The RAR Association’s investigation and report into the application of the DVA’s Treatment Principles in South Australia as it applies to a particular matter surrounding hydrotherapy treatment for PTSD sufferers, notably Ed Czerwinski, has been completed.

The Czerwinski affair received nation-wide media exposure and together with many individuals and organizations forced the Government to review the matter and to reverse DVA’s previous unfavourable decision. We believe that the RAR Association South Australia, effort and determination to right a wrong was a major factor in this successful result.

The investigation also highlighted a number of other issues:
• The absence of a formal process for medical as distinct from administrative appeals by veterans who consider they have not been dealt with appropriately involving the delivery of medical treatment.
• Although the matter was resolved fairly by the Minister in favour of the veteran involved, no legislative changes have occurred preventing a recurrence.
• A concern in SA that mental health treatment, particularly for PTSD, may not be optimal for veterans and there is a need to improve the education of health professionals in diagnosis and treatment particularly in country areas.
• A lack of coordination between State and Commonwealth Health structures in SA that can adversely affect the well being and welfare of veterans

The Report is now in the hands of each State RAR Associations for their consideration to determine if there are similar situations and issues.

The Queensland Association will be conducting a workshop on the matter for RAR Unit Association’s Presidents and Welfare Officers. It will encompass a wider view of past and present servicepersons’ concerns with DVA’s policies, treatment principles and procedures.

Members are invited to advise our Welfare officer, Ross Langford, (email rosslangford@optusnet.com.au) of any matters of concern that they have experienced and any recommendations arising from it.

15 March 2007

The RAR Association’s (National) Strategic Plan 2007 details its Vision, Mission, Aims, Strategies, Objectives and Corporate Plan.

Well this short ‘Soldier's five’ is only about Objective 8:

To foster and develop for historical purposes the recording and maintenance of the Regiment's History.

There was a belief that the Regiment’s history has been recorded officially, through such books as Duty First edited by David Horner and published in 1990, Unit Operational Tour Books and other biographical and autobiographical matter and many articles in magazines, and that they were centrally recorded and held ‘somewhere’.

Our attempts to locate ‘somewhere’ have failed. We have concluded that to achieve this Objective, we need to record a bibliography of all material (printed, audio, visual), applicable to the RAR’s past present and future.

To do this a small committee has been formed (Terry Dinneen, ‘Darcy’ Dugan, Ted Chitham, Ian Kuring and Mick Malone) and has commenced work in assembling the bibliography. Over 500 items, excluding magazines, have so far been identified and the process of organizing them in an easy reference format is underway.

Certainly, all the applicable material has not been identified yet and a good deal of cross checking is still required. A copy of our current working spreadsheet is available on request to those wanting to assist our search for material. Our search will encompass, books, magazines, journals, diaries (published and unpublished) audio recordings, films, stamps, music, etc

We plan to have Edition 1 of the Bibliography reference document ready for release at the Regiment’s 60th Anniversary celebrations in November 2008.

Source: Ted Chitham

13 February 2007

The RSL is recognised by the Commonwealth Government as the Veterans' community peak ex-servicemen’s' organisation (ESO). Part of this recognition is the belief that the RSL, through its established KOC at national and state levels, represented the views of most veterans.

The KOC's have provided a successful forum for ESOs' views to be considered and to influence RSL advocacy policies related to veterans' affairs. Sadly, in Queensland the KOC is defunct: it has not met since 2002 thereby denying us the opportunity to be heard at the direct and upper level of RSL governance.

Representations to the Doug Formby the newly elected RSL Queensland State President have been successful in re-establishing the KOC Qld in August 2006. Doug identified the need as necessary to re-establish supportive relationships with the Queensland based ESOs.

The KOC comprises State representatives from the RSL, TPI Association, VVFA, VVAA, Partners of Veterans (PVA) RAAFA the Navy League and the RAR Association: other ESOs will be invited to join. The RSL Deputy State President, Kel Ryan, is the Chairman. Kel comes with a detailed knowledge of the ESO community having successfully completed his Master Degree writing his thesis on the RSL and the reasons for the proliferation of ESOs in recent years.

Its purpose is to establish positive and workable links with the major ESO’s, to understand their issues of concern and to determine the need for co-ordinated action.

In identifying and defining the major issues it is recognized that:
o The ESO community is more independent and vigorous in its approach to Government and many have lost confidence in the ability or desire of the RSL to provide leadership and assistance in advocacy matters.
o Many of the issues have long histories without a satisfactory resolution.
o It is time to address these issues as a co-operative body of ESO’s rather than as individual organizations.(without limiting any from making their own direct submissions to Government as deemed appropriate)
o The RSL needs to return to its Mission and Aims and be the leader in research and representation in Public Affairs for the ESO community.

It has identified the following issues (not prioritized) for detailed consideration:
• Erosion of Veterans Benefits. The drift to Civilian norms. The Clarke Report recommended that a system based on 'civilian community norms' be used for the military. The MRCA continues the shift from Military to civilian cover in that, in many ways, it blurs the fundamental difference between Military Service and civilian work.
• Indexation of pensions including TPI. In general terms the use of the CPI for indexation purposes, has been discredited. Erosion of pensions over past years has occurred because of inappropriate indexation.
• Veterans' Entitlement Act (VEA): Sect 12 Transition VEA to MCRS.
• Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA).
• Carers and their allowances.
• DVA matters related to its changing culture, younger veterans, claims investigations (Westaways), SOP and Treatment Principles.
• ASIST Program.
• Dioxin Exposure.
• Radiation Exposure.
• DUR (Depleted Uranium) Exposure.
• Electro Magnetic Radiation Mortality Study.
• Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Study.
• Illegal Wearing of medals.

The next meeting is on the 2nd February. Progress will be reported regularly.

As the RAR Association’s representative I am pleased with the desire of all members to support the KOC.

Ted Chitham
President
RAR Association Qld