilities. The announcement, however, provided us with the barest of information about Australia’s offensive cyber capability, and it remains largely unclear how its potential uses have been conceived by government and the national security community. More.....
17 May 2016	Military & General Antiques Fair The National Vietnam Veterans Museum is holding an antiques road show style event at the Museum on Sunday 12 June, 2016 (Queen’s Birthday long weekend). A Military & General Antiques Fair. Bring your 'treasures' with you. Specialists will be onsite to provide estimates, advice and information on your military & general antiques. No need to book. Attached is a flyer outlining the event.....
16 May 2016	Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Defence acknowledges today’s announcement that the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will conduct a Defence case study. The Defence case study will inquire into allegations of child abuse within certain areas of the Australian Defence Force. This includes allegations of historical abuse of children under the age of 18 and will focus on Navy’s former Junior Recruit Training Establishment at HMAS Leeuwin, the Army Apprentices’ School at Balcombe, and Australian Defence Force Cadet organisations from 2000 to present. More.....
14 May 2016	Brisbane’s Navy base commissions as HMAS Moreton The Royal Australian Navy formally commissioned Navy Headquarters – South Queensland as HMAS Moreton today in a ceremony steeped in tradition. The Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, together with Senators Joanna Lindgren and Chris Ketter, joined the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, to mark the significant and rare occasion. More.....
12 May 2016	Australia commemorates Vietnam War veterans on 50th anniversary of Battle of Long Tan Australia’s Vietnam War veterans will be honoured with a series of commemorative events this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said today. The Battle of Long Tan took place on 18 August 1966. It was the most costly single battle fought by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War, involving 105 Australians and three New Zealanders from D Company 6RAR and more than 2,000 enemy troops. More.....
12 May 2016	Australia in the South China Sea: balancing interests as China flexes by Tom Switzer, research associate at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre This week the Pentagon ordered the USS William P. Lawrence, a guided-missile destroyer, to sail within 12 nautical miles of the land feature China has constructed on Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea. It’s the third time since October the US Navy has penetrated the zone, and it reaffirms Washington’s insistence that Beijing has no territorial claims to the artificial islands there. More.....
12 May 2016	National security wrap by Ashleigh Sharp, Lachlan Wilson and Dione Hodgson, ASPI research interns. The Beat Report: Australia’s advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade released its final report to conclude the inquiry into Australia’s advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty last week. More.....
11 May 2016	How Trump would weaken America Article by Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presumptive US presidential nominee, has expressed deep scepticism about the value of America’s alliances. His is a very nineteenth-century view of the world. Back then, the United States followed George Washington’s advice to avoid ‘entangling alliances’ and pursued the Monroe Doctrine, which focused on US interests in the Western Hemisphere. More.....
11 May 2016	Life raft contract delivers improved safety With the safety at the forefront of negotiations, the Royal Australian Navy signed a five-year contract recently that ensured the fleet received the best inflatable life rafts with improved servicing requirements. Under the contract with Survitec - a world leader in marine safety solutions - the existing fleet of inflatable life rafts will be replaced with leased commercial off-the-shelf inflatable life rafts. More.....
10 May 2016	HMAS RANKIN conducts engagement visit to Japan The growing Defence relationship between Japan and Australia was given a boost this week when Royal Australian Navy (RAN) submarine HMAS Rankin conducted a port visit to Kobe, Japan from 6 to10 May 2016. Highlighting Australia’s commitment to our long term relationship with Japan, Rankin will participate in a bilateral exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). More.....
10 May 2016	HMAS Duchess Reunion (expressions of interest) Expressions of interest are called for the 8th reunion of all HMAS Duchess Crewmembers, to be held at Tweed Heads RSL, November 3rd, 4th and 5th 2017. Expected cost will be $200.00, but this includes Friday and Saturday night dinner and Sunday lunch, and a certain amount of dry till Saturday night. Deposit of $50.00 expected to be called end June 2017, balance of payment by end September 2017. Enquiries to: Rod Clarey, Ph 0409267388, email: or Bruce Bowmaker, Ph 0403243795, email:
10 May 2016	US Navy espionage case—what does it mean for the South China Sea? by Dione Hodgson, research intern at ASPI The effectiveness of the US’ counterintelligence capabilities has been brought into question in recent weeks, after it emerged during a pre-trial hearing on 8 April that a US Navy flight officer had been charged with espionage over allegations that he passed secret information to Taiwan and possibly China. One of the most troubling aspects of the charge is that the officer may have compromised key US maritime surveillance assets and activities in the South China Sea. More.....
09 May 2016	DWP 2016: betting big at the regional roulette table by ASPI Senior analyst Mark Thomson We now have our third Defence White Paper in less than seven years. In the preceding quarter century we managed only four. The reduced shelf life of recent White Papers reflects—in part—volatility at the top. Over the same seven-year period, we’ve had two major reorganisations of Russell Hill, three defence chiefs, four department secretaries, five prime ministers and six defence ministers. More.....
08 May 2016	Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Appointments Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC Dan Tehan, today announced two appointments to the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (MRCC). Air Vice-Marshal Tracy Smart AM and Rear Admiral Brett Wolski AM have been appointed to the MRCC. More.....
