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Anzac spirit across the world
On Anzac Day 2010 Australians across the country and overseas took the time to pay tribute to the servicemen and women – past and present – who have served our country at home and abroad in wars, conflicts and peace operations.
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Quarterly pension supplement
From 1 July, if you receive a service pension, age pension or income support supplement, you will be able to register to receive the minimum portion of your pension supplement quarterly, rather than fortnightly.
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2010-11 Budget - $246.4 million over four years
The 2010-11 Federal Budget provides $246.4 million over four years for new initiatives in the Veterans’ Affairs Portfolio, including $36 million to implement recommendations of the Clarke Review, $55 million for former F-111 fuel tank maintenance workers and a new $152.7 million initiative for programs to reduce unnecessary hospital stays for members of the veteran community.
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(PDF 441Kb) |
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Letters to the Editor
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Income and assets test limits rise
From 1 July 2010 the Income Free Areas and Assets Value Limits will rise. The amount of income per fortnight that an income support pensioner may receive before their pension is reduced under the income test.
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Executive General Manager retires
Executive General Manager of DVA, Gary Collins, has retired from DVA. Mr Collins joined the Department in Queensland in 1970. He was appointed Executive General Manager in June 2009.
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New VVCS Head
Wayne Penniall has been appointed National Manager of the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS).
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Vetaffairs – three per year
DVA no longer publishes a December issue of Vetaffairs. This change took effect in December 2008, however some of our readers became concerned last year that their December issue may have gone missing in the post.
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(1PDF 132Kb) |
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DHOS closed
The Department of Defence closed the old Defence HomeOwner Scheme (DHOS) on 30 June 2010, following a two year grace period to allow ex-service personnel to access any outstanding entitlement. DHOS was superseded by the new Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS) when it was launched on 1 July 2008.
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Increased Lump Sum Advances
The system under which you can receive a Lump Sum Advance of your pension has been improved so that you can receive larger and more frequent advances. However, you will need to be careful to ensure you do not request an advance of more than you can afford to repay by deductions from your fortnightly pension.
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New Service Centres
DVA has been working to make it easier for veterans living in regional Australia to keep in touch by opening new service centres within Centrelink offices in Victor Harbor, Port Pirie and Port Lincoln. This arrangement will enhance services to veterans living in South Australia in areas where stand-alone DVA offices were not viable.
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Minister for Defence Personnel
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, was sworn in as Minister for Defence Personnel on 1 April 2010. This new portfolio will be in addition to his responsibilities as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.
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(PDF 96Kb) |
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Budget in Detail
$36 million for Clarke Review (Listen to the MP3 3.2 Mb)
$55 million package for F-111 personnel (Listen to the MP3 2.6 Mb)
Greater community care, reduced hospital stays (Listen to the MP3 2.6 Mb)
Henry Tax Review
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, has reassured Australian veterans that they will not be worse off under the government’s tax reforms. Veterans’ pensions will not be affected by the Henry Tax Review.
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To the veteran community and DVA staff
A letter from Repatriation Commissioner Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO (Ret’d)
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(PDF 180Kb) |
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Gallipoli 2010 – they made it
Departing Australia on 15 April 2010 from four capital cities within Australia, the majority of the War Widows’ Guild tour group met up in Singapore and continued their journey to Turkey, oblivious to the ensuing ramifications of the dust drift from the erupting Icelandic volcano that was to shut down air transport over Europe.
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Women and heart disease
Heart disease is a leading cause of death amongst Australian women. The Heart Foundation is informing and educating women about their risk of cardiovascular disease and the steps they can take to prevent it.
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War Widows remember
A long standing tradition of remembrance established by war widows is the Field of Remembrance.
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(PDF 147Kb) |
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Anzac Day at Sandakan Memorial Park, Sabah, Malaysia
Around 500 people attended this year’s Anzac Day service at the Sandakan Memorial Park.
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Overseas memorials search website
The overseas memorials website continues to attract interest. A number of memorials have been added based on information provided to the OAWG by members of the public – several of them relatives of servicemen who have been commemorated on private memorials.
