Australians Defending Australia is an official publication of Pristine Publishing Pty Ltd and is produced purely for the serving and ex-serving men and women of the Australian Defence Force and their families It is an independent publisher and not affiliated with any charity or government funded institution. It is published and distributed bi-annually and aims […]

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today announced that Major General Mark Kelly AO DSC had been reappointed as the Repatriation Commissioner for a period of two years. He said Major General Kelly, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the Australian Army, was highly qualified and well-respected. The Repatriation Commission grants pensions and benefits, […]

A new issue of NSCnews Online June 2017 magazine has been published. You can now access it instantly HERE.

Dan Tehan today ( 29 May 2017) honoured Australia’s contribution to global peacekeeping efforts on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. Australian men and women have participated in peacekeeping operations since 1947 and 14 have lost their lives while serving as peacekeepers, Australia has made a significant contribution to worldwide peace operations, including commanding operations in […]

The besieged New South Wales branch of the RSL has a new president after Malcolm Turnbull’s son-in-law, James Brown, was elected to replace John Haines. Today’s election came after months of allegations of financial misconduct at the top of the organisation. READ MORE Mr Brown, 36, is an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran.  

This SMH article by David Wroe 13 May 2017 is a must read coverage of the fight against military suicide ……”Amid soaring concern about veteran suicide and rising dissatisfaction and criticism – some of it fair, some likely less so – of the Department of Veterans Affairs, thriving communities of veterans are self-organising online.” “As […]

…..”When we send people to war, we ask a select group of mostly young Australians to prepare themselves to kill or die to defend the nation. That is at the heart of the challenge of military mental health and suicide. The sense of responsibility, the comradeship, the tough internal culture, the mental preparedness, not to […]

The 2016 Client Satisfaction Survey of more than 3,000 randomly selected DVA clients, including veterans, war widows/ers, carers and dependants, found an overall satisfaction rating with DVA services of 83%. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said the $166.6 million provided in this year’s Budget to implement the first stage of modernising the Department of […]

In its 102nd year the Returned and Services League of Australia faces its greatest crisis, its future survival in the balance.The RSL is an organisation which should be arguing for veterans’ rights and benefits. It should be assisting veterans to access those while recreating the camaraderie of military service. Unless the RSL changes now, the Ode of […]

Humane and intimate, how the Red Cross helped families trace the fates of WW2 soldiers Fiona Ross, University of Melbourne There are about 59,000 cards in archival boxes from the Red Cross’s WW2 enquiry service. While their language is impersonal, the golden rule was to provide solace to soldiers’ families, and fast READ MORE