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 below information reflects historical advice from the introduction of and updates to the F-111 deseal/reseal program and informs the policy and basis for these arrangements. The content remains relevant in terms of considering application of presumptive arrangements for F-111 participants, determinations of Tier status for the purposes of eligibility for presumptive arrangements and SHOAMP eligibility and in considering SHOAMP and Better Health Scheme matters and ex-gratia payments to F-111 participants. References to arrangements under s7(2) of the SRCA/DRCA have been superseded by presumptive arrangements for the same conditions.