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30 Nov 2020	Applications open for Younger Veteran Grants IMPROVED community services and support for younger veterans and their families will be the focus of the latest round of the Australian Government’s $1 million Supporting Younger Veterans (SYV) grants program, which opens today. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the program was focused on ensuring younger veterans received more support from their local ex-service organisations (ESOs) and other veteran community organisations, with a particular focus on mental health. More.....
30 Nov 2020	Seahawk soars with Carrier Strike Group HMAS Ballarat’s embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter has played a valuable role with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group during a passage exercise in the Indian Ocean. After the end of Exercise Malabar, the helicopter supported United States Ships Nimitz, guided-missile destroyer Sterett and guided-missile cruiser Princeton while embedded in Carrier Air Wing 17. More.....
28 Nov 2020	HMAS Arunta returns home from a successful five-month regional deployment The Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Arunta has returned to her home port of Fleet Base West in Rockingham, Western Australia, following a successful five-month regional deployment, most recently supporting Operation ARGOS. During her 164 days at sea, Arunta concluded three-months on a regional presence deployment as part of a five-ship Task Group in October, taking part in a series of Southeast Asia and Pacific engagements, which included several successful multilateral training exercises. Arunta briefly returned to Darwin for a logistics visit before embarking on a further seven-week East Asia deployment.
28 Nov 2020	Grateful to be serving Australia Able Seaman Khin Thaung is well known among his shipmates in HMAS Adelaide for his broad smile, positive outlook and willingness to lend a hand. As a former refugee who spent eight years in tough conditions in camps on both sides of the Thailand-Myanmar border, Able Seaman Thaung puts his sunny disposition down to knowing that his life changed for the better the moment he moved to Australia. More.....
27 Nov 2020	Defence Minister responds to WA government push for Collins Class FCD push Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has reaffirmed the Commonwealth government’s commitment to naval shipbuilding and the development of a leading-edge naval shipbuilding capability in Western Australia, but has stopped short of announcing the location for Full Cycle Docking (FCD) for the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarines. More.....
27 Nov 2020	Offshore patrol vessels tracking well while Defence still ponders if west is best for submarine upgrade In the first two parts of this series, I looked at what we’ve learned recently about Defence’s naval shipbuilding enterprise and how the Hunter-class frigates are coming along. Now let’s turn to what’s happening with the offshore patrol vessels and Collins-class submarines. More.....
27 Nov 2020	Navy returns to Eden to aid in bushfire recovery Almost a year after HMAS Adelaide provided logistics support to Eden during the bushfire crisis, Navy returned to help the still recovering community rebuild. Proudly representing Navy and the Australian Defence Force, the NUSHIP Supply crew travelled down to the Bega Valley Shire to help rebuild fences that were lost during the bushfires and bring life back to a local oval that was used as an evacuation point. More.....
27 Nov 2020	Exercise MALABAR 2020 a success
27 Nov 2020	Arunta returns home after more than 160 days at sea HMAS Arunta has returned to Fleet Base West in Western Australia after 164 days at sea, strengthening relations in the Indo-Pacific. Arunta concluded three months on a regional presence deployment as part of a five ship task group in October, taking part in a series of Southeast Asia and Pacific engagements. More.....
27 Nov 2020	Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victorian Chapter) President's November Musings are now available to download.....
26 Nov 2020	Australia’s Hunter-class frigates are coming, but maybe not soon enough In the first part of this series, I looked at what we’ve learned recently about Defence’s naval shipbuilding enterprise. In this instalment and the next one, I’ll focus on what we’ve learned about individual projects, starting with the Hunter-class and Anzac-class frigates. More.....
25 Nov 2020	Click here to download the November edition of "BROADSIDE"..... NOTE from Webmaster: If you are a member and haven't been notified that your monthly copy of 'BROADSIDE' 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.
25 Nov 2020	Defence must offset massive risk in naval shipbuilding program There are a lot of moving parts involved in the ramp-up of the government’s naval shipbuilding enterprise. It’s hard for anybody to keep track of them all, particularly as new pieces of information are sporadically disclosed in a range of forums and sources. The inclusion of both the Attack-class submarine and Hunter-class frigate for the first time in the Australian National Audit Office’s 2019–20 major projects report, due out later this month, will help and is certainly a step in the right direction. More.....
24 Nov 2020	ADF personnel need our support The last thing Australian Defence Force personnel, their families and our veterans need right now is your judgement. They need our support. In the wake of the release of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Inquiry into Afghanistan, there has been plenty of media commentary quick to judge our servicemen and women. More.....
