Eligibility for Post-war Commemoration

Basically, to be eligible for post-war commemoration, a veteran must have seen war or other operational service and the veteran's death must be related to that service.

Certain veterans are automatically eligible and their next-of-kin are contacted by the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) regarding a post-war commemoration as a matter of course.

Otherwise for a veteran to be eligible for official commemoration, the Repatriation Commission or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission must determine that the veteran's death was due to war related causes. Normally a decision on eligibility for official commemoration is made at the same time as decisions are made on the eligibility of a veteran's dependants for benefits such as a war widow's pension.

Where a veteran has no dependants, the next-of-kin or an interested person should apply in writing to their nearest state DVA office asking for DVA to investigate whether or not the veteran's death was war-related. If DVA determines it was, official commemoration will be provided.

Note: OAWG cannot assist with eligibility enquiries.
Contact the veteran's nearest DVA state office to enquire about eligibility for an official commemoration.

War service

All veterans eligible for post-war commemorations are required to have seen eligible war service, operational service, warlike service or non-warlike service (this includes peacekeeping service) [1].

Classes of veterans automatically eligible

There are several classes of veteran accepted as eligible for official commemoration without any further procedure being necessary. On learning of the death, or the official acceptance of liability for death, DVA advises OAWG of the veteran's entitlement. OAWG automatically sends memorial forms to the nominated next-of-kin to determine the type of memorial to be provided.

Automatically eligible veterans are those who have seen the required war or other operational service and at the time of their death were:

Veterans automatically eligible for official post-war commemoration are:

a veteran in receipt of a Special Rate (T&PI) Pension or an Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA), a Temporary Special Rate Pension (TSR) or an Intermediate Rate Pension (INT) at the time of death and where the veteran has seen service in a war or conflict; or
a veteran who is a multiple amputee as defined in Section 27.1 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) on maximum pension rate where service in a war or conflict has been proven; or
an ex-prisoner of war; or
a Victoria Cross recipient.

See further:

Other veterans whose death is related to service

A veteran is eligible for post-war commemoration if the Repatriation Commission or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (or a State DVA Officer as delegate of either Commission) accepts that veteran's death as being related to service, either:

war-caused under the VEA [2] or
a service death [3] arising from warlike or non-warlike service under the MRCA.

Claims for official post-war commemoration can be made at any time (there is no time limit) by a relative or any other interested person.

A claim can only be made by writing [4] to the State DVA Office where the veteran lived asking that the veteran's death be accepted as war-caused or a service death arising from warlike or non-warlike service and giving reasons why it should be.

Once the veteran's death is accepted by the Repatriation Commission or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission as war-caused or a service death arising from warlike or non-warlike service, the State DVA Office notifies OAWG which then sends memorial forms to the next-of-kin or applicant to arrange the details of the memorial.

See further information in DVA Facts:

Veterans in an Anzac Day march past the Australian War Memorial, Canberra

Veterans in an Anzac Day march along Anzac Parade, Canberra

Footnotes:

As provided in the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) (VEA). Section 6(1)(d) Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (Cth) (MRCA) defines defence service in similar terms: 'warlike service, non warlike service or peacetime service'.
As defined in s 8 VEA.
As defined in ss 28 and 29(3) MRCA. This Act applies to deaths relating to service after 1 July 2004 of serving members and veterans.
You must write a letter. There is no application form and applications cannot be made over the phone or by email. Back to text