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20 Mar 2021	Veterans' pensions set to increase VETERANS, their partners, war widows and widowers will benefit from an increase to their pensions in line with the biannual indexation process coming into effect today. Pensions are indexed twice a year in March and September. Those who need additional support should contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs who can provide a range of financial supports and allowances for those experiencing hardship. More.....
20 Mar 2021	Royal United Services Institute of Victoria (RUSIV) ADF Ethics Competition As a positive response to the Bretherton Report on incidents in Afghanistan, the Royal United Services Institute of Victoria (RUSIV) is running an endowed essay competition on the topic of Ethics for the Australian Defence Force. More.....
18 Mar 2021	MMHN Update March 2021 Greetings. There is a clear sense of the ‘new normal’ opening up as we 'slowly sail' our way out of COVID. A timely quote about the benefits of ‘slow sailing’: The brutal crisis of the coronavirus is precipitating us into a paradoxical time; urgent need to stop the virus on the one hand, suspension of social time on the other. The urgency forces us to slow down. But isn't slowness precisely what many of us are looking for. More.....
18 Mar 2021	Australian National Veterans Arts Museum 'MARCH TO ART: PLACE' Exhibition The Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM) annual exhibition 'March to Art: Place' an exhibition of Veterans Arts curated by Mr Bruce Copland, 6 to 25 April, at No Vacancy Gallery, 34-40 Jane Bell Lane (off Russell St), Level 3, QV Building, Melbourne, VIC.
18 Mar 2021	Stamp marks arrival of Cerberus 150 years ago Australia Post will issue a stamp on March 22 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Her Majesty’s Victorian Ship (HMVS) Cerberus’ arrival in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in April 1871. The stamp depicts a painting by Sydney-based artist Ian Hansen of HMVS Cerberus during the late 1880s, steaming on the waters of Port Phillip Bay. The painting shows the ship in the fourth colour scheme, which was introduced in 1888. More.....
18 Mar 2021	Cultural immersion a key part of Navy program Cultural immersion days are a key part of the Navy Indigenous Development Program (NIDP), which was established in 2014. The NIDP supports Defence’s Reconciliation Action Plan and the Australian Government’s agreement on Closing the Gap, which aims to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across all areas of disadvantage. More.....
17 Mar 2021	A homage to HMAS Bataan Gerry Shepherd was a bit miffed he had to wait 13 months to join the Navy while those from other states were allowed straight in. Then 18-year-old Mr Shepherd headed to HMAS Cerberus in 1944, before joining the destroyer HMAS Bataan as part of the commissioning crew. He then deployed to Japan in 1945 just in time to bear witness to the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay. More.....
17 Mar 2021	ADF teams injected into vaccine rollout The ADF has begun deploying teams to aged and disability care facilities around Australia in support of the Government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout strategy. Following a request from the Australian Government Department of Health, the ADF is providing up to 12 teams of five personnel each, including clinicians and support staff, to help administer the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. More.....
17 Mar 2021	Engineering scholarship program preparing future shipbuilding workforce Forty engineering students from Australian universities have been awarded scholarships as part of the Morrison Government’s plan to grow the pool of engineering talent for naval shipbuilding. The National Naval Shipbuilding Pipeline Scholarship program provides students from the Queensland University of Technology and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with funded university study. More.....
16 Mar 2021	Australian defence industry to continue to sustain and export cutting edge technology Australia’s defence industry will continue to export crucial technology as part of a joint Australian and US program, following the awarding of a $150 million contract to BAE Systems Australia. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price today announced a five-year contract with BAE Systems for in-service support and round production of the next generation of Nulka decoys and launcher systems. More.....
16 Mar 2021	Ships wrap up mission in Tasmania Two mine hunters marked the end of this year’s Fleet Certification Period with a mine location and recovery mission off the coast of Tasmania on March 15. Farewelling the annual maritime exercise, which involves varying RAN ships, were the crews of HMA Ships Gascoyne and Diamantina, testing their mine-hunting abilities and drills in challenging conditions. More.....
