Policy

Can the RMA change its decision on a SOP?

Service must cause or contribute to injury or disease

For a claim in respect of a death, [glossary:disease:603] or [glossary:injury:315] to be accepted, the death, disease or injury needs to be causally related to the veteran's or member's VEA service. Service does not have to be the only cause however, provided that the person's service was a material contribution to the injury, disease or death. Where an injury is involved, there will normally be only one cause.

Injury during social occasion may be defence-caused

Because of the need to create 'esprit de corps' in the services, it frequently happens that members are expected to attend occasions such as farewells and dining-in nights after the normal hours of duty. Accidents occurring at or on the way home from such occasions have been accepted as defence-caused by the [glossary:AAT:378] where it is clearly indicated that attendance at the function was a normal part of service life and the members did not increase the risk of being injured.

Members' participation in sport encouraged

It is the policy of the Department of Defence as outlined in Defence Instructions (General) PERS 14-2 25 September 1983 that the active participation by Defence Force personnel in sport is to be encouraged.

What are Statements of Principles?

Injuries occurring in live-in accommodation

In a number of instances, defence personnel are required to live in accommodation provided on the base or in another defence establishment. [glossary:Injuries:315] occurring in this 'live-in' accommodation may sometimes be accepted as defence-caused depending on the circumstances of the case. Decisions made by the [glossary:VRB:529] and [glossary:AAT:378] in respect of injuries occurring in such circumstances vary so it is not possible to follow such decisions in all cases.