The RAR Association’s AGM and the annual National Council Meeting were conducted in Townsville on 7 and 8 October. All State and Battalion Associations were present. It is interesting to note that the Associations which represent the Battalions no longer on the Order of Battle are generally still strong (2/4 RAR, 4RAR, 5/7RAR, 8 RAR and 9 RAR).
Mike von Berg is the Chair of the National Board and the Directors are Ted Chitham, who is also our hard working secretary, Hori Howard, Pat McIntosh, Trevor Dixon, who is our web master and Phil Thompson who represents our young volunteers. Mike and Phil were re-elected for a further three year term.
It was noted that the RAR Association is highly regarded in national circles. Mike is a member of the Ex Service Organisations Round Table (ESORT) which advises the Federal Government on veterans’ policy. He is also the ESORT’s representative on the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health and has recently been appointed to the Strategic Governance Board of the Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP) .Phil Thompson represents us on the DVA’s Younger Veterans – Contemporary Needs Forum (YVF) and Clem Russell, our national pensions and compensation advisor, is a member of the DVA Operations Working Party.
Guest speakers were The Hon Darren Chester, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC and deputy leader of the House, Major General Mark Kelly, who is the Repatriation Commissioner as well as the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Regiment and Ms Liz Cosson, the new Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. They updated us on what is occurring at national level within the Government, DVA and the Regiment.
Some significant items were:
- A veteran is now someone who has served for one day.
- A White Card medical treatment card for mental health issues is now available to anyone who has had one day’s full-time military service.
- DVA now has details of all those who have served. This will permit quicker responses to claims.
- 40 medical conditions have been added to the list which requires no additional evidence during the disability claims process.
- VVCS will be renamed “Open Arms” which is expected to emphasise that it is open to all.
All Associations presented their reports. The main theme was the need to attract younger veterans to our associations. It was reaffirmed that our policy is that those leaving the service should as a matter of priority join their Battalion Associations, but if there happens not to be an active Association in their home state, they should join the State Association so that they can still continue to be members of the RAR family. It was also confirmed that those Associations which had close links with the serving Battalions were the strongest. This is seen as the best way to get through to those leaving the service. RARA support is available to all who have served in the Regiment and their families.
The Queensland Branch of the RAR National Association which manages the RAR National Memorial Walk, presented their report on the RAR Memorial. The Walk, which is located within Enoggera Barracks, is an outstanding tribute to our fallen. It is maintained by RAR volunteers, the Queensland Branch of our Association and serving units from 7 Brigade . The Walk is well worth a visit to anyone who is in Brisbane but patience is required to gain entry to Enoggera Barracks due to the current security level.
There were many items on the RARA’s NCM agenda including the following:
- Suicide and self-harm – critical group assessment and assistance.
- Homeless veterans – solutions.
- Future of the National Memorial Walk.
- The future of advocacy including delivery.
- The Productivity Commission inquiry into DVA.
- Indexation of pensions and superannuation.
- Incarcerated veterans. Statistics and support.
- Defence or partnership hub test for those leaving the ADF.
- Soldier Recovery Program.
- Transition of ADF families.
- Conditions of Service including the Workplace Remuneration Arrangements.
- The need for a Military Covenant between the Government and the ADF.
Issues which were reported on and discussed included the following:
- The status and future of the upgrading service at RCB to warlike service.
- RAR MIAs from the Korean War.
- The need for a day to commemorate the service of contemporary veterans.
- The award of a medal for those wounded in action.
- The need for our Associations and members to provide feedback on matters requiring advocacy.
- The need for Associations to be active in the social media space.
- Mental Health- transition – suicide – employment.
- Well-being.
- Veterans Support Organisations “fostered” by the RARA
With the Federal election not too far away we will be working to put together a short list of key issues which we alone and with The Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO) will put forward to the major parties. We will engage with our Associations in this task and we will ask that they will join us in putting them before their local candidates.
Just some of the contemporary issues are:
- The exclusion of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (trustees of our military superannuation schemes) from the Royal Commission into misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial services industry.
- The fact that TPI and Special Rate disability compensation payments have not kept up with the cost of living.
- Superannuation matters including Fair Indexation for all military superannuation payments, MSBS portability and access to employer benefits, removal of MSBS Maximum Benefit Limits and DFRDB Commutation
- Mental health and Veterans’ suicide.
- Transition including employment post military service.
- Support and care for members and former members of the ADF who were involved in the Quinoline anti-malarial drug ‘trial’
The importance of communications in achieving our strategic directions (outlined in our Road Map) was a major topic for discussion. The key priorities determined were to open up membership to all former and current members of the RAR and their families and to enable a simplified, seamless, digital communications network that will allow us to engage with our members.
The weekend was rounded off by a visit to 1 RAR where we witnessed an imaginative program designed to improve marksmanship and urban warfare tactics.
The 2019 meeting is planned for Adelaide.
