The VEA is the legislation under which compensation, treatment, some rehabilitation and income support is provided to veterans and their eligible dependants for injury, disease or death related to service rendered before 1 July 2004.  The VEA mostly covers veterans with service in wars, warlike and non-warlike operations (including peacekeeping operations) but peacetime service between 7 December 1972 and 6 April 1994 is also covered, and in some cases (depending on the member's date of enlistment), through to 30 June 2004. The VEA is administered through the DVA.

The SRCA is the legislation under which rehabilitation, compensation and treatment is provided to Australian Government employees who suffer injury or disease as a result of their employment. It also provides compensation for their eligible dependants for work-related death. This includes ADF peacetime service from 1 December 1988 until 1 July 2004 and warlike and non-warlike service between 7 April 1994 and 1 July 2004. In 2017 the SRCA was spilt with coverage for members of the Australian Defence Force provided under the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA).

The C(CGE)A covers peacetime service from 1 September 1971 until 30 November 1988 and is administered by DVA for ADF claims relating to this period.

Coverage for the peacetime service of members of the ADF under this Act is from 3 January 1949 until 31 August 1971.  Current claims relating to this period of service are determined by DVA.

This determination provides for the payment of additional death benefit and severe injury adjustment in respect of a member who dies or is severely injured on or after 10 June 1997 and in respect of whom SRCA compensation is payable.