B34/1993 AUSTRALIAN MARINERS' CHILDREN EDUCATION SCHEME

DATE OF ISSUE: 23 June 1993

AUSTRALIAN MARINERS' CHILDREN EDUCATION SCHEME

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Departmental Instruction is to advise of the establishment of the Australian Mariners' Children Education Scheme (AMCES)  The Repatriation Commission signed the Instrument establishing the Scheme on 4 June 1993.  A copy of the Instrument is at ATTACHMENT A.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SCHEME

2.This action was prompted by the receipt of the first claim for Education Allowance from a Mariner TPI, with a school age child.

3.The Repatriation Commission's agreement to the establishment the AMCES under Section 35 of the SWPA Regulations, and their signatures on the Instrument, enables claims for Education Allowances from TPI Mariners and Mariners' War Widows to be decided.

4.The AMCES will provide the same benefits as the Veterans' Children Education Scheme, under Section 117 of the Veterans' Entitlement Act 1986.  The main benefits are:

.Education Allowances

.Extra tuitional assistance

.Guidance and Counselling

VETERANS' CHILDREN EDUCATION BOARD

5.The Veterans' Children Education Board will have the same powers and functions in relation to the AMCES as it has for the Veterans' Children Education Scheme.

COMMENCEMENT

6.The AMCES will be deemed to have commenced on 1 January 1993.

7.For further information, please contact John Douglas, Director, Compensation on 06 289 6450

PETER HAWKER

NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR

BENEFITS PROGRAM

THIS ATTACHMENT HAS BEEN RE-KEYED TO ENABLE IT TO BE LOADED ONTO THE GENERAL

ATTACHMENT A

REPATRIATION COMMISSION

Regulation 35 of the

Seamen's War Pensions and Allowances Regulations

AUSTRALIAN MARINERS'

CHILDREN EDUCATION SCHEME

1.Establishment of the Scheme

1.1The Repatriation Commission hereby establishes the Australian Mariners' Children Education Scheme under regulation 35 of the Seamen's War Pensions and Allowances Regulations.

Note: Regulation 35 was made under paragraph 58(1)(i) of the Seamen's War Pensions and Allowances Act 1940.

2.Adoption of the Veterans' Children Education Scheme

2.1The Australian Mariners' Children Education Scheme adopts the Veterans' Children Education Scheme, prepared by the Repatriation Commission under section 117 of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, as in force on 1 January 1993, as if the following modifications were rnade:

(a)a reference to a veteran shall be read as a reference to an Australian mariner;

(b)a reference to the Veterans' Children Education Scheme shall be read as a reference to the Australian Mariners' Children Education Scheme; and

(c)omit paragraph 1.3.1.

3.Powers and functions of the Veterans' Children Education Board

3.1The Veterans' Children Education Board, established under the Veterans' Children Education Scheme, shall have the same powers and functions in relation to the Australian Mariners' Children Education Scheme as it has in relation to the Veterans' Children Education Scheme.

4.Commencement

4.1The Australian Mariners' Children Education Scheme is taken to have comrnenced on 1 January 1993.

Dated this fourth day of June 1993

L B WOODWARD — K LYON — N RALPH

PRESIDENT — DEPUTY PRESIDENT — COMMISSIONER