For those who wish to renew their subs, see 2026 Membership Renewal Mil Bank July 26

Please be advised that from 1 July 26, the RARA SA  ceased operating with the ANZ and commenced banking with the Australian Military Bank.  EFT details are on the new membership renewal forms.  Important, please ensure you include your name in the reference.

In addition, for the interest of the few members who still  send us cheques, the Military Bank, in line with other smaller banks no longer accept cheques.  Please use an EFT through your online bank account, and as long as the BSB and account number are correct, it does not matter if the RARA SA name is an identical match.  All banks will cease providing and accepting cheques in the in the next two to three years.  Be prepared.

If you have any queries about your membership, please send us an email at the address below.  Please note RARA email address, especially for financial and membership matters is      rar01@internode.on.net

DFWA Media Release WRA 2026-29

also,

DFRDB_UPDATE_06-2026_1

DFRDB_UPDATE_10-2025_2

DFRDB_UPDATE_08-2025

The following advice came from a RSL Queensland – Member Update that was posted on Wednesday, 24th June 2026.

From 1 July 2026, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) is reforming veterans’ legislation to create a simpler, more accessible system for Defence personnel, veterans, and their families.

DVA is implementing legislative reforms through the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2024 (VETS Act).

These changes aim to simplify and harmonise veterans’ legislation, creating a more effective, single system that improves support for veterans and their families.

What is changing? 

From 1 July 2026, all new compensation claims will be processed under an enhanced Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA).

The Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) will close to new claims.

Will my current payments continue?

Existing payments under the VEA and DRCA – excluding DRCA incapacity and Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) payments – will be grandfathered, continuing uninterrupted, and indexed as usual.

Veterans receiving DRCA incapacity payments will automatically transition to higher MRCA incapacity payments.

Children of DRCA veterans may become eligible under the MRCA Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS), with VCES recipients transitioning to MRCAETS from 1 July 2026.

Do I need to do anything right now? 

Not necessarily. If you submitted a claim before the commencement date of 1 July 2026 that hasn’t been determined yet, it will be determined under the current tri-Act system. Only those claims received on or after the commencement date will be determined under the improved MRCA.

What other improvements are included?

The VETS Act will see the MRCA enhanced for various entitlements

· A new Additional Disablement Amount (ADA), similar to the Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA), will also be introduced.

· Funeral-related improvements include retaining automatic VEA funeral benefits and increasing funeral allowances and reimbursement for all service-related deaths.

· The reforms expand access and entitlements in several areas.

· The Repatriation Commission will gain the ability to prescribe certain conditions under presumptive liability arrangements – or rules that make it easier for some conditions to be accepted as related to service.

· The definition of service injury has been broadened to include “medical events on duty,” such as heart attacks or strokes occurring while on duty.

· Posthumous permanent impairment provisions will allow age-based lump-sum payments (excluding lifestyle components) to be made to a veteran’s estate where a claim was lodged prior to death.

· The additional compensation for children of severely impaired veterans will be paid to the primary carer of the eligible child; or appropriately apportioned between primary carers.

Other improvements include empowering the Repatriation Commission to require financial advice for vulnerable veterans prior to compensation payments, and increasing travel reimbursement for treatment under MRCA rates, with removal of the 50 km minimum threshold.

Veterans and their families are encouraged to visit the DVA website for further details regarding the veterans’ legislation changes, with an information booklet now available.

If you are concerned that these changes may impact you, we strongly recommend you seek advice from a qualified advocate.

Please direct any questions direct to DVA.