24 Nov 2020	Taiwan Starts Construction of New IDS Submarine for ROC Navy The submarine game in East Asia is heating up, with multiple new submarines being constructed. Japan recently launched the first of the new Taigei-class. South Korea launched the second KSS-III class boat, and there is evidence that China is building new nuclear submarines. Not to be left behind, Taiwan is moving forward with its first indigenous submarine design. A brand new shipyard was set up in Kaohsiung (Southern Taiwan) for this ambitious program. More.....
24 Nov 2020	USS Gerald R. Ford Making Steady Progress Ahead of Deployment USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) has been in and out of port for more than a year as the Navy continues to wring out the bugs from the new technologies on the next-generation carrier. While progress is steady, the program still has several milestones to achieve before it’s ready for its inaugural deployment. Ford is slated to finish its post-delivery test and trials period and certify all of its weapons elevators, which have caused delays to the ship’s schedule, before starting full-ship shock trials in May. More.....
24 Nov 2020	USS John S. McCain conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation On Nov. 24 (local time) USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan. This freedom of navigation operation ("FONOP") upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging Russia's excessive maritime claims. More.....
24 Nov 2020	Interest in Royal Navy surges by one third during pandemic Interest in joining the Royal Navy has surged during the pandemic – prompting a third naval base to begin turning civilians into sailors. Applications to join the Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary are up by around one third on 2019 figures – 34 per cent for officers and 28 per cent who want to become ratings or join the ranks of the commandos. More.....
24 Nov 2020	No rest on eve of Arunta return The ship’s company of HMAS Arunta is not resting on its laurels when it comes to maintaining the high tempo that has been a feature of the ship’s five-month deployment. With less than a week to go before she returns to her home port of Fleet Base West, Western Australia, Arunta has undertaken a replenishment at sea with United States Naval Ship Amelia Earhart, followed by a passage exercise with Republic of Singapore Ship Valour a day later. More.....
23 Nov 2020	Former commando lands Navy combat training role Newly commissioned Lieutenant Ian Boddy is using his previous experience as a Royal Marines’ commando to shape Navy land combat training. The former colour sergeant in the British Armed Forces transferred to the Royal Australian Navy as a chief petty officer in 2013 and was recently commissioned as a lieutenant in Sydney. More.....
23 Nov 2020	It’s not just spies who want your data Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, released a rare public statement last week aimed at raising awareness about the use of social media and professional networking services for espionage purposes. ‘Think before you link’ focuses on foreign intelligence threats and rightly cautions Australians to be careful about revealing personal information on networking services. It is ASIO’s first public awareness campaign and marks a significant step in the right direction for Australian intelligence agencies as they seek to engage in more regular dialogue with the public, something they have long struggled to do. More.....
23 Nov 2020	Musical medic continues a proud tradition Able Seaman Denzel Taylor comes from a long line of family who have served in Navy, dating back to his great-grandfather who joined in 1919. “To follow in their footsteps is something I am very proud of,” Able Seaman Taylor said. Able Seaman Taylor said he joined the Navy because he wanted to help people. He enlisted as a medic through the Navy Indigenous Development Program, which is a pathway program to assist Indigenous Australians seeking a career in the service. More.....
21 Nov 2020	Royal Navy flies crucial sorties into Honduras following hurricane devastation Royal Navy helicopters have flown vital reconnaissance missions over devastated Honduras as relief operations continue in the wake of Hurricane Eta and Iota. Severe flooding and landslides following the two catastrophic storms have left millions of Hondurans displaced and isolated without food and clean water. More.....
21 Nov 2020	Students recognised with ADF Future Innovators Award MORE than 2700 young Australians in years 10 and 12 have shown they are on track to tackle the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) challenges of the future, being presented inaugural Australian Defence Force (ADF) Future Innovator Awards. Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the awards were an investment in young Australians who demonstrated motivation, innovation and achievement in a STEM related field. More.....
20 Nov 2020	Iranian Navy receives a new warship able to carry helicopters and drones According to information released by the Iranian press agency FARS on November 19, 2020, the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRCG) Navy received a new home-made ocean-going, helicopter and drone carrying warship named Shahid Rudaki on Thursday, November 19, 2020. The multifunctional vessel is capable of carrying and providing logistical support to fighter jets, aircraft, drones, missile systems, and radars which are being carried on board. More.....