16 Mar 2021	Second Games' postponement a positive for Aussies Thirty-two competitors from the Australian Invictus Games 2020 – The Hague team, have been given the reprieve they were hoping for with the announcement the Games will be delayed until 2022. A delay in any event would normally not be cause for celebration however, the Invictus Games Foundation’s February 2 announcement of a further delay of 12 months was met with elation by the members of the Australian team. More.....
16 Mar 2021	Exercise in cooperation for air and sea power Air and maritime assets came together for integrated high-end warfighting training as part of Exercise Tasman Shield 21, from February 22 to March 12. HMAS Hobart worked closely with Air Force aircraft, as an integrated joint force, to enhance maritime air defence procedures and demonstrate interoperability through simulated air-maritime missions off the east coast of Australia. More.....
15 Mar 2021	Long-held ties strengthened in exercise HMA ships Anzac and Sirius have completed two separate passage exercises with vessels from the Philippine Navy as part of a two-month deployment throughout the north-east Indian Ocean and South-East Asia. The first passage exercise was recently conducted at dawn with the BRP Juan Magluyan, a Jose Andrada-class patrol boat. More.....
15 Mar 2021	Sydney sails for trials in United States HMAS Sydney departed her home port at Fleet Base East last week to conduct trials on her AEGIS weapons system with the United States Navy. The tests are a crucial milestone in order for Sydney to be declared available for operational deployments. Wishing Sydney fair winds and following seas on her deployment to the US to undergo her combat systems sea qualification trials there and in Canada, Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Mark Hammond said the deployment marked the culmination of more than a decade of work by the Australian Shipbuilding Industry to deliver this war-fighting capability to Navy, and represented Sydney’s final milestone in the ship’s introduction into service. More.....
12 Mar 2021	Putting underwater survey work on the map Mapping the ocean floor is an important job in the Navy, providing a major capability during war and peacetime. Two deployable geospatial survey teams (DGST) at HMAS Penguin and two at HMAS Cairns make up a significant component of the Maritime Geospatial Warfare Unit. The crews and their easily transportable survey kits can deploy at short notice in any ship. More.....
12 Mar 2021	An old adage rings true Navy Indigenous Development Program recruit Clayton Anderson says it’s never too late to go after what you want, and he lives by that principle. At age 30, the man from the small community of Borroloola in the Gulf of Carpentaria region of the Northern Territory, is one of the older recruits currently in the program. More.....
11 Mar 2021	Sailors say this submarine has been ravaged by bed bugs The crew of the fast-attack submarine Connecticut has been subjected to a bed bug infestation in their racks, and sailors assigned to the sub allege that the boat’s command has been slow to fix the problem. The infestation issue began while the sub was taking part in ICEX 2020 in the Arctic Ocean in March 2020 and continued during a deployment last year, according to a Connecticut petty officer who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. More.....
10 Mar 2021	Beijing replicates its South China Sea tactics in the Himalayas Emboldened by its cost-free expansion in the South China Sea, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s regime has stepped up efforts to replicate that model in the Himalayas. In particular, China is aggressively building many new villages in disputed borderlands to extend or consolidate its control over strategically important areas that India, Bhutan and Nepal maintain fall within their national boundaries. More.....
10 Mar 2021	Bonds renewed between HMAS Choules and Mallacoota THE unbreakable ties between HMAS Choules and the town of Mallacoota, forged during the 2019 bushfire crisis, have been recognised with the announcement of the town as Choules’ ceremonial homeport. Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said during Operation Bushfire Assist Choules conducted the largest domestic maritime evacuation, with residents and holiday makers transported from Mallacoota to Hastings, Victoria. More.....
10 Mar 2021	Microsoft Exchange Vulnerabilities Australian organisations are being urged to access and follow updated advice from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) following vulnerable Microsoft Exchange systems being compromised by malicious cyber actors. Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP, said Australian organisations should take immediate steps to urgently patch vulnerable systems. More.....
09 Mar 2021	Australia should do more than just wait for the Attack-class submarines to arrive Debate on Australia’s future submarines is understandably focused on the information that floats out of the Defence Department about France’s Naval Group and the $80 billion program to design and build the boats. It’s very sensible to be concerned about the program because of the contrast between the assurances Defence officials provide to parliament that everything is proceeding according to plan and the episodic need for high-level political intervention to resolve fundamental issues between Defence and its French industrial partner. More.....