New Item

Veteran Family Commissioner Newsletter – June ’26

also,

RSLA – Veteran Allied Health Cap_May2026

RSL Welcomes New DVSC Commissioner

27042026 Under a Bamboo Sky NETFLIX

Anzac Day 2026 RSL Review_Media Release

New RSL Australia President

External Memo – NP Farewell

Final – RSL Badge Memo

ESORT Communique – 23 March 2026 – FINAL

DVA aged care resources poster (A3)

Information on residential aged care mailout to DVA Gold and White Card holders

Since July 2025, we have undertaken regular mailouts to DVA Gold and White Card holders who have recently entered residential aged care. These mailouts provides residents with information and resources about the supports and services they can continue to access through DVA. The most recent mailout was completed in the last week of February 2026 and included:

• A letter from Repatriation Commissioner,
• The veteran’s guide to living in an aged care home booklet,
• stickers with a poppy design that can be used at the aged care home to help identify as a veteran or war widow(er) and recognize our clients’ contributions to the nation (see p6 of The veteran’s guide to living in an aged care home to view the design),
• the My Life Story template that that allows residents to share what matters most to them, including their life experiences, service history, or connection as the partner of a service person, and
• the Local ex-service organisation contact card to help residents stay connected with community supports they were already engaged with, would like to access.

Information on DVA’s aged care resources

DVA has a range of aged care resources available for clients, veteran families, carers and aged care teams to help them understand the supports DVA can provide. The popular guides The veteran’s guide to living independently and The veteran’s guide to moving into an aged-care home were refreshed in February 2026, with updated content and a stronger, client-centred focus on accessing aged care supports.

The following helpful guides are now available to download or order in hardcopy via the links below:

• DVA aged care webpages (dva.gov.au/aged-care)
• Guides for clients, families and carers can be downloaded or ordered for free:
  • The veteran’s guide to living independently
  • The veteran’s guide to moving into an aged-care home
  • The veteran’s guide to living in an aged care home
  • Ordering or downloading booklets, free of charge (dva.gov.au/ac)
• Guides and resources for aged care providers supporting veterans and war widow/ers can be downloaded:
  • Residential aged care providers webpages
  • A guide for residential aged care teams supporting DVA clients
  • DVA Supports in Aged Care poster for nurse-stations
  • Veteran Access to Booked Car with Driver poster
  • Local ex-service organisation contact card
  • My Life Story template for veterans and war widow/ers

Also attached is our updated aged care resources poster which uses QR codes to provide a quick link to relevant DVA aged care resources. Please feel free to display this in your centres and share this information among your members and networks.

Kind regards,

Jennifer Buckler |Acting Assistant Secretary

2510 – VFA and Repat Commissioner statement – Advocacy – FINAL DRAFT

also,

Supporting DVA upgade

https://vwma.org.au/

https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/d4744afb3630991b11a6904c5cb4a560bbbeb665FBP28313339.pdf.html

For April 2023

https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/17ef59c2ff279366dd632e24cc749c7e9c1f1604202304.pdf.html#page/1

Infantryman December 2022

For  August 2022 Infantryman August 2022 – Copy

April 2022  Infantryman 8 April 2022

and, for December 2021

https://flipbookpdf.net/web/site/372aa22cf26e4539e706972f04490333e07abcad202112.pdf.html

L to R: Honourable Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Hon. Senator Don Farrell /RARA-SA Vice President (and RARA-SA (Burnside) RSL President) Rod Graham at rear / Burnside Mayor Anne Monceaux /Local member for the State seat of Bragg, Jack Batty MP / AFL Legend and former Nasho (21 Construction Squadron RAE 1969/1971) Kevin Sheedy AO / Local Member for the Federal seat of Sturt, James Stevens

L to R:  Local Member for the Federal seat of Sturt, James Stevens / Honourable Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Hon. Senator Don Farrell / Squadron Leader Ash Wright 453 Squadron RAAF / AFL Legend and Former Nasho (21 Construction Squadron RAE 1969/1971) Kevin Sheedy AO / WO2 Scott Cawsey LWC – rear / Local member for the State seat of Bragg,  Jack Batty MP / WO2 Jack Marshall AUR / 10/27 RSAR RSM WO1 Scott Hannan

Kevin Sheedy at Rose Park