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30 Apr 2017	HMAS Wollongong deploys to the South West Pacific HMAS Wollongong has embarked on a voyage to the South West Pacific as part of the ADF enduring commitment to assist with building security capacity in the region. Wollongong’s South West Pacific deployment will see the Armidale-class patrol boat visit Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia. Through the course of the deployment Wollongong will work with each country to enhance fisheries protection and maritime surveillance capability, and to develop interoperability with the ADF. More.....
29 Apr 2017	Minister for Defence visits HMAS ARUNTA in the Gulf Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, yesterday met with Royal Australian Navy personnel aboard HMAS Arunta in the Persian Gulf. HMAS Arunta is on a nine month deployment to Operation MANITOU, Australia’s contribution to maritime security operations in the region, including counter terrorism, counter piracy and narcotics interdiction. More.....
28 Apr 2017	China and the South China Sea: ‘you shall not pass’ Recently, a senior Vietnamese official asked Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Phnom Penh if negotiations with ASEAN on a South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) would be completed by the end of the year. Mr Wang and his officials laughed it off, a Southeast Asian diplomat told me. A Vietnamese observer said he felt sorry for ASEAN. ‘They are just using the code of conduct to buy time.’ Chinese cynicism about the COC belies apparent progress. More.....
28 Apr 2017	Government welcomes ANAO Report into Future Submarine Program Competitive Evaluation Process 28 The Turnbull Government has today welcomed the findings of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report on the Future Submarine Competitive Evaluation Process. Minister for Defence Industry said the ANAO Report has independently verified that Defence effectively designed and implemented a competitive evaluation process to select an international partner for the Future Submarine Program. More.....
27 Apr 2017	Navy League of Australia(Vic-Tas Div) April newsletter is now available to download.....
27 Apr 2017	Regional cooperation on display as Five Powers Exercise gets underway Exercise Bersama Shield 2017 commenced today in Malaysia and Singapore with Australian Defence Force personnel supporting South East Asia’s longest enduring multilateral defence relationship, the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The long-running Bersama exercise series aims to enhance the interoperability between the founding members of the FPDA - Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. More.....
27 Apr 2017	US Navy helicopter crew safe after crash near Guam A U.S. Navy helicopter embarked on Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Dewey crashed in waters near Guam on Thursday, the U.S. Navy said. The entire crew of the MH-60R helicopter, including two pilots and one aircrewman, were safely recovered by USS Dewey (DDG 105) and suffered no apparent injuries. More.....
26 Apr 2017	CBO: 355 ship fleet would cost the US Navy $102 billion per year The U.S. Navy would have to spend $102 billion per year to build and operate a 355 ship navy, an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office has concluded. The assessment was carried out by the agency after the navy released a new force structure assessment in December 2016 which called for a 355 ship fleet. CBO estimates that the earliest the navy could achieve its fleet goal would be in 2035, or in about 18 years, provided that it received sufficient funding. More.....
26 Apr 2017	Australia kicks off replacement Pacific Patrol Boat construction Australia started the construction phase of the replacement Pacific Patrol Boat program with a steel cutting ceremony in Western Australia on April 26. Up to 21 steel-hulled vessels are set to replace the existing fleet of Pacific Patrol Boats as part of Australia’s new Pacific Maritime Security Program. Austal is in charge of designing and constructing the first 19 vessels in Henderson, Western Australia. More.....
26 Apr 2017	China launches first domestically-built aircraft carrier BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Wednesday launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier, which will join an existing one bought second-hand, amid rising tensions over North Korea and worries about Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. State media has quoted military experts as saying the carrier, designed in China and built in the northeast port of Dalian, is not expected to enter service until 2020, as it will take time to fully kit out and arm. More.....
25 Apr 2017	Royal Australian Navy receives first of two Cape-class patrol boats The Royal Australian Navy received its first Cape-class patrol boat during a delivery ceremony held at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. The Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Fourcroy is the first of two 58 metre patrol vessels that will be chartered by the Commonwealth of Australia on behalf of the Royal Australian Navy, which awarded the A$63 million contract to Austal in December 2015. More.....