08 Mar 2021	Childhood curiosity opened door for engineer Head of Navy Engineering Rear Admiral Kath Richards was little more than a toddler when she got her first taste of the Navy. Then three years old, she was visiting her father, Rear Admiral Geoff Bayliss, Fleet Medical Officer in aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. More.....
07 Mar 2021	$50m Vietnam Vets museum plans unveiled Plans for a new $50 million National Vietnam Veterans Museum will go to Bass Coast Shire this month, with an ambitious target to start construction later this year. General manager Phil Dressing last week confirmed a planning permit was being sought for a museum, to be built on a 100-acre site opposite the current museum, with access from the Cape Woolamai roundabout. More.....
06 Mar 2021	All Navy Associations MELBOURNE ANZAC DAY MARCH 2021 UPDATE: Members, After lobbying by ANZAC House for an altered 2021 ANZAC March the State Government has agreed to the following under a COVID-19 Plan. Assembly point for all Associations: Opposite the Art centre. This year Veterans will Not march through the City Centre. Step off: 0930 All WWII Veterans wishing to participate, will be picked up at their homes and offered to be transported to the VIP section to watch the march and view the service after the marchers have moved through. Vehicles: Will not will be used in the March. Only the Governor, plus one RAAF Veteran will lay a wreath. Post the Governor’s speech the WWII Veterans will be transported to their homes, but can be taken to their Association tree for wreath laying. Participants: Australian & New Zealand Veterans only. No Allies, Dependants or Children will be permitted to march. Airforce will have the honour to lead this year’s march in recognition of the RAAF Centenary year, followed by Navy. Banners will me massed by Service, veterans will march behind their service Massed Banners, there will be no marching behind individual banners, nor leaders. All Navy Veterans will march together, with the required distancing within the ranks. All Veterans who wish to march are to register and will be emailed or posted a pass. Should you not register and do not have a pass then the police manning the road Barriers will not let you through (no pass, no march). Each Association will take care of informing their own members to register. All members who wish to take part in the march, please email or ring with your details to your Secretary or the designated person. Name, email & Postal address, phone/Mobile number ASAP. Therefore, please do so no later than Tuesday 9 March 2021. When registering members, each Association who are in possession of their own banners, are to request the Banner be included in the Massed Banners when registering your members, and inform him you will transport them to the Navy Massed Banners point. Please inform the Chief Marshall only If you are able, to supply Banner Bearers if needed. Your banners if you wish can be dropped off at RSL House and collected immediately after the march. If you do not wish to drop them off, please inform the Chief Marshall At the end of the March, you must clear the area ASAP. The public are permitted to watch from behind the Barriers. The Shrine of Remembrance will be policing their area. Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you need clarification of any point. Regards David Speed Dwyer Senior Navy March Marshall 2021 Melbourne Anzac Day March Email: Mob: 0423675146 Tel: 9720 8183
05 Mar 2021	Voyages Endeavour to build confidence in youth
05 Mar 2021	Grants open for ex-service organisations EX-SERVICE organisations (ESOs) who help veterans and their families are invited to apply for the 2021 Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants program which is now open. ESOs across the country deliver extensive services to veterans and their families including leisure activities, transition support, assisting with claims, rehabilitation and wellbeing programs and hosting many commemorative events and activities. More.....
05 Mar 2021	Paying respects on Navy’s birthday A commemoration service was held at Brighton Cemetery in Victoria on March 1 to remember Vice Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell. Officers and sailors from HMAS Cerberus joined Senior Naval Officer Victoria Commodore Greg Yorke for the ceremony, which included a wreath laying and coincided with the RAN’s 120th birthday. More.....
05 Mar 2021	Changing course for the better Able Seaman Brianna Briscoe joined Navy four years ago, changing course from an otherwise desperate future. The Indigenous aircraft technician’s story starts in rural communities around Laramba, north-west of Alice Springs. From a young age, the Anmatyerr woman was exposed to substance abuse and violence. Aged 19, battered and in an abusive relationship, she started questioning her life choices. “I look back now and think ‘holy crap, what were you thinking’ and I feel really grateful I had people pushing me to do better,” she said. More.....
