ADF family benefits overhaul to retain frontline

Benefits for Australian Defence Force families are undergoing an overhaul to retain frontline defenders and ease rising costs.

Health benefits for thousands of Australian Defence Force families will be doubled to help combat the soaring cost of living and ensure they remain our frontline defenders.

The Federal Government will today announce a significant overhaul of military healthcare, with demands the ADF become a more attractive employer proposition to compete for the already stretched national skilled workforce pool.

The raft of new benefits and allowances to take effect from July next year was also recognition that military families, just like civilian ones, were struggling with rising costs and the country could not afford to lose their serving partners.

RAAF family Corporal Rob Fearn and Sergeant Stephanie Fearn, with 10-year-old daughter Sarah, at their home outside RAAF Base Richmond. Picture: Charles Miranda

The measure, expected to cost up to $29 million a year, is the first in a series of recommendations the Defence Strategic Review is expected to make early next year to maintain strength in national security amid warnings the ADF did not have enough personnel to do the job.

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said personnel was the nation’s best capability and it was recognised more had to be done to ensure retention rates were secured.

“We are facing some of the most complex set of geostrategic circumstances as a nation since the Second World War and it’s vital we grow our defence force and look after the people in the defence force and their families,” Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said.

Veteran Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh at Lavarack Barracks. Picture: Defence

“We do need to recruit more people but also retain our people and when they serve their families serve alongside them so its important we are not just investing in the wellbeing of personnel but also their family.”

Mr Keogh said the government was committed to providing cost relief for all families including in the military.

Under the changes, annual allowance per Defence family dependent will double to $800 and the range of services and benefits will be expanded from next week to include ambulance cover, pharmaceutical reimbursements for out-of-pocket prescription medications expenses after the PBS subsidy and program to quit nicotine and tobacco addiction.

RAAF family Sergeant Stephanie Fearn and Corporal Rob Fearn. Picture: Charles Miranda

Next year, further programs will be available to families including cancer screenings and mental health services.

Sergeant Stephanie Fearn and husband Corporal Rob Fearn, from RAAF’s medium tactical airlift Number 37 Squadron, said the allowance to cover the gap for medical bills would greatly help.

“It’s a game changer, I think,” Sgt Fearn, who has served in the RAAF for more than 18 years, said.

“Our daughter is autistic and has ADHD, and we have a lot of medical appointments we go to and there are certain things not covered by NDIS … I don’t think we’ve had a year where we haven’t maxed out the current allowance of $400 in the financial year.

“You want to give your family the best and help they need, and you are not going to stop, so any help that you can get makes a big difference. Interest rate rises and mortgages, things are adding up at the moment so every bit helps.”