25 Apr 2017	Deputy Chief of Navy - On the Record Deputy Chief of Navy has responded to an article in the Daily Telegraph about maintenance and operability of the Canberra class amphibious ships. The article by Mr Matthew Benns in the Daily Telegraph, “What a ship fight” 25 April, is incorrect and misleading in its assertions. Defence has maintained and operated HMA Ships Canberra and Adelaide in accordance with the builders specifications, including the oils and lubricants used in their operation. More.....
24 Apr 2017	Future Russian Navy’s main warships mentioned in Moscow On April 21st, the session of the Russian Defence Ministry Board has been held in Moscow under the leadership of the head of the military department General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. In his opening speech, the Minister of Defence stated that such multipurpose frigates as the Admiral of Soviet Union Fleet Gorshkov fitted with high-precision long-range armament were to become main warships of the Russian Navy and raise its combat potential by 30%. More.....
24 Apr 2017	Royal Australian Navy to commemorate a number of 75th anniversaries During 2017 the Royal Australian Navy will pause to commemorate a number of significant 75th anniversaries as it focuses on what was, arguably, the Navy’s darkest year – 1942. For Australia’s population at that time, 1942 began with a growing sense of trepidation as war spread to the Asia-Pacific following Japan’s attack on the United States Navy fleet in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. More.....
24 Apr 2017	Inquiry into military honours Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan has asked for an investigation into the issue of unit recognition for service with the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam (the RANHFV), and service at the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral. The independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal will conduct the investigation. The fighting at the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral was some of the bloodiest and intense fighting by Australians in the Vietnam War where 26 Australians lost their lives and many more were wounded. More.....
23 Apr 2017	US aircraft carrier loses aircraft en route to North Korea A U.S. Navy pilot flying from the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier crashed while attempting to land during routine flight operations in the Celebs Sea. The pilot ejected and was quickly recovered by an embarked helicopter. The navy said the incident, which took place April 21, was under investigation, adding that the crash occurred as the F/A-18E was on final approach to the carrier. More.....
22 Apr 2017	NVN's April Newsletter - download..... 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 Apr 2017	'Workshop' - Reinvigoration of the ex-Navy Community in Victoria On the 4th March 2017 representatives from ex-Navy Associations throughout Victoria attended a "workshop" at the Mission to Seafarers. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss issues and develop strategies to support ex-Navy Associations in Victoria, to reinvigorate the sense of camaraderie between retired Navy personnel and to encourage their participation in social, ceremonial and commemorative events in Victoria. Noting that a number of Associations have 'gone to the wall' in the 5 years since the first workshop, some consideration needed to be given to identifying options for either perpetuating the name of struggling Associations through affiliation or amalgamation with other organisations and the display, archival or sensitive disposal of memorabilia and records held by Associations which must close. The minutes of the workshop are now available to download.....
22 Apr 2017	The Australian American Association presents: Hands Across The Sea - Royal Australian Navy Band A concert will be held on Saturday 6th May from 2 - 4pm at the Band & Cinema Complex HMAS Cerberus. The concert is commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Tickets are selling fast. Download the Ticket Order Form.....
21 Apr 2017	Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victorian Chapter) President's April Musings are now available to download.....
21 Apr 2017	Circulating coin commemorates Anzac legacy The iconic Australian War Memorial’s mosaic from the Hall of Memory will soon circulate in coloured $2 coins unveiled by Defence Minister Marise Payne and Small Business Minister Michael McCormack today. “Australia’s ANZAC story and legacy commemorates the gallantry and sacrifice of the tens of thousands of Australians who fought and died in the First World War on our country’s behalf,” Senator Payne said. More.....