20 Nov 2020	Japan launches first ship of new frigate class Japan has launched the first of a new class of multimission frigates, which will incorporate increased use of new technologies such as unmanned systems and reduced radar cross-section. The 30FFM ship, which has been named the Kumano, was launched in a ceremony at shipbuilder Mitsui’s facilities at Okayama, Japan, on Nov. 19. It is expected to be commissioned into the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in 2022. More.....
20 Nov 2020	Nimitz Strike Group Concludes Malabar 2020 With Australia, India, Japan Maritime forces from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States on Nov. 20 completed Phase II of the multi-lateral naval exercise Malabar 2020. The exercise improved integration between Australian, Indian, Japanese, and U.S. maritime forces and provide an opportunity to conduct engagements highlighting cooperation between allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. More.....
20 Nov 2020	New Maritime Underwater Tracking Range to be built in WA A new Maritime Underwater Tracking Range will be built in Western Australia as part of the Morrison Government’s $270 billion investment in defence capability over the next decade. This project will replace the original tracking range system that ceased operating in 2012 and will provide the Navy with sub-surface tracking capability and optimised preparedness. More.....
19 Nov 2020	Outgoing US SECNAV looks to establish Indian Ocean-based 1st Fleet With a little over two months left in his tenure, US Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite has rocked the proverbial boat, calling for the reactivation of the US 1st Fleet, to be focused on the Indian Ocean theatre of Indo-Pacific Command. This proposal, while still in the developmental stage, would see an increased US presence in the region, providing opportunities for Australia to also position itself as a homeport. More.....
19 Nov 2020	Change in command of Maritime Task Group The inaugural Commander of the Australian Maritime Task Group, Captain Andrew Quinn, has handed over the role to Captain David Tietzel following a successful two-year appointment. Commander of the Australian Maritime Task Group is responsible for the sea combat capability of multiple ships, their collective personnel, and aircraft. More.....
19 Nov 2020	79th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Sydney II Today marks the 79th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Sydney II on 19 November 1941. The Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney V recorded the below video for the online commemorative.
17 Nov 2020	Applications now open for veteran and community grants PROJECTS supporting the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families may be eligible for funding, with applications for the Veteran and Community Grants (V&CG) program opening today. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the health and wellbeing of the veteran community was an ongoing priority, and the V&CG program was a way of supporting ex-service organisations (ESOs) and partner community organisations in providing local solutions. More.....
17 Nov 2020	Arunta's time on Argos comes to a close HMAS Arunta is on her way home after completing her deployment on Operation Argos, which is Australia’s contribution to the enforcement of United Nations’ Security Council sanctions on North Korea. The operation supports international efforts to monitor and deter illegal shipments of sanctioned goods, including North Korean refined petroleum imports and coal exports. This was was the last major commitment for Arunta in her six-week regional deployment. More.....
17 Nov 2020	Communication the key in passage exercise HMAS Arunta has conducted a passage exercise with Japanese Ship Shimakaze after a two-day logistics' visit to Sasebo, Japan. This was Arunta’s fifth interaction with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) during her deployment. Commanding Officer Arunta Commander Troy Duggan said the crew was extremely pleased to be working with the JMSDF again. More.....
16 Nov 2020	Small world for Northam’s navy The chances of three sailors from the same town serving on the same Navy frigate at the same time are almost as remote as the town they originate from. Leading Seaman Combat System Operator Julia Upton, Able Seaman Combat System Operator Chloe Freebairn and Able Seaman Maritime Logistics Chef Alana Yeates come from Northam, a picturesque inland town in the Avon Valley, Western Australia. More.....
15 Nov 2020	Media Release HMAS commemoration delivered in digital format Australia’s greatest naval tragedy, the sinking of the HMAS Sydney II, will be remembered with an online ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary. Differing to previous years’ services, a pre-recorded ceremony will be delivered to the community online to pay respect to the 645 crew members who lost their lives at sea after the ship sunk off the Geraldton coast in 1941. The broadcast will take place on the City of Greater Geraldton’s Facebook page and YouTube channel on Thursday 19 November from 5:45pm. (Please note that the time indicated for the live-streaming of the 79th Commemorative Service of the loss of HMAS Sydney II at the Memorial in Geraldton WA is WST, therefore, those in other parts of Australia will need to adjust accordingly.) More.....
14 Nov 2020	Sudan to host Russian military base Russia will establish a naval logistic center and repair yard in Sudan under a new agreement signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Nov. 6 but just made public this week. According to the agreement’s text, the naval logistics center will host up to 300 people. This figure includes both naval service members and civilian personnel. The base can host up to four naval vessels, including nuclear-powered ones. More.....
