An essential element of our aims is to act as the advocate to protect our members and their families’ rights and entitlements to welfare and services benefits.

We have sought recognition as a peak Ex-Service Organisation (ESO) in our own right, because of our combined strength of over 10,000 members and potential access to over 55,000 other eligible persons.

We will represent our views on matters that only effect our Association’s aims directly to Government and its agencies and indirectly through kindred ESOs: RSL, Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council (AVADSC), Legacy, etc.

If you have any matter you believe threatens your entitlements, please let us know.

ISSUES
Australian Defence Medal (ADF)

While supporting the Medal’s philosophy “to recognise those who volunteered for service and were willing to put their lives on the line”, we oppose its six years qualifying period because it  fails to recognise lesser enlistment terms as laid down by the then Governments’ policies for BCOF, K Force, RAS(O) and Ready Reserve and conditions applied to injuries and females.

The National President has forwarded our views to the appropriate Ministers. We are pleased that our recommendation has been accepted.

On the 30th March 2006 the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Hon. Bruce Billson MP, announced that more than 1 Million current and former personnel will receive the Australian Defence Medal (ADM).

Get the application form here

Illegal Wearing of Medals
Under Section 80 B of the Defence Act, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are responsible for its enforcement. They are unable to do it because of limited resources and higher priorities.

Recent examples and correspondence with the AFP has confirmed this position.

We have written to the Government recommending action to overcome the problem: more resources or allow another enforcement authority.

DFRBF Indexation

This matter, CPI or AWOTE, has been taken up with AVADSC. We are still developing our own position.