21 Apr 2017	Video: German F 125 frigate tests RAM, Harpoon missiles The German Navy recently shared a video of its giant 7,000-ton frigate FGS Baden-Württemberg conducting further firing tests. This is the second video of the lead ship of a new class of F 125 frigates firing its weapons in the North Sea’s Helgoland shooting range. More.....
21 Apr 2017	UK MoD awards MBDA £539M in missile contracts The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded missile manufacturer MBDA a total of £539 million worth of contracts for delivery of new and service of existing missiles in the UK armed forces. More specifically, the contract will see MBDA deliver the Meteor air-to-air missiles for the F-35B jets that will operate from the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. More.....
21 Apr 2017	US Navy explicitly bans sharing of nude photos after scandal The U.S. Navy has updated its regulations to explicitly ban the sharing of intimate, private photos without consent, the service announced Tuesday. The announcement comes following a scandal last month that included hundreds of U.S. Marines sharing nude photos of their fellow, female service members. More.....
20 Apr 2017	New K130 corvettes too expensive for German defense ministry Germany’s accelerated acquisition of five additional K130 corvettes could get stalled following a report that shipbuilders Lürssen and Thyssen-Krupp Marine Systems set the price too high. The almost €3 billion price tag is in stark contrast to the €1.5 billion the ministry of defense expected to spend on the corvettes when the acquisition was announced in October 2016. More.....
20 Apr 2017	Video: Russian frigate tests Shtil-1 missile during acceptance trials Admiral Makarov, the third Project 11356 frigate built for the Russian Navy at the Yantar shipyard, is currently being tested before being delivered to the navy. The frigate was launched in September 2015 and recently took to sea for the final phase of the navy’s acceptance trials. More.....
20 Apr 2017	Australian Navy MATV completes sea trials The Australian Navy’s Multi-role Aviation Training Vessel (MATV) MV Sycamore has completed sea trials, Dutch shipbuilder Damen announced. MV Sycamore was built at Damen’s Vietnam shipyard and will now be prepared for her maiden voyage to her home port of Sydney, Australia, where she is expected to arrive at the end of May. More.....
20 Apr 2017	Construction starts on new Russian Navy ice patrol ship Russian shipbuilder Admiralty Shipyards started construction of a new ice-class patrol ship with an official ceremony in St. Petersburg on April 19. The first of two ordered Project 23500 vessels is named Ivan Papanin and will be used for patrols in the Arctic. More.....
19 Apr 2017	German frigate and NATO flagship runs aground in Greece German Navy frigate and current flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 – FGS Brandenburg – ran aground on Monday morning while departing the port of Piraeus, Greece. The frigate collided with a jetty and sustained considerable damage. According to German media, FGS Brandenburg damaged her rudder and both propellers and is only partially operational. More.....
19 Apr 2017	HMAS Ballarat exercises with People’s Republic of China Navy The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Ballarat has completed a range of maritime exercises with Chinese Navy vessel Huangshan following a successful visit to the People’s Republic of China. The Passage Exercise (PASSEX), which was conducted after Ballarat departed the Zhanjiang port, included surface target firing, a search and rescue exercise, communication exercises and a formation activity with aerial photography. More.....
18 Apr 2017	Electronic Warfare Simulation Equips Sailors and Submariners to Project Fleets In a collaborative project with Australian industry, the Royal Australian Navy is extending its use of simulation in training to ensure future electronic warfare sailors are equipped with the most advanced skills to successfully fight at sea. Navy is planning to deploy a common electronic warfare sensor suite across the future fleet and is matching the training to meet upcoming demand. More.....
14 Apr 2017	HMAS Vampire Commemoration Service 2017 A selection of photos from the HMAS Vampire commemoration service held in the Shrine of Remembrance sanctuary on Sunday 9 April 2017 can now be viewed in the Gallery page.
14 Apr 2017	Scrap Iron Flotilla Luncheon 2017 Photos from the 2017 Scrap Iron Flotilla annual lunch held at the William Angliss restaurant on 24 March 2017 can now be viewed in the Gallery page.
