Exercise Pitch Black takes to the skies in the Top End

20 Personnel
AIR F RCE August 2, 2012
ADF members may no longer be
covered in all the circumstances
that they once were under their
personal insurance policies.
The ADF Financial Services
Consumer Council has reminded
personnel to check that their policies
are the best for them and their
families and has outlined some
important points.
What cover does Defence
provide if I am injured or die?
Defence covers ADF members
and their families through
the Military Rehabilitation and
Compensation Scheme (MRCS).
The military superannuation
scheme also provides spouse
benefits on the death of a member
and there are invalidity benefits
that are payable to members who
satisfy the requirements set out in
the rules that apply to the military
superannuation schemes.
How can personal insurance
cover me?
A good way of working out
whether you need extra personal
insurance is to have a look at what
you would be entitled to under the
MRCS and your superannuation
scheme, and then work out what
your dependants would need, each
year, to maintain their current
lifestyle.
What should I look out for
with personal insurance?
You should make sure you
understand the policy’s validity in
a war zone or in war-like activity.
These are called “war exclusions”,
but they can apply more widely
than just in war. Even if you are
applying for a new insurance
policy that does not contain these
exclusions, the insurance company
might not agree to accept you or
might place conditions on you
because of the nature of your ADF
duties, so ask questions about these
issues before buying a policy.
According to the Australian
Government Actuary, Asteron
offers a life insurance policy called
Supporting Australia’s veterans, peacekeepers
and their families
VVCS provides counselling and support services to Australian veterans, peacekeepers, eligible members
of the Defence Force community and their families, and F-111 Fuel Tank Maintenance workers and their
partners and immediate family members. VVCS is a specialised, free and confi dential Australia-wide
service.
VVCS can provide you with:
• Individual, couple and family counselling including case management services
• After-hours crisis telephone counselling via Veterans Line
• Group programs including Anger Management, Depression, Anxiety, Lifestyle Management and Heart
Health
• Support on transition from military to civilian life, including The Stepping Out Program
• Information, self-help resources and referrals to other services.
We can help you work through issues such as stress, relationship, family problems and other lifestyle
issues as well as emotional or psychological issues associated with your military service.
If you need support or would like more information
about us please give us a call or visit our website.
1800 011 046*
www.dva.gov.au/vvcs
* Free local call. Calls from mobile
and pay phones may incur charges.
Term Life that does not contain
war exclusions or other related
acceptance restrictions. However,
the policy must be purchased
before formal notice of deployment.
For more information, call
Defence Health on 1800 335 425.
The actuary says Chartis (formerly
AIG) has released a new personal
injury and accidental death
policy called D-Pax under which
an option exists for ADF members
to purchase limited “high-risk location
cover”. Call Chartis on 1800
650 224 for more information.
If you own (or are proposing
to buy) a different policy,
the insurance company of your
choice may cover you even if your
policy contains conditions relating
to war, war-like or hazardous
activities. But tell the insurer about
your ADF duties and ask for written
confirmation that you will be
covered while on duty. Otherwise
the insurer may deny cover to you
and your family when you need it
most.
CHANGES: If you have an
insurance policy covering war-like
service, make sure you’re still
covered as some insurers have
cancelled their policies covering
military service. Photo: LS Paul Berry
Cover all bases
Changes to some commercial personal insurance policies may affect your cover
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service
A service founded by Vietnam veterans
What changes do I need to be
aware of?
Last year, Chartis made a commercial
decision to discontinue
the Services Security Policy, the
Injury and Accident Insurance,
the Services Accident Insurance
and On Guard policy, but allowed
policyholders to keep their policies
until August 2012. If this applies to
you, consider alternative insurance.
Zurich’s Ezicover Term Life
policy on life insurance, which was
available through Navy Health, is
no longer available to ADF members.
However, if you are already
a policyholder, coverage will continue
as long as you continue to
pay the premium.
The above information should not be
treated as personal advice. Members
should carefully consider their specific
needs and think about consulting an
insurance company or a licensed
financial adviser before making any
decisions.
AG45761
Departure Lounge
�
Who’s leaving after 20+ years’ service
Name
Must/Spec
WOFF Eric Brown
SUP
SQNLDR Christopher Badman ADMIN
GPCAPT Keith Brackenbury ACO
WOFF Michael Hinton CLK
WOFF Sandra Nicholson CLK
FSGT David Barlow SUP
CPL Anthony Scheirich SUP
SQNLDR Neil Snudden ELECTR
WOFF Shane Haire SUP
WOFF Andrew Gillespie GSEMGR
WOFF David Moore SUP
WOFF Geoffrey Raymond SUP
WOFF Kylie Terry
CLK
WOFF James Filkov CLK
GPCAPT Mark Kelton ACO
SGT Kevin Curtis
MEDASST
WGCDR Katrina James ADMIN
SQNLDR Anne Taylor TSO
WOFF Lex Roberts CLK
WOFF Richard Brown GIA
SGT Lisa Shone
CLK
WOFF Robyn Usuga SUP
CPL Brenton Watson CLK
SGT Kerry Diemar
SUP
FSGT Tracey Goss
CLK
WGCDR Brock McKinlay ADMIN
LAC David Crandell GHAND
SQNLDR Philip Dolan TSO
WGCDR Fiona Hewson ADMIN
WGCDR Paul McLeod ADMIN
CPL Debra Hall
SUP
CPL Stephanie McAndrew MUSICIAN
FSGT Brian Smith
SUP
CPL Tracey Templar SUP
FLTLT Wayne Donchi ADMIN
SQNLDR James Riddell PILOT
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Help Air Force
recognise its
best in safety
NOMINATIONS are now being sought for the
2012 Air Force Safety Awards (AFSA), which are
designed to recognise the units and individuals
that display an outstanding level of innovation and
excellence in safety management.
The awards are applicable to all Air Force program
personnel, including Defence civilians and
Australian Air Force Cadets, and consist of the following
categories:
➤ Category 1 – Best workplace health and wellbeing
program.
➤ Category 2 – Leadership award for injury prevention
and management.
➤ Category 3 – Best workplace health and safety
management system.
➤ Category 4 – Best solution to an identified
workplace health and safety Issue.
➤ Category 5A – Best individual contribution to
health and safety for an employee who does not
have full-time OHS responsibilities.
➤ Category 5B – Best individual contribution to
health and safety for an OHS practitioner.
➤ Category 6A – Rehabilitation and return to work
award for an organisation.
➤ Category 6B – Rehabilitation and return to work
award for an individual.
CO-endorsed nominations are to reach the
respective wing headquarters safety adviser
by August 31, wing-endorsed nominations are
to reach the respective FEG Safety Adviser by
September 14 and FEG-endorsed nominations
are to reach the Air Command Safety Adviser for
ACAUST (or DCOORD-AF for AFHQ nomination) by
September 28.
All nominations must be completed and submitted
to the AFSA Selection Panel by October 19.
For further details and entry forms, see the Air Force
Safety Website, or contact WOFF Rob Swanwick at
DDAAFS on (02) 6128 7492 or robert.swanwick@
defence.gov.au