Page 69 - AAPT March 2019

can also be obtained through visiting Eligible veterans who have not Affairs (DVA) to adopt a beneficial
the Community Grants Hub, phoning registered are encouraged to visit approach when interpreting legislation
1800 020 283 or sending an email to MyService to sign up. and applying a fair, just and consistent
support@communitygrants.gov.au. approach to veterans’ claims. It’s part
Expanded online claiming Greater recognition for of our ongoing efforts to transform the
for veterans veterans and their families culture of DVA.”
The Government has received a
Faster claim submissions and New legislation introduced into Federal positive response from businesses
processing times for veterans and their Parliament will provide better recognition which are supportive of the recognition
families are being delivered through a of the unique nature of military service program. The covenant includes an oath,
number of recent improvements and and further acknowledge the service which all Australians will be encouraged
features to MyService – the Department and sacrifice of veterans and their to take at community commemorative
of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) online families. events, and is underpinned by the new
platform. The Government’s Australian Veteran Card and an Australian Veteran
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans Lapel Pin and a Reservist Lapel Pin.
Chester said veterans and their families and their Families First) Bill 2019
can now submit claims for Incapacity will establish an Australian Defence
Payments online, which is one of the Veterans’ Covenant, and as part of a
most significant enhancements since wider recognition package, a card and
the platform’s inception in 2017. lapel pin will be provided to veterans. Defence families will be able to access
“Our Government is putting veterans Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren
and their families first and provides Chester said it was a project he has ForceNet when the service is expanded
on March 25 in an effort to improve
more than $11.2 billion each year to been working on with ex-service communication with families of Defence
deliver the essential services and organisations since becoming the Members.
programs they rely on,” Mr Chester said. Minister almost 12 months ago. ForceNet will connect family
“DVA’s transformation is about not “The Government has introduced
only upgrading out-dated computer this legislation to provide a formal users with the service related to their
sponsoring Defence member, plus the
systems but also looking at improving way for all Australians to show their Defence Community Organisation and
our service delivery to ensure the best appreciation to the men and women Defence Families of Australia.
possible outcome for veterans and their who secured the freedoms we enjoy It aims to reduce the time and effort
families. today and to their families who have Defence families spend searching for
“Adding incapacity payments to the supported them,” Mr Chester said.
ever growing list of claims you can now “I have consulted extensively with information from Defence and support
agencies, such as Defence Community
submit online is a significant benefit for the ex-service community on the Organisation and Defence Families of
those veterans and their families who development of this Bill, including Australia, in disparate locations and
most need to access to support quickly discussions with our 5-Eyes counterparts maximise the support they receive.
and easily. in the United Kingdom who have put in Head People Capability MAJGEN
“By providing enhanced online place similar measures.
services, veterans and their families “The covenant, card and lapel pin Natasha Fox acknowledged that service
in the ADF placed unique demands on
are able to access DVA services when will allow the community — whether personnel and families.
and where they need them and the they are employers, businesses, “We recognise the need for an
MyService platform has already seen community groups, veteran or sporting effective and secure communications
significant reductions to the time and organisations — the opportunity to platform to provide a vehicle for ADF
effort required to submit and process recognise the service and sacrifice of leaders, members and their families to
claims.” the men and women who have served connect and share information,” she said.
MyService continues to improve our nation.
Defence family members can
and is focused heavily on collaboration “Our government is committed to register to use ForceNet or current
with veterans and their families to putting veterans and their families first Defence ForceNet users can invite
ensure DVA is building the programs and this legislation is part of a greater a family member to register via their
and services veterans need. The online suite of measures we are putting in ForceNet profile page.
platform has reduced paper based place. Family users will initially become
forms containing 40+ questions on a “This Bill will create a separate Act members of the family groups of their
single form to only 3–7 questions online to provide symbolic recognition for all sponsor’s parent service and posted
and already had a significant impact on veterans, and does not change current unit.
the average time it takes to process a entitlements. Visit forcenet.gov.au or download
claim. In some instances the time taken “Importantly, the Bill before the free ForceNet App from the App
to process a claim can be less than 24 Parliament includes a statement Store or Google Play.
hours. requiring the Department of Veterans’

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