14 Apr 2017	Modernising rehabilitation and compensation systems delivers benefits to veterans The time taken to process certain claims for veterans has fallen dramatically thanks to the Government’s investment in updating claims processing systems, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan announced today. Mr Tehan said the Government had provided $23.9 million in the last Budget to replace outdated rehabilitation and compensation systems and to simplify and improve internal processes. More.....
14 Apr 2017	Royal Navy, Spanish warships in another face off in Gibraltar waters Royal Navy’s Gibraltar-based fast patrol boat HMS Scimitar was forced to respond to a Spanish warship incursion into Gibraltar waters for the second time in a month. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that Spanish Navy corvette Infanta Cristina was escorted out of Gibraltar waters on Thursday morning. More.....
13 Apr 2017	Australia could benefit from shorter warship service life, study suggests Reducing the service life of major Royal Australian Navy ships from 30 to 20 years could prove beneficial both for the navy and the Australian shipbuilding industry, a study carried out by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) suggests. Authors of the study suggested that shortening the service life from 30 to 20 years could be more in line with the Australian government’s goals of establishing a continuous shipbuilding enterprise. More.....
12 Apr 2017	Melbourne-Voyager rescue crews commended The Chief of Navy has awarded a Group Commendation to the crews of two Royal Australian Navy vessels involved in the search and rescue efforts following the 1964 collision of HMA Ships Melbourne (I) and Voyager. Members of HMA Ships Air Nymph and Air Sprite pulled 70 survivors from waters off Jervis Bay, on the New South Wales south coast, in a rescue operation that had some on duty for 29 hours straight. More.....
10 Apr 2017	New Zealand Navy’s “largest ever” ship now has a name The Royal New Zealand Navy announced that its newest and largest ever ship to be built will be named HMNZS Aotearoa. The Aotearoa will be an ice-going tanker built in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries. Construction of the new 24,000-tonne vessel will start next year and is expected to be delivered in January 2020. Five members of an RNZN panel, chaired by Deputy Chief of Navy Commodore David Gibbs, considered a range of names, with a shortlist presented to Chief of Navy Rear Admiral John Martin for his final decision. More.....
10 Apr 2017	North Korea: it’s not the first time Australia’s been threatened with nuclear attack A senior US military general in South Korea recently advised Foreign Minister Julie Bishop that Australia would ‘soon be within range’ of a North Korean nuclear strike. That raises several crucial defence policy questions. First, we need to ask: has Washington made it clear to North Korea’s dictator, Kim Jong-un, that an attack on America’s Australian ally will result in an overwhelming nuclear strike on North Korea? The North Korean regime should be left in no doubt that American nuclear strikes on that country would mean it ceased to exist as a functioning society. More.....
09 Apr 2017	U.S. Navy’s $13 billion dollar carrier gets underway for builder’s sea trials The U.S. Navy’s most expensive ship ever built, the future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), got underway for its first set of sea trials, known as builder’s sea trials (BST). Over the next several days, CVN 78 sailors, shipbuilders from Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS), the Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Naval Sea Systems Command personnel will be working side-by-side testing many of the ship’s key systems and technologies. More.....
09 Apr 2017	Female recruits lead the way Proud families and friends attended the graduation Parade of General Entry 349 Emms Divisions which for the first time in Navy’s history consisted of more women than men. Dorothy and John Rees attended to support their granddaughter Recruit Beth Rees. “We’ve come to see our fantastic granddaughter graduate. I know I speak for her mother and father and the rest of family when I say we are very proud,” Mrs Rees said. More.....
08 Apr 2017	Leading Maritime Art Awards Open April For Entry ANL Maritime Art Awards & Exhibition 2017 The Mission to Seafarers Victoria (MtSV) ANL Maritime Art Awards and Exhibition is a celebratory initiative, recognising excellence in maritime and seafaring subjects in art. Submissions are now open to all artists from across Australia and overseas for 2017. Having already showcased over 900 art works since its inception in 2002, the esteemed awards honour artists that create pieces in response to the theme of ‘the Relationship between Humanity and the Sea’. Submissions adhering to the theme can be created using both contemporary and/or traditional methods. More.....
