This chapter covers service in post-World War 2 operations.
See Also
Service Post World War 2
Chapter 1.5 Periods of Conflict & Operational Areas [3]
Part 2 Applying for a Pension [4]
A member of the Interim Forces is a person who enlisted or re-engaged, for continuous full-time service [9] for not more than two years on or after 1 July 1947 and before 1 July 1949 to the Interim forces, or a unit of the defence forces.
More → [10]
Service with the Interim Forces entitles a veteran to claim for a Disability Compensation Payment but not a service pension.
More → [11]
Continuous full-time service in relation to a member of the Defence Force means that a person must have served on a continuous full-time basis, as opposed to a part-time basis.
A period of continuous full-time service is required by a member of the Defence Force if they are to be considered as having eligible war service, operational service or defence service and access to the benefits associated with those forms of service.
A veteran who served after 29 October 1945 has qualifying service [9] if they were awarded or are eligible to be awarded the:
These medals must have one of the following clasps:
Qualifying service is one of the criteria used to determine eligibility for certain benefits under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Refer to section 7A of the VEA [20] for the full defintion.
The British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF) were formed after the formal surrender of Japan and comprised personnel from the armed forces of Australia, New Zealand, India and the United Kingdom. BCOF's primary role was to ensure that the terms of the unconditional surrender of Japan were met. Service for Australian personnel extended from 13 February 1946 to 28 April 1952 (both dates included).
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A member of the permanent defence force who served in the BCOF in Japan has operational service up to the earliest of:
Service solely with BCOF (Japan) is not qualifying service [9]. The Japanese forces had surrendered and there was no longer an enemy [9].
Any period of service in Japan as part of BCOF from 31 January 1946 to 28 April 1952 gives entitlement to a Gold Card under that Act.
Qualifying service is one of the criteria used to determine eligibility for certain benefits under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Refer to section 7A of the VEA [20] for the full defintion.
“enemy means
This topic covers qualifying service [9] and operational service [9] for the Korean hostilities, as well as, service in the Demilitarised Zone after the ending of the Australian commitment.
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To have qualifying service for a service pension an Australian veteran of the Korean war must have:
To have operational service, for Disability Compensation Payment [9], an Australian veteran of the Korean war must have:
Defence force personnel continued to serve in Korea after 19 April 1956. Personnel were employed in a non-operational role as it was considered service had returned to normal peacetime conditions.
The exception to this was service as military observers in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Such service in the DMZ is classified as Operational Service but not Qualifying Service.
More → [32]
Qualifying service is one of the criteria used to determine eligibility for certain benefits under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Refer to section 7A of the VEA [20] for the full defintion.
Operational service is generally service performed:
Refer to section 6 of the VEA through to 6F of the VEA for a full explanation of operational service.
For the purposes of determining a person's eligibility for entitlements under the VEA, being allotted for duty in an operational area (schedule 2 [40] VEA refers) is a reference to a person or unit of the Defence Force, that is allotted for duty by written instrument issued by the:
Allotment may be retrospective or prospective.
Disability compensation payment (known before 2022 as disability pension), for the purposes of service pension, income support supplement and veteran payment, means:
Please note that the Disability Compensation Payment is legally a pension by way of compensation under the VEA so that concessional benefits under state, territory and local government legislation to pensioners/pensions under the VEA are not denied.
For the purposes of determining a person's eligibility for entitlements under the VEA, being allotted for duty in an operational area (schedule 2 [40] VEA refers) is a reference to a person or unit of the Defence Force, that is allotted for duty by written instrument issued by the:
Allotment may be retrospective or prospective.
VEA ? [42]
Between 1950 and 1967 Australia was involved in two conflicts in what is now known as the Federation of Malaysia. These were:
To have qualifying service for a service pension [9] a Malaya veteran must have:
Not all members of the forces who served in the Malayan Emergency or Indonesian Confrontation were allotted. Consequently not all have qualifying service [9].
Operational service in respect of the Malayan Emergency, and Indonesian Confrontation is service as a member of the Defence Force who, or a member of a unit of the Defence Force that:
Sub-section 13(6) [45] of the VEA provides for claims in respect of death or incapacity to be accepted in limited circumstances where the person did not render operational service in an operational area. This provision was introduced in 1962 at the time that top secret operations were being conducted in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) by the Australian Special Air Service Regiment during the period of confrontation with Indonesia.