14 Nov 2020	From rolling hills to rolling waves A Navy Gap Year officer has swapped the rolling hills of the Victorian city of Ballarat for rolling waves and the steady hum of the engines of HMAS Ballarat. Midshipman Abiathar Templar, who grew up in Ballarat, joined the Navy this year through the Australian Defence Force Gap Year program and has not looked back. More.....
14 Nov 2020	Release of 2019 Defence Census results PARTICIPATION in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has increased in the last four years, revealed in the 2019 Defence Census Public Report released today. Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the Census provided valuable data on the demographic profile of the Defence workforce and assisted in the development of policies and conditions that keep pace with contemporary changes in Defence and Australian society. More.....
13 Nov 2020	Gap year sailors help cook up a storm Helping to prepare multiple meals each day to feed 480 personnel on board the Navy’s largest ship is creating a memorable experience for 10 gap year sailors and officers. The group has been lending a hand in the galley of HMAS Adelaide as it conducts amphibious training off the coast of Townsville during Exercise Sea Wader. More.....
13 Nov 2020	Damaged door opens opportunity to test skills HMAS Arunta’s marine technicians have been praised for their ingenuity and resilience in repairing one of the ship’s forecastle doors, with the initial work undertaken when the door was damaged during a storm while at sea. The marine technicians fitted a temporary door during the severe storm in the South China Sea in October, then made permanent repairs once the ship came alongside in Sasebo, Japan. More.....
13 Nov 2020	Gold commendation awarded for safe idea An innovative, safe and time-saving idea has led to Leading Seaman Boatswain Mate Bradley Reynolds awarded a gold commendation for his ingenuity at the 2020 Navy Safety Awards, held in Canberra on November 4. Rather than bringing in contractors, erecting scaffolding and waiting days for roof inspections at HMAS Penguin, Leading Seaman Reynolds used modern technology for the job. More.....
12 Nov 2020	Supporting the wellbeing of veterans and their families SUPPORT for veterans and their families was enhanced today with the passage of the Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Wellbeing of Veterans and their Families) Bill 2020 through Parliament. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the legislation implemented three changes to ensure policy was meeting the needs of veterans — recognising in legislation the Veteran Family Advocate, changes to better support transition from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to civilian employment, and ensuring all Gold Card holders are treated equally in terms of their benefits. More.....
11 Nov 2020	Statement from Chief of Navy - Submarine safety I reject the premise in the ABC article ‘Veteran warns Australia's Collins Class submarine fleet has limited ability to save trapped submariners’ (11 November 2020) that our submarines are not safe, or that Defence is not providing a safe work environment for our submariners. Their safety is our number one priority. Royal Australian Navy submariners are a professional force, trained and equipped to manage all possible eventualities related to submarine operations. More.....
11 Nov 2020	Veteran diver: Rescue contract dispute puts Australian submariners at risk Last week Defence announced that the Royal Australian Navy’s contract for a new submarine rescue system is on the department’s ‘project of interest’ list. US company Phoenix International may receive millions of dollars in compensation after a report recommended that the contract it was awarded be terminated. Defence has assured the public that the delays ‘do not impact our ability to provide an ongoing submarine rescue capability for our submarine fleet’. That’s wrong. More.....
10 Nov 2020	MMHN November 2020 Update Greetings all, As Melbourne tentatively emerges from Lockdown and the ‘Ring of Steel’ springs open ending months of ‘virtual’ engagement with maritime heritage and allowing the possibility of "actual" engagement, we will again venture forth – if only around our Marvellous Maritime State! Three suggestions to consider: More.....
10 Nov 2020	HMAS Parramatta to depart Sydney following SATCOM upgrade The ship is preparing to depart NSW’s Garden island after BAE Systems Australia fitted it with an upgraded maritime satellite system. HMAS Parramatta is set to become the first of 14 Royal Australian Navy ships to put to sea with updated maritime satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals installed, marking a critical project milestone. More.....
10 Nov 2020	Statement - Royal Australian Navy hosts French vessels in Western Australia The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will host Marine Nationale units FNS Emeraude and FNS Seine at Fleet Base West from 9 November 2020. Prior to the maintenance and logistics visit, Australian Defence Force elements, including HMAS Anzac, HMAS Sheean and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft exercised with the French Navy units off the coast of Fremantle. More.....