08 Apr 2017	Navy Completes Cyclone Assist Tasks As North Queensland continues its transition from the emergency response to the recovery phase, HMAS Choules and Melville have completed their tasks, in consultation with the Queensland Government, and now returned to normal duties with the Royal Australian Navy. Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral David Johnston said both ships provided valuable assistance in Operation Queensland Assist 17 under Joint Task Force 661 to support those affected by Tropical Cyclone Debbie. More.....
07 Apr 2017	VIDEO: US Strike operations on Syria As we earlier reported, the U.S. Navy ships, USS Porter and USS Ross were involved in today’s strike attack on Syria. A total of 59 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) targeted aircraft, hardened aircraft shelters, petroleum and logistical storage, ammunition supply bunkers, air defense systems, and radars. The following videos from the ships show the missiles launching. View.....
07 Apr 2017	Donald Trump launches missile strike against Syria The United States has launched dozens of Tomahawk missiles on a military base in Syria, in what it says is a retaliation for the regime of Bashar Assad using nerve agents to attack his own people, that had occurred a few days earlier. The attack has been ordered by the U.S. president, Donald Trump, on Al-Shayrat Air Base, the base from which the alleged chemical attack on Syria’s Idlib province was reportedly launched on April 4th. More.....
06 Apr 2017	Navy has found fix for USS Zumwalt engineering problem The Navy has found and tested a fix for an engineering problem that sidelined USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) several times during the ship’s voyage to its homeport, Zumwalt-class program manager Capt. Kevin Smith said on Tuesday. During its transit, Zumwalt’s lube oil chillers failed resulting in water leaking into the propulsion system several times – once resulting in loss of power moving through the Panama Canal. The seawater lube oil coolers prevent the lubrication of rotating shafts from breaking down due to heat and friction. More.....
06 Apr 2017	Damen submits tender for 12 Australian OPVs Damen Shipyards Group has submitted a tender for the SEA 1180 Phase 1 Project to deliver twelve Offshore Patrol Vessels to the Royal Australian Navy. To demonstrate its commitment to on time and within specification delivery Damen submitted its response early. Damen has teamed with ASC Forgacs Shipbuilding, a joint venture established to build the initial two ships in South Australia and further 10 in Western Australia, to compete for the foundation project of Australia’s continuous Naval shipbuilding enterprise. More.....
06 Apr 2017	Threat to Anzac Day commemorations in Turkey The Australian Government has received information to suggest terrorists may seek to target Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Turkish authorities are aware of this information and traditionally provide a high level of protective security around Anzac Day commemorations on the peninsula. In response, the travel advice for Turkey has been amended to reflect potential threats to Anzac Day commemorations. More.....
05 Apr 2017	EU NAVFOR reinforces need for vigilance at sea Following the pirating of an Indian registered cargo dhow off the coast of Somalia on Saturday 1 April 2017, EU NAVFOR once again reiterates the need for vigilance to all ships transiting the piracy high risk area. Vessels are strongly recommended to adhere to self-protection measures laid down in the Best Management Practices 4 (BMP4) and to report any suspicious sightings to the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre. More.....
05 Apr 2017	Changes to assessing claims of sexual abuse in the ADF The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has broadened the use of statutory declarations as evidence in compensation claims for incidence of sexual and or physical abuse. In the absence of contradictory evidence, DVA delegates will accept a credible statutory declaration to establish the fact of abuse in claims related to incidents of physical or sexual abuse of children under 18 at the time of the abuse, when that abuse occurred before 11 April 2011. More.....