Because Australia retained diplomatic links with Indonesia throughout this period, Indonesian territory could not be included within the operational area.
The provision provides Repatriation benefits to members of a SAS patrol which, in late May/early June 1965, was attacked by a rogue elephant while operating in Kalimantan. One of the group was badly gored and died before help could be summoned. If a claim is lodged by a member of the patrol and the service documents do not show details of injury or disease at the time of the person's service against hostile forces, further information should be sought from the relevant source.
A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.
For the purposes of determining a person's eligibility for entitlements under the VEA, being allotted for duty in an operational area (schedule 2 [40] VEA refers) is a reference to a person or unit of the Defence Force, that is allotted for duty by written instrument issued by the:
Allotment may be retrospective or prospective.
Qualifying service is one of the criteria used to determine eligibility for certain benefits under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Refer to section 7A of the VEA [20] for the full defintion.
This topic covers the requirements for operational service [9] and qualifying service [9] in the Vietnam hostilities, as well as the recognised periods of service before and after Australia's involvement in the hostilities.
More ? [51]
To have qualifying service for a service pension [9] a Vietnam veteran must have:
To have operational service for a disability compensation payment [9], a Vietnam veteran must have:
Before the commencement of Australia's operational involvement in Vietnam, the HMAS Vampire and HMAS Quickmatch visited Saigon on 25-29 January 1962. The period of the visit is classified as operational service but not qualifying service.
More ? [53]
Australia's operational presence in Vietnam officially ended on 11 January 1973. Following this date:
Members of the defence force who served in Vietnam from 12 January 1973 to 29 April 1975 have warlike service and consequently operational and qualifying service.
The determinations made to date cover the following members of the Defence Force:
Among the Defence Personnel providing welfare services were members of the various military bands.
The service documents of these people should indicate that they have been deemed to be on full-time service and/or deemed to be allotted for duty in an operational service. If there is any discrepancy between what the claimant is contending and the official records, further advice should be obtained from the relevant service.
Determinations have been made in respect of representatives of the following approved philanthropic organisations, who provided welfare services to the Defence Force, that they were members of the Defence Force rendering continuous full-time service in an operational area:
If claims are received from any of these, full details of the service should be obtained from the claimant. It may be necessary to verify the situation with the Soldier Career Management Agency.
More ? [54]
Compensation benefits for civilians in Vietnam is determined solely on the basis of their employment. For example, medical and surgical teams provided under a SEATO aid program were given salary, travel expenses and accommodation by the Australian Government and were subject to general Public Service terms and conditions of employment. They and other civilians employed by the Australian Government but who did not serve directly in support of the Defence Force in Vietnam are covered by the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA).
Members of the SEATO medical teams are eligible for a Gold Card under the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019, but are not eligible for benefits under the VEA and are not considered to have rendered Qualifying Service.
Official entertainers' who toured Vietnam under the auspices of the Australian Defence Force are not covered under the VEA. However, depending on the terms of their contracts, they may have coverage under the SRCA.
Independent concert parties or entertainers are not covered under either Act. Nor are journalists working for Australian newspapers or Australians working as civilians for the US Army.
Operational service is generally service performed:
Refer to section 6 of the VEA through to 6F of the VEA for a full explanation of operational service.
Qualifying service is one of the criteria used to determine eligibility for certain benefits under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Refer to section 7A of the VEA [20] for the full defintion.
A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.
For the purposes of determining a person's eligibility for entitlements under the VEA, being allotted for duty in an operational area (schedule 2 [40] VEA refers) is a reference to a person or unit of the Defence Force, that is allotted for duty by written instrument issued by the:
Allotment may be retrospective or prospective.
Disability compensation payment (known before 2022 as disability pension), for the purposes of service pension, income support supplement and veteran payment, means:
Please note that the Disability Compensation Payment is legally a pension by way of compensation under the VEA so that concessional benefits under state, territory and local government legislation to pensioners/pensions under the VEA are not denied.