05 Mar 2021	Commemorating the Battle of Sunda Strait One of Australia’s toughest military involvements, the Battle of Sunda Strait was commemorated at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on March 1. The Battle of Sunda Strait was a naval battle, which occurred during World War II in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. More.....
05 Mar 2021	Tim Tams cap off exercise with NZ ship The crew of HMAS Hobart used a replenishment-at-sea exercise to pass gifts to the crew of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s newest ship, HMNZS Aotearoa, in a show of camaraderie. Navy’s guided missile destroyer rendezvoused with Aotearoa off the coast of Sydney on March 1. A Hobart ship’s cap, ship’s coin, and packet of Tim Tam biscuits, packaged in a COVID-19 safe manner, were sent over to Aotearoa in the messenger bag. More.....
05 Mar 2021	Remembering HMAS Armidale Association newsletter No.6 is now available to download.....
04 Mar 2021	Birthday a time to reflect on the past The celebration of Navy’s 120th birthday on March 1 gave personnel the opportunity to reflect on their own service and that of their families. The aviation technician trainees and Navy staff at the RAAF School of Technical Training at RAAF Base Wagga marked the milestone with a dawn colours ceremony beside the HMAS Sydney (I) flagpole in the Victory Memorial Gardens. More.....
03 Mar 2021	Chef tastes success Iced Vo-Vo after Iced Vo-Vo, pâtissier Leading Seaman Maritime Logistics – Chef Submarines Ryan Brooks was working at Arnott’s when an opportunity for adventure came across his marble pastry board. Taking a six-month sabbatical in Thailand, Leading Seaman Brooks was introduced to the world of Asian cuisine during a cultural tastebud immersion. More.....
03 Mar 2021	Moving towards gender equality
03 Mar 2021	Huge maintenance task a first The recent completion of HMAS Canberra's maintenance is the first time an operation on such a scale had been performed in Australia. Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group’s Head Maritime Systems Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm said successful completion of the maintenance period at Fleet Base East in Sydney was testament to the collaboration between Defence and Australian industry. More.....
03 Mar 2021	Training ensures crews prepared for emergencies If there was a fire or a toxic hazard was discovered aboard Navy replenishment vessel HMAS Sirius, the crew would know exactly how to respond. That is because they, in company with frigate HMAS Anzac, have spent the past two weeks conducting damage-control training. More.....
03 Mar 2021	Voyages endeavour to build confidence in youth The national Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour has completed its first voyage since sailing was suspended in March last year because of COVID-19. Sixteen young Australians taking part in the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme and the Navy crew embarked for the 11-day COVID-safe voyage on February 13. More.....
02 Mar 2021	Navy celebrate their 120th Birthday
02 Mar 2021	Veteran founded organisation delivers first assistance dog THE first Psychiatric Assistance Dog trained by veterans, for veterans, has moved home with her veteran handler in Canberra. The veteran founded not-for-profit specialist service, Integra Service Dogs Australia, helps veterans manage their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has delivered its first dog under the Federal Government’s Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program. More.....
01 Mar 2021	HMAS Sheean visits Tasmania
01 Mar 2021	Tasmanian pride on show as HMAS Sheean visits state HMAS Sheean berthed at Beauty Point in northern Tasmania at the weekend in the first of a series of port visits in the state. Navy Commander of Submarines Captain Doug Theobald said the Collins-class submarine would also visit Hobart, Burnie and Devonport in the coming months. More.....
01 Mar 2021	FlyBy A periodical of the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia. March.....
01 Mar 2021	Royal Australian Navy commemorates 120th birthday A commemorative service at the Navy Memorial, Anzac Parade Canberra has marked the Royal Australian Navy’s 120th birthday. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO, RAN said Navy can draw strength and honour from humble beginnings 120 years ago. More.....
26 Feb 2021	Ancient tradition followed for modern ship A naval tradition dating back to the ancient Romans has been followed to bring good luck to the future crew of Navy’s first offshore patrol vessel. A mast-stepping ceremony, in which a coin is placed into the base of the ship’s main mast, took place at the Osborne Naval Shipyard – South in Adelaide on February 25 for the Arafura-class vessel that will be known as HMAS Arafura once it is commissioned. More.....
26 Feb 2021	Click here to download the February 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.

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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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