About this section
This section covers the conditions under which civilians are recognised as having qualifying and operational service during World War 2 only. There is no eligibility for civilians in any conflict after WW2.
Note: All qualifying service claims for civilians during World War 2 should be referred to the Veterans' Compensation Policy Section, which has responsibility for qualifying service matters.
Civilians on special missions
Certain civilians may be considered as rendering operational and qualifying service during World War 2 if:
- they were employed by the Commonwealth; and
- they were on a special mission outside Australia.
Eligible civilians - residents of Papua and New Guinea
A person who was an eligible civilian shall be taken as having operational and qualifying service. This covers the non-indigenous residents of Papua and New Guinea such as planters, missionaries, patrol officers, traders and their families who were British subjects. This includes Australian citizens.