1.2 Persons Covered by this Act
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single ongoing Act providing coverage for veterans, irrespective of service.
The preamble to the MRCA states that it is “An Act to provide rehabilitation, compensation and other entitlements for veterans, members and former members of the Defence Force, and for other purposes.”
Persons provided compensation coverage by the MRCA include:
- Members and former members of the ADF, including members of the Permanent Forces and the Reserves, specifically:
- All members and former members of the permanent Navy, Regular Army and the permanent Air Force are covered for service rendered.
- Reservists on continuous full-time service and part-time service are also covered.
- Members of the ADF cadets: Cadet instructors, Officers of cadets and school cadets are covered for periods of instruction, training, performing duty and travel to and from the place of an eligible activity.
- Persons covered under s7A (see below).
- Persons covered by a Ministerial determination under section 8(1) or 442(5): The MRCA gives the Minister for Defence the discretion to extend coverage to a person or a class of persons who engage or have engaged in activities or who perform or have performed acts:
- at the request or direction of the ADF;
- for the benefit of the ADF; or
- in relation to the ADF under a requirement made by or under a Commonwealth law.
Under section 7A of the MRCA the following classes of persons who perform, or have performed, the specified acts are defined as members of the ADF for the purposes of this Act:
| Item | Class of Persons | Acts |
| 1 | Persons who hold an honorary rank or appointment in the ADF | Acts performed by the person at the request or direction of the Defence Force |
| 2 | Persons who are on Career Transition Assistance under an arrangement approved by the Australian Defence Force | Acts performed in connection with the arrangement |
| 3 | Members of approved philanthropic organisations serving the Defence Force | Acts performed: a) As an accredited representative of the philanthropic organisation; and b) While providing services in support of the ADF as authorised by the sponsoring ADF unit |
Other declared members
Certain individuals and groups, such as some specified war artists and photographers in conflict areas, entertainers who provided support to and at the direction of the ADF and others have been declared to be members of the Defence Force under Section 8 of the MRCA or to be rendering operational service under section 442(5) of the MRCA.
Claims relating to war artists and entertainers for activities undertaken on or after 17 December 2015 are considered under the SRCA.
Before accepting liability for any claims relating to determinations under s8(1) or 442(5), delegates should seek clarification regarding coverage for specific cases from the Liability and Service Eligibility policy section by emailing – L.and.SE.Policy@dva.gov.au
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-1-introduction/12-persons-covered-act
1.2.1 Categories of Service
From 1 July 2026, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) were closed to new claims, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) became the single ongoing Act providing coverage for veterans, irrespective of service.
The preamble to the MRCA states that it is “An Act to provide rehabilitation, compensation and other entitlements for veterans, members and former members of the Defence Force, and for other purposes.”
Persons provided compensation coverage by the MRCA include:
- Members and former members of the ADF, including members of the Permanent Forces and the Reserves, specifically:
- All members and former members of the permanent Navy, Regular Army and the permanent Air Force are covered for service rendered.
- Reservists on continuous full-time service and part-time service are also covered.
- Members of the ADF cadets: Cadet instructors, Officers of cadets and school cadets are covered for periods of instruction, training, performing duty and travel to and from the place of an eligible activity.
- Persons covered under s7A (see below).
- Persons covered by a Ministerial determination under section 8(1) or 442(5): The MRCA gives the Minister for Defence the discretion to extend coverage to a person or a class of persons who engage or have engaged in activities or who perform or have performed acts:
- at the request or direction of the ADF;
- for the benefit of the ADF; or
- in relation to the ADF under a requirement made by or under a Commonwealth law.
Under section 7A of the MRCA the following classes of persons who perform, or have performed, the specified acts are defined as members of the ADF for the purposes of this Act:
| Item | Class of Persons | Acts |
| 1 | Persons who hold an honorary rank or appointment in the ADF | Acts performed by the person at the request or direction of the Defence Force |
| 2 | Persons who are on Career Transition Assistance under an arrangement approved by the Australian Defence Force | Acts performed in connection with the arrangement |
| 3 | Members of approved philanthropic organisations serving the Defence Force | Acts performed: a) As an accredited representative of the philanthropic organisation; and b) While providing services in support of the ADF as authorised by the sponsoring ADF unit |
Other declared members
Certain individuals and groups, such as some specified war artists and photographers in conflict areas, entertainers who provided support to and at the direction of the ADF and others have been declared to be members of the Defence Force under Section 8 of the MRCA or to be rendering operational service under section 442(5) of the MRCA.
Claims relating to war artists and entertainers for activities undertaken on or after 17 December 2015 are considered under the SRCA.
Before accepting liability for any claims relating to determinations under s8(1) or 442(5), delegates should seek clarification regarding coverage for specific cases from the Liability and Service Eligibility policy section by emailing – L.and.SE.Policy@dva.gov.au
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-mrca-manuals-and-resources-library/policy-manual/ch-1-introduction/12-persons-covered-act/121-categories-service