Please Note
Legislative changes which commenced on 1 July 2026 have impacted the information contained in this chapter.
From this date, 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 Act providing coverage for veterans, regardless of service.
For Australian Defence force (ADF) members who participated in the Department of Defence’s F-111 ‘Deseal/Reseal’ Program, coverage for this group (and the list of ‘prescribed’ conditions which apply for liability purposes) have been replicated under the MRCA via legislative instrument in accordance with section 27A of the Act from 1 July 2026. These conditions and associated service requirements are covered under ‘presumptive liability’ arrangements. Claims for all other medical conditions will be assessed under other MRCA liability-determination processes.
For further information regarding these changes, please refer to Chapter 3.2 – Heads of Liability and Chapter 3.4.14 – Presumptive Liability in the MRCA Policy Handbook.
The SHOAMP Health Care Scheme and Better Health Program are unaffected by the legislative changes. These schemes are provided under the Financial Framework Regulations and continue unchanged.
The policies and procedures contained in this Guide were originally distributed via a Business line (TRIM1212454E) in January 2012.