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Procedure for visiting Terendak Military Cemetery
The Terendak Military Cemetery is situated within the perimeter of Terendak Camp, Malacca, an operating military base. The cemetery is currently undergoing extensive renovation work and there may be a disruption to those intending to visit the cemetery.
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OAWG work in PNG
As well as maintaining thousands of war graves and post-war commemorations throughout Australia, the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) acts as the agent of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), by maintaining three large war cemeteries in Papua New Guinea (PNG), as well as graves in the Solomon Islands and Norfolk Island.
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Non-war Australian graves in Malaysia
When the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade withdrew from Malaysia, the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) accepted responsibility for the maintenance of the 1,307 graves of Commonwealth servicemen and their dependents throughout West Malaysia.
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(PDF 136Kb) |
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Remembering the ‘Forgotten War’
2010 marks the 60th Anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs in partnership with the South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Australian Korean War veteran community is working to ensure that the service of Australian men and women in this devastating – and sometimes forgotten – conflict is recognised.
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Australian Citizenship explained
In 2009, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of Australian citizenship. On 26 January 1949, the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 was introduced, creating the concept of Australian citizenship for the first time. Before then, most people born or naturalised in Australia were British subjects.
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The Australian Citizenship Act 2007
On 1 July 2007, the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 was introduced leading to major reforms in citizenship law, including the introduction of citizenship testing, and an increased ability for people who had lost their citizenship under provisions in the 1948 Act to resume their citizenship.
Debunking the myths
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(PDF 98Kb) |
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The eyes have it - Dr Graeme Killer
Of all the senses, vision is the most important. Without vision our world closes around us, we lose independence and the simple pleasures of life so easily taken for granted are suddenly out of reach.
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Am I safe to drive? - Dr Graeme Killer
This is a question we often ask ourselves after a few drinks on a Friday night, but do we ask ourselves the same question in relation to our medication?
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Veterans’ Health Week 19-25 July 2010
Activities encouraging healthy lifestyles for veterans and their families will be held at various locations across the country as part of Veterans’ Health Week this July.
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(PDF 121Kb) |
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Digital TV – what you need to know
Between 2010 and 2013, Australia is switching off the analog TV signals and converting to digital TV.
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Looking ahead to the Anzac Centenary
Between 2014 and 2018 we will have the opportunity to commemorate our involvement in the First World War, and the enduring service of men and women since. Of particular significance will be the centenary of Anzac Day on 25 April 2015 and the centenary of Remembrance Day on 11 November 2018.
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Equity Release loans
Equity release and reverse mortgage products are loans that are available to people aged 60 and over, who own their own home and who require access to the equity in their home.
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Factsheets – a one-stop-shop
DVA’s online Factsheet portal is a one-stop-shop for detailed information on benefits and services available to DVA clients.
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Timor-Leste Family Study
The Timor-Leste Family Study (TLFS) aims to determine what, if any, physical, mental or social health impacts there are on military families as a result of military service and of deployment, particularly to Timor‑Leste.
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(PDF 57Kb) |
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New publications
1918: year of victory
Heroic Australian women in war (audio book)
With Healing Hands
M is for Mates: Animals in Wartime from Ajax to Zep
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News from the Australian War Memorial
Gallipoli VCs on tour
Framing conflict: Iraq and Afghanistan
Untold story of Gallipoli
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(PDF 149Kb) |
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Complaints and Feedback
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Service Charter outlines the Department’s obligations in relation to the range and quality of services that the veteran and defence force communities expect from DVA. This includes the management of feedback, such as complaints and compliments.
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Coin for Fromelles Battle
As the nation prepared to commemorate Anzac Day on 25 April, the Royal Australian Mint stopped to remember the lost soldiers of Fromelles with a special event at the Mint in Canberra.
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Medals Lost & Found
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Reunions
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Legacy Week 29 August-4 September 2010
Legacy is seeking volunteers for its annual appeal, to be held 29 August – 4 September 2010.
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(PDF 100Kb) |
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Noticeboard
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Noticeboard Army
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Noticeboard Navy
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Noticeboard Air Force
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Noticeboard Miscellaneous
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(PDF 85Kb) |
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Audio conclusion
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