Commando News Aug16
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NSW Welfare Officer’s Report<br />
WELFARE OFFICERʼS AIM:<br />
To provide physical, mental, social support for<br />
members and their families.<br />
“THE FUTURE OF ASSISTING VETERANS AND<br />
THEIR DEPENDANTS” FORUM:<br />
This was held in February, at the Dee Why RSL<br />
Club. Kevin Mahony & I attended, along with about 80<br />
delegates from a wide range of Defence organisations.<br />
Here is some of the information and organisations’<br />
details, which may be helpful for the Association’s<br />
members.<br />
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS:<br />
DVA is undergoing, a lot of changes, which should<br />
be completed by the end of 2016.<br />
GPO Box 9998, in capital city.<br />
Ph: 133 254 or 1800 555 254.<br />
Email: GeneralEnquiries@dva.gov.au<br />
www.dva or www.dva factsheet index<br />
DEFINITION OF A VETERAN:<br />
This has changed recently from, a member of<br />
Australia’s Defence Force who has served overseas.<br />
The new definition of a veteran is:- anyone who has<br />
been a member of ADF, including reservists, civilians<br />
and cadets, irrespective of whether they have served<br />
overseas or not.<br />
Advise your doctors of this change, as they may not<br />
be aware of this.<br />
CLAIMS:<br />
Veterans and their dependants, MAY BE eligible to<br />
claim compensation for any medical condition related to<br />
their service.<br />
The entitlements available depend on the legislation<br />
applicable at the time of service.<br />
This now includes all skin complaints, such as<br />
melanomas, skin cancers and rashes, etc; tinnitus, loss<br />
of hearing & hearing aids etc: even if they appear, or are<br />
needed after discharge, irrespective of whenever the<br />
veterans served.<br />
Many veterans suffer from hearing loss because of<br />
weapon firing.<br />
Also, many veterans should be eligible to at least, a<br />
DVA White Card.<br />
Contact the DVA if you think this applies to you.<br />
UPDATE ON JIM WOOD ex 1 <strong>Commando</strong> Company<br />
Dear Barry,<br />
Michael Wood has asked me to contact you re a notice you are planning to include about<br />
Jim in the <strong>Commando</strong> Magazine. Please note that Jim does not have Leukaemia. You might like<br />
to use the following information:<br />
“In March, Jim was diagnosed with Angio Sarcoma, a rare, inoperable cancer. After nine<br />
rounds of chemotherapy he was admitted to the PeterMac Hospital in Melbourne.<br />
Whilst there he was further diagnosed with a lung condition, and is now in the Donvale<br />
Rehabilitation Hospital, but hopes to return home in a couple of weeks. The cancer is being<br />
held at bay for the time being.”<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Colleen Wood<br />
VETERAN SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS & GROUPS<br />
These centres may provide legal and health advice,<br />
home modifications, hospital visitations, peer support,<br />
transportation, recreational groups, appliances, finan -<br />
cial support, funeral assistance, housing, career tran -<br />
sitioning into civilian jobs etc, for veterans and their<br />
dependants.<br />
I’ll just mention some of them, which may be helpful<br />
for Association members, their families and others.<br />
(Google the “www” references);<br />
1. Most RSL Sub-Branches have Welfare & Pension<br />
Officers who may be able to assist you. Some<br />
provide funeral benefits to their members.<br />
www.rslnsw.org.au<br />
2. Defence Care, ANZAC House, 245 Castlereagh St.<br />
Sydney. Ph 02 8088 0388. www.defencecare.org.au<br />
3. Sydney Northern Beaches Veterans’ Centre, RSL<br />
Club, 932 Pittwater Rd., Dee Why.<br />
Ph: 02 9454 4015. www.vcnb.org.au<br />
4. East Sydney Veterans’ Centre, RSL Club, 18 Spring<br />
St., Bondi Junction. Ph: 02 9389 7245.<br />
5. Veterans’ Advocacy Service Legal Aid NSW, 323<br />
Castlereagh St. Haymarket. Ph: 02 9219 5148.<br />
6. Soldier On Australia. In all states.<br />
www.soldier.on.australia<br />
7. ADF Centre for Mental Health. HMAS Penguin,<br />
Middlehead Rd. Mosman. Ph: 02 9647 5654.<br />
8. Veteran's Health – by Dr Ron Bain.<br />
www.racgp.org.au/afp/2016/march/ (change<br />
“2016/march” for future and past editions).<br />
9. Women’s Veterans Network Australia.<br />
Ph: 0403 847 604.<br />
E: pennielooker@ bigpond.com. www.wvna.org<br />
10. NJF Wellness Centres are in all states and provide<br />
gyms and swimming pools for; exercise physiology,<br />
occupational therapy, dietetic and physiotherapy<br />
services etc. If you, your partner or carer have a<br />
doctor’s certificate you MAY BE covered by DVA,<br />
Medicare or your private health fund. Ph: 1300 890<br />
507;<br />
E: sebtodman@gmail.com<br />
or www njfwellness.com.au<br />
11. www.veterans centre or www.veterans counselling<br />
services. There is a page of contacts for both of<br />
these.<br />
Contact me if you require further information or wish<br />
to talk to me in confidence. Also, I would like some<br />
feedback on these organi -<br />
sations.<br />
Keep "Striking Swiftly" -<br />
perhaps not as swiftly as<br />
we used to - ay!!<br />
Brian Dunbar<br />
NSW Welfare Officer<br />
Australian <strong>Commando</strong><br />
Association (NSW)<br />
Ph: 02 9452 2589<br />
E: dunbar33@bigpond.com<br />
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 8 I August 2016 5