10 Nov 2020	Caps off to sailors for fuelling friendship An Australian sailor made a unique connection with an Indian counterpart when HMAS Ballarat took on fuel from the Indian Navy’s fleet support ship INS Shakti while at sea. The song 1000 miles away by Australian band The Hoodoo Gurus pumped out as fuel pumped from Shakti to Ballarat during Ballarat's first replenishment with the tanker while on Exercise Malabar. More.....
10 Nov 2020	WWII veterans share their stories in podcast He might be 100 years old, but Bruce Robertson can’t forget what happened in the early hours of May 31, 1942. He was on duty as a RAAF wireless operator with the 30th Squadron at the time. “It was two o'clock in the morning, and I was sitting in front of a receiver − a big one that could pick up signals from all over the place,” he recalled. More.....
10 Nov 2020	Chance meeting leads to cultural awakening While Lieutenant Damian Briggs has always known he was Indigenous, it is not something he embraced until recently. In a chance encounter last month at HMAS Albatross, he met Del Bryon and discovered their grandmothers were sisters. For reasons still a mystery, Lieutenant Briggs’ grandparents had moved from Junee in NSW to Queensland, and never contacted their family again. More.....
10 Nov 2020	Five Australian soldiers of the Great War identified ON the eve of Remembrance Day, the final resting place of five previously unidentified Australian soldiers who served and died in France during the First World War have today been confirmed. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the men were originally buried as unknown Australian soldiers, but thanks to the hard work of Fallen Diggers Incorporated, the Australian Army’s Unrecovered War Casualties team and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, they had now been identified. More.....
10 Nov 2020	Ministerial statement – Fourth Annual Statement on veterans and their families *Introduction* I seek leave of the House to deliver the fourth Annual Ministerial Statement on veterans and their families, and my third as the responsible minister. I would like to first recognise those members in the Chamber who have served in our Defence Forces and say, ‘thank you for your service’. More.....
10 Nov 2020	New alumni network for Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust DESCENDANTS of Australian veterans are set to benefit from a new Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust (AVCAT) Alumni Network launched today. AVCAT administers a range of tertiary education scholarships and bursaries for the children and grandchildren of Australian veterans, assisting them to achieve academic and personal goals. More.....
09 Nov 2020	Reflecting on Indigenous military service this NAIDOC Week During NAIDOC Week, held from 8–15 November, we should all pause and remember the legacy and valuable contribution of Australia’s First Nations’ service men and women. NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and is observed each year by Australians from all walks of life. More.....
07 Nov 2020	Our November Navy Hero – LCDR Leon Verdi Goldsworthy GC DSC GM RANVR Leonard Verdi Goldsworthy (1909–1994), naval officer and factory manager, was born on 19 January 1909 at Broken Hill, New South Wales, second son of South Australian-born parents Alfred Thomas Goldsworthy, miner, and his wife Eva Jane, née Riggs. Soon after the outbreak of World War II Goldsworthy applied to join the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) but was rejected for failing to meet the required physical standards. His records show he was 5ft 5ins and he was missing the small toes on his left and right feet. Undeterred, he reapplied through the Yachtsmen Scheme, and was appointed as a probationary sub-lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, on 24 March 1941. Perhaps the most famous and certainly the most highly decorated group of Yachtsmen Scheme volunteers and other members of the RAN were those brave men engaged in what was known as 'Rendering Mines Safe' or RMS. The British government had decided that rendering mines safe did not fall within the ambit of the criterion 'in the face of the enemy', although when crouched over a German firing mechanism which was designed to blow one to pieces on a dark, cold night in the middle of a destroyed city, it must have seemed so to the practitioners. The outcome was that RMS officers could only qualify for 'civilian' awards, the highest of which was the George Cross - the Victoria cross equivalent. Some measure of the collective achievements of this group of Australian officers to the war effort is their collective total of four George Crosses (GC) and ten George Medals (GM), with many other awards for gallantry. For a man initially rejected as being physically unfit for the Navy, Leon Goldsworthy finished the war as the Australia's most highly decorated naval officer of World War II, the acknowledged underwater mine disposal expert in Europe, the conqueror of over one hundred weapons in European waters and about thirty in the Pacific. His full story is at: https://navyvic.net/heroes/goldsworthy.html
07 Nov 2020	Award of ASM for Operation Bursa Operation Bursa was the counter-terrorist operation which commenced in 1980 to defend the Bass Straight oil and gas platforms against potential terrorist attack. Navy provided air support to Special Forces (SF) operations from the commencement of Op Bursa, until the task was handed over to Army Aviation in 1990. While eligible Army personnel were granted the ASM for Op Bursa, recognition of the contribution of Fleet Air Arm personnel was denied. This situation has now been rectified. Go to the Fleet Air Arm Association website for background information, advice on eligibility of FAA veterans and the process of applying for the award. https://www.faaaa.asn.au/operation-bursa-recognition/
07 Nov 2020	Blue Angels FINAL F-18 Hornet Flight - Sunset Beach Buzz Legacy Hornet Send-Off! The US Navy Blue Angels took their F-18 Hornets up for one final flight in them as a team on November 4th, 2020. After serving with the team for 34 years, the F/A-18A, B, C, and D model Hornets are being retired and replaced by larger and more powerful F/A-18E and F Super Hornets.