03 Apr 2017	Lord prays for safe descent Chaplain Kate Lord of HMAS Cerberus will put herself in the hands of God and a single rope as she abseils 113 metres down the St James building in Melbourne on 28 April. The event is part of Anglicare’s 'Altitude Shift' program to raise money for the charity and was established to give everyday people an extraordinary opportunity to help those less fortunate. To donate to Chaplain Lord’s fundraising, go to: http://altitudeshift2017.everydayhero.com/au/ate More.....
03 Apr 2017	Drug testing steps up Keeping Navy workplaces drug-free is not only a priority for health and well-being, and a safety issue, but also the core business of a team of dedicated professionals. The team delivering Navy’s Prohibited Substances Testing Program is currently on track to better the Australian Defence Force requirement to test 25 per cent of all members in a financial year. Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Michael Noonan has directed that Navy will increase the testing requirement to 35 percent of the total workforce and the team is working hard to achieve the increased requirement. More.....
01 Apr 2017	Deployed maintenance for more time on task Navy personnel and Defence civilians have deployed as one team to complete maintenance on deployment on an unprecedented scale. The beneficiary – HMAS Arunta, deployed for nine months on operations in the Middle East. This is the first time a combined team has been deployed to complete such a large number of maintenance tasks, which they hope will ensure Arunta can continue important duties with minimal disruption. More.....
31 Mar 2017	First meeting of Industry Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan has said business leaders on the Industry Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment had an important job developing strategies that would help veterans find meaningful employment as the committee met for the first time in Sydney today. The Industry Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment is an initiative of the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program, launched in November. More.....
31 Mar 2017	Local community commemorative projects receive a boost Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today announced that 55 community projects honouring Australia’s wartime history would receive more than $145,000 in funding. Mr Tehan said the projects, funded under the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service grants program, would honour the service and sacrifice of the men and women who serve in defence of our nation. More.....
31 Mar 2017	Operation QUEENSLAND ASSIST 17 Operational Update The ADF continues to assist the people and communities of North Queensland affected by Tropical Cyclone Debbie. As the full impact of the Category 4 cyclone comes to light, the ADF is assisting the Queensland Government with domestic Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations utilising a range of air, land and sea capabilities to help the region recover quickly as possible. More.....
31 Mar 2017	$35 billion Future Frigate Tender The $35 billion Future Frigate project reached a significant milestone today with the release of the Request for Tender (RFT) to the three shortlisted designers; BAE, Fincantieri and Navantia. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said the Future Frigate project is currently the largest frigate shipbuilding program of its kind in the world. “Today’s announcement shows the Government is on track to begin construction of the Future Frigates in 2020 in Adelaide,” Minister Pyne said. More.....
31 Mar 2017	Government action on NMHC review The Government will make the development of strategies to support former members of the Australian Defence Force who are under 30 and have recently left the military a priority. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Dan Tehan and Minister for Health Greg Hunt said today targeting suicide among former ADF who were under 30 was a priority recommendation of the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) Review into the Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Services Available to current and former serving ADF members and their families, which was provided to the Government on Tuesday and released publicly today. More.....
30 Mar 2017	ESPS Galicia’s Scan Eagle UAV helps track pirates Spanish Navy’s counter-piracy efforts off the Horn of Africa are enhanced by the presence of an unmanned aerial vehicle which helps prevent, or respond timely to potential attacks. A crew from Spain’s 11th Squadron, which is usually based in Cadiz, is currently deployed with Operation Atalanta, together with their Boeing Insitu-built Scan Eagle UAV. More.....
30 Mar 2017	Promoting mental health support for our veterans The Government has launched a digital advertising campaign to inform current and former members of the ADF about accessing free treatment for five mental health conditions. “Anyone who has served at least one day of full-time service in the ADF is eligible for free treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and alcohol and substance abuse,” Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said. More.....
30 Mar 2017	Enhanced support for veterans’ employment Improvements to the Government’s jobactive website are helping veterans find work. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan and Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash today welcomed the response of Australian employers to the improvements. The improvements were made as part of the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program, launched in November last year to improve employment opportunities for former members of the ADF. More.....
