Qualifying service
To be accepted as having rendered qualifying service for service pension during World War 2, a veteran must have incurred danger from hostile forces of the enemy. Veterans who served overseas in World War 2 may come under the Repatriation Commission's policy to accept that the veteran incurred danger.
The following table lists the places, times and conditions covered by this policy.
|
Area |
Applicable period |
|
any area other than the 'West Pacific' area |
3 September 1939 to 5 May 1945 (both dates included) |
|
in the 'West Pacific' area (excluding Papua and New Guinea prior to 7/12/41) 'West Pacific' is the general area bounded by:
|
3 September 1939 to 15 August 1945 (both dates included) |
|
Papua and New Guinea and New Britain |
between 7 December 1941 and 15 August 1945 (both dates included) |
|
in an aircraft engaged in operations against hostile forces or in patrols or reconnaissance over land occupied by hostile forces of the enemy |
Where service falls outside the areas and dates above, the veteran will have to meet the incurred danger test.
Operational service
During World War 2, a person has operational service if they served:
- on a continuous full-time basis
- as a member of the defence force
- outside Australia
- during the period 3 September 1939 to 30 June 1951 (both dates included)
However, where a person became a member of the regular (peacetime) Defence Force toward the end of the war, that service is not recognised as operational service.