For the purposes of determining a person's eligibility for entitlements under the VEA, being allotted for duty in an operational area (schedule 2 [40] VEA refers) is a reference to a person or unit of the Defence Force, that is allotted for duty by written instrument issued by the:
Allotment may be retrospective or prospective.
Introduction
This topic contains information on the following:
Personnel who served in North East Thailand at any time between 31 May 1962 to 24 June 1965 (both dates included) have operational service.
More → [63]
Australian Defence Force [9] members who served in Namibia between 18 February 1989 and 10 April 1990 (both dates included) have operational service. Members of UNTAG who were members of a force allotted for duty [9] in Namibia have qualifying service.
Australian Defence Force members who were allotted for duty [9] and served in the operational areas for the Persian Gulf War have both qualifying and operational service.
More → [64]
Australian Defence Force members who were allotted for duty and served in the operational areas for Cambodia have both qualifying and operational service.
Australians allotted for duty may have been with:
Australian Defence Force [9] members who were allotted for duty with Australian contingents of the United Nations forces and served in the area comprising the former Yugoslavia have both qualifying and operational service.
Australian Defence Force members who were allotted for duty and served with the Australian contingents of the United Nations forces in Somalia have both qualifying and operational service.
Australian personnel, including official war artists, who served as part of a defence (ADF) or police (AFP) operation since 19 June 1999, have been covered for Disability Compensation Payment [9]. In addition, defence personnel who served in East Timor after 19 September 1999 as part of an operation, which has been declared as warlike service by signed Instrument, are also eligible for a service pension [9]. ADF personnel must be allotted to and serve in East Timor, not simply be allotted to an operation because they may have served only in Darwin or Townsville.
The Australian Defence Force includes:
For the purposes of determining a person's eligibility for entitlements under the VEA, being allotted for duty in an operational area (schedule 2 [40] VEA refers) is a reference to a person or unit of the Defence Force, that is allotted for duty by written instrument issued by the:
Allotment may be retrospective or prospective.
For the purposes of determining a person's eligibility for entitlements under the VEA, being allotted for duty in an operational area (schedule 2 [40] VEA refers) is a reference to a person or unit of the Defence Force, that is allotted for duty by written instrument issued by the:
Allotment may be retrospective or prospective.
The Australian Defence Force includes:
Disability compensation payment (known before 2022 as disability pension), for the purposes of service pension, income support supplement and veteran payment, means:
Please note that the Disability Compensation Payment is legally a pension by way of compensation under the VEA so that concessional benefits under state, territory and local government legislation to pensioners/pensions under the VEA are not denied.
A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.
Last amended: 1 June 2012
VEA ? [70]
Following is a list of peacekeeping forces in which Australians have served:
More ? [71]
Description of peacekeeping force |
Initial date as a peacekeeping force |
Security Council Commission of Investigation on the Balkans |
29 January 1947 |
Committee of Good Offices |
25 August 1947 |
United Nations Special Commission on the Balkans |
26 November 1947 |
United Nations Commission on Korea |
1 January 1949 |
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan |
1 January 1949 |
United Nations Commission for Indonesia |
28 January 1949 |
United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation |
1 June 1956 |
United Nations Operations in the Congo |
1 August 1960 |
United Nations Yemen Observation Mission |
1 January 1963 |
United Nations Force in Cyprus |
14 May 1964 |
United Nations India-Pakistan Observation Mission |
20 September 1965 |
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force |
1 January 1974 |
United Nations Emergency Force II |
1 July 1976 |
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon |
23 March 1978 |
Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Zimbabwe |
24 December 1979 |
Sinai Multinational Force and Observers - established by the protocol between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel dated 3 August 1981 |
18 February 1982 |
United Nations Iran/Iraq Military Observer Group |
11 August 1988 |
United Nations Border Relief Operation in Cambodia |
1 February 1989 |
United Nations Transition Assistance Group Namibia |
18 February 1989 |
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara |
27 June 1991 |
The Australian Police Contingent of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia |
18 May 1992 |
The Australian Police Contingent of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique |
27 March 1994 |
Australian Defence Support to a Pacific Peacekeeping Force for a Bougainville Peace Conference |
21 September 1994 |
The Australian Police Contingent of the Multi-National Force in Haiti |
10 October 1994 |
See:
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