DCO helps families

WELFARE SUPPORT

Defence Community Organisation is one of many groups available for personnel and their families to talk to in times of crises.

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* Defence Community Organisation provides a range of welfare support to families affected by crises. Eligible families are also helped financially with a range of entitlements.

SERVING Air Force members aren’t the only people that Defence is helping to deal with their grief and loss of a colleague.

The Defence Community Organisation is also providing support and counselling to the families of the victims of the crash. A social worker and military support officer have been appointed to all the families directly affected by the accident.

The organisation provides 24- hour assistance in crisis situations in all military locations and will help with referrals if required. ADF personnel and their famlies can be provided with access to professional counselling and other services such as:

• case management, for a single point of contact with Defence and other government departments;
• deceased estate administration;
• bereavement payments for deceased members’ dependants;
• funeral arrangements (including costs); and
• transport and accommodation for families to attend the repatriation service.

DCO services are tailored to the specific needs of each family. DCO remains involved with the bereaved families for as long as the family wants and support is available at all hours, every day of the week.

All ADF personnel assisting with the earthquake recovery efforts in Indonesia are also covered under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

A range of compensation, entitlements and benefits are available to eligible spouses and dependants. Eligible widowed partners are entitled to choose between a lifetime, tax-free fortnightly pension or a lump sum equal to the lifetime value of that pension.

In either case, an additional lump sum is also payable. Fortnightly benefits are also payable for each dependant child, together with support for dependant children’s education.

Eligible widowed partners and dependant children also receive free health care. Dependants of deceased ADF members are eligible for continued housing assistance for a minimum of six months and a removal to another locality within Australia.

Both military superannuation schemes provide benefits to eligible spouses and children. For single members without eligible dependants, a benefit is paid to the member’s estate.

ADF personnel who are permanently impaired may be entitled to a disability pension or a lump sum. Injured members are also entitled to health care and rehabilitation.

All claims for compensation are approved and administered through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For a list and more information on dealing with grief and loss, see our story on "Grief and loss" in the our Health section.

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