06 Nov 2020	Germany plans a greater peace and security role in the Indo-Pacific As the political and economic centre of the world shifts from the Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific, and geostrategic competition increases, Germany, the EU and NATO want closer defence cooperation with nations such as Australia. Germany’s defence minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, told an online seminar organised by ASPI that Australia was regarded as a ‘rock of stability’ in the region and had a key role to play in maintaining peace and security. More.....
06 Nov 2020	China military watch How China plans to fight The RAND Corporation put out a fascinating study on the operational concepts that are supposed to guide the People’s Liberation Army in combat. The report begins with a detailed explanation of how the PLA produces its doctrine. The process starts with the Chinese Communist Party’s ‘military guiding theory’, which draws upon the writings of Karl Marx as well as China’s leadership from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping.
06 Nov 2020	Robots support Navy rescue training exercise Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has congratulated the collaboration between Defence and defence industry in the Autonomous Warrior Genesis – the first of Navy’s flagship events exercising robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence (RAS-AI). Autonomous Warrior Genesis saw unmanned vehicles (UxVs) deployed by air, land and water to respond to a fictional humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) scenario on the Brisbane River. More.....
06 Nov 2020	Enduring partnerships provide the edge HMAS Ballarat has joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force and the navies of the United States and India, to take part in Exercise Malabar 2020. Ballarat’s participation in the exercise significantly bolsters the strong maritime bonds between the four countries. Commanding Officer Ballarat Commander Antony Pisani said the multinational maritime exercise was an opportunity for Ballarat to participate in an exercise with both ships and aircraft from the four participating navies, increasing mutual understanding and enhancing our combined air and maritime domain awareness. More.....
06 Nov 2020	HMAS Canberra enters dock for maintenance One of the Royal Australian Navy’s largest ships, the landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra, has entered the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island, Sydney. The Amphibious Combat and Sealift Systems Program Office Asset Manager, Lieutenant Keshav Shrestha, said the extended maintenance period was being undertaken to enable necessary upkeep. More.....
04 Nov 2020	Australia’s submarines need east coast base Launching ASPI’s latest special report, Submarines: Your questions answered, Peter Jennings interviewed retired admiral James Goldrick on the question of why the Royal Australian Navy needs submarines.
03 Nov 2020	Australia joins Exercise MALABAR 2020 Australia has joined key regional defence partners India, Japan and the United States for Exercise MALABAR 2020. HMAS Ballarat will be involved in activities this month to enhance maritime interoperability in support of regional peace and security. HMAS Ballarat will join Indian Navy Ships Shakti, Ranvijay, Sukanya, Shivalik; Indian submarine Sindhuraj; Indian Navy aircraft; United States Ship John S. McCain and Japanese Ship Ōnami. More.....
02 Nov 2020	Australia's submarine fleet hit with multi-million-dollar contract dispute, project placed on list of concern The Defence Department may be forced to pay out tens of millions of dollars to a US company over a contract dispute involving crucial new escape and rescue equipment for Australian submarines. The ABC can reveal the program to provide a "Submarine Escape Rescue and Abandonment System" by 2022 has now been placed on the department's 'Project of Interest' list, marking it as a concern, after a year-long bitter standoff. More.....
01 Nov 2020	Luke's Story – Doggy Day Care Farm Trips Ex Special Forces, Luke is also a highly qualified expert Alpha Canine Dog Trainer and handler. What this means is that because of his unique qualifications at dog handling and canine behaviour, all of our doggy guests look to him as top dog. This creates a feeling of trust with all of our guests as they naturally follow Luke. Add to that our zero tolerance of anti-social behaviour and the fact that we keep them active and stimulated for the duration of the Farm Trip, the dogs are 100% focused purely on having FUN all day and nothing else! https://www.doggydaycarefarmtrips.com.au
01 Nov 2020	FlyBy A periodical of the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia. November issue.....

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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
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