07 May 2016	Final Anzac readies for upgrade HMAS Stuart recently became the last of the Anzac class frigates to enter the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade. Stuart docked at the BAE Systems Australia Henderson shipyard in Western Australia on 3 May and will remain out of the water until early March 2017. More.....
06 May 2016	Replacement replenishment vessels The Government has signed contracts with Navantia S.A. to build Australia’s two replacement replenishment ships, avoiding a critical capability gap. Australia’s current supply ship HMAS Success will reach its end of life in 2021 and needs to be replaced as a matter of priority. As part of the $640 million contract with Navantia more than $130 million will go to Australian industry. More.....
06 May 2016	Military and Security Communication Workshop The role of military and security public information in addressing violent extremism was the centrepiece of an international military workshop held in Canberra this week (2-6 May 16). A total of 24 military and security personnel from 10 countries attended the strategic communication workshop hosted by the Department of Defence, the fourth of its kind held since 2010 in support of the Defence Cooperation Program. More.....
05 May 2016	Australia’s future submarine—problems of politics by Kim Beazley While I was Ambassador to the US, I visited Electric Boat's yard in Groton, Connecticut, where the US Navy's latest Virginia class nuclear submarines are under construction. This wasn’t an indulgence. Part of my job was to seek constant reassurance from the relevant officials of our ally that strong US support would be forthcoming when we finally decided on a process and partner(s) for the replacement for the Collins-class submarines. More.....
05 May 2016	Contract signed for replacement Pacific Patrol Boats The Turnbull Government today signed a contract with Austal Ships Pty Ltd to build and sustain up to 21 steel-hulled vessels to replace the existing fleet of Pacific Patrol Boats as part of Australia’s new Pacific Maritime Security Program. As part of the $280 million (ex-GST) contract Austal will design and construct the first 19 vessels in Henderson, securing more than 120 jobs for Western Australia. More.....
04 May 2016	ADSO Media Statement - Veterans Health The Key Outcome Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO) welcome the mostly positive announcements concerning veterans in the 2016 Federal Budget which, among a number of initiatives, extended the eligibility for non-liability health care to all current and former ADF members for the treatment of PTSD, anxiety, depression, alcohol and substance abuse. More.....
04 May 2016	Good luck to Australia’s Invictus Games athletes The team of serving and former defence athletes representing Australia at the Invictus Games would do us proud, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan said as the team departed today. More.....
03 May 2016	Delivering on mental health and enhanced support for veterans In the 2016–17 Budget, the Turnbull Government’s focus is on ensuring the mental health needs of our veterans are met through early intervention strategies, as well as improving our capability to provide better customer service and support for veterans and their families, now and into the future. More.....
03 May 2016	Budget 2016-17 – Defence Budget overview The 2016 Defence Budget delivers on the Turnbull Government’s commitment to ensuring Australia’s long-term security and economic prosperity. It provides the funding needed to deliver the capability plans set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper, including plans for the Australian naval shipbuilding industry, and to support our ongoing commitments to Defence Operations. More.....
02 May 2016	Australia to participate in regional counter-terrorism exercise Australia is making a major contribution to a regional maritime security and counter-terrorism exercise in Brunei and Singapore being held from 2 – 12 May 2016. Australia will join 17 other ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) nations participating in the exercise. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said Australian Special Forces; Navy ships HMAS Anzac and HMAS Bathurst; and headquarters staff will rehearse their responses to a maritime terrorism scenario during the exercise. More.....
02 May 2016	Response to Fairfax reporting on the use of tafenoquine in the ADF \| On the Record It is disappointing that reporting on the use of anti-malarial drugs in the Australian Defence Force continues to be sensationalist, inaccurate and highly selective. Henry Belot’s article ‘Military used drug despite warning’ (Canberra Times, 29 April 2016) is a case in point. The article implies ADF medical staff acted improperly when they did not. More.....
30 Apr 2016	Commemorative Grants Fund Local Community Projects More than $220,000 in grants have been awarded to 88 community projects that honour Australia's wartime history, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, Dan Tehan, announced today. Some of the projects include planting a First World War memorial garden at a public school, the production of an educational short film featuring veterans and the preservation of two 25 pounder field guns as part of Second World War Memorial Gates. More.....
30 Apr 2016	ADSO Update. Download.....
29 Apr 2016	New Warrant Officer of the Navy appointed Navy has a new most-senior sailor with the appointment of Navy’s eighth Warrant Officer of the Navy. Warrant Officer of the Navy Gary Wight took over from Martin Holzberger in a ceremony at Russell Offices on 29 April. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett said the role was important and it was the most senior rank a sailor could achieve. More.....
29 Apr 2016	Funding to honour Australia’s Vietnam veterans More than $388,000 has been awarded to communities across Australia to honour Vietnam veterans under the Australian Government’s Vietnam War Commemorative Grants program, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, Dan Tehan, announced on 20 April 2016. The Vietnam War Commemorative Grants program was established under the Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Programme for 2015–16. More.....
29 Apr 2016	Navy League of Australia(Vic-Tas Div) April newsletter is now available to download.....

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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.....

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