30 Mar 2017	Launch of educational book about mental health for children Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today launched a children’s book series that supports children from military and emergency service families living with a parent who has a mental health condition. The first book, titled Do You Still Love Me? Because I Really Love You! by author Heather Gibson, is a Military Children’s Mental Health Education initiative, a project of the Remembrance Foundation. More.....
29 Mar 2017	50th Anniversary of the Australian White Ensign
29 Mar 2017	End of Exercise OCEAN EXPLORER 2017
29 Mar 2017	HMAS Choules loaded for Operation QUEENSLAND ASSIST
29 Mar 2017	BAE Systems introduces F35B simulator for Royal Navy carriers A new flight simulator for the F-35B Lightning II aircraft is now ready to help prepare pilots to take the real aircraft on flight trials on the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth next year. The simulator will test pilots’ skills to the limits as they practise landing on the deck of the new aircraft carrier in a range of sea and weather conditions provided by the simulator, British defense technology company BAE Systems announced. More.....
29 Mar 2017	Australian submariners host US counterparts for Submarine Command Course The recent visit of the U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles class attack submarine, USS Oklahoma, to the Australian Fleet Base West coincided with the Australian Navy’s biennial Submarine Command Course. Seven prospective undersea commanding officers from the United States Navy joined their Australian colleagues in training for their future roles. More.....
29 Mar 2017	Government welcomes NMHC review into Veterans’ mental health The Government today received the National Mental Health Commission’s (NMHC) review of suicide and self-harm services for veterans and members of the ADF. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Dan Tehan and Minister for Health Greg Hunt acknowledged receipt of the review. “The Government has a responsibility to the men and women who defend our nation and we are committed to addressing veteran and ADF suicide,” Mr Tehan said. More.....
29 Mar 2017	Industry invited to regional Naval Shipbuilding briefings Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Minister Pyne MP, today announced seven Naval Shipbuilding Industry briefings would be held across regional Australia. Minister Pyne said these briefings would provide regional Australians with an opportunity to learn more about the Government’s $89 billion national shipbuilding endeavour. “The industry briefings will focus on the next generation of naval surface ships; specifically the Future Frigate and Offshore Patrol Vessels, which represent a $39 billion investment by the Australian Government,” he said. More.....
28 Mar 2017	Sea, air, land and space updates Sea State The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s second Izumo-class helicopter carrier, the Kaga, entered service last week. The warship is expected to embark Mitsubishi-Sikorsky SH-60K Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters and AgustaWestland/Kawasaki MCH-101 aircraft for mine-countermeasures. More.....
27 Mar 2017	Choules sails for cyclone support HMAS Choules has sailed for northern Queensland waters in support of communities which may be affected by Tropical Cyclone Debbie. The amphibious ship, left Sydney on 27 March as part of broader Australian Defence Force support to Queensland emergency services responding to the cyclone, which is expected to make landfall early on 28 March. More.....
27 Mar 2017	Seeking descendants of Indigenous ‘Diggers’ of the Australian Light Horse Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan is calling for descendants of Indigenous Australian soldiers who took part in the Battle of Beersheba and the Sinai-Palestine campaign to take part in an oral history project. On 31 October 1917, two Australian Light Horse regiments charged Turkish positions outside the town of Beersheba taking more than 1,000 prisoners. The Battle of Beersheba was one of the most important of the Sinai-Palestine Campaign and the nature of the victory has earned Beersheba an enduring place in Australian wartime history. More.....
27 Mar 2017	Veteran pensions set to increase Veteran pension payments have increased in line with the biannual indexation process. Pension recipients including veterans, their partners, war widows and widowers, across Australia will be paid the increase from 20 March 2017. Due to the calculation of pension rates on a daily basis, the first pension paid after the indexation on payday 30 March 2017 will comprise both the old and new rates. The new pension rates will be fully effective from payment date 13 April 2017. More.....

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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

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

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