NEWS HEADLINES
80th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day Commemorated
On Friday, 15 August 2025, Australians will mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day, a historic moment that ended the Second World War in the Pacific.
Rockingham WA location announced for Veterans’ and Families’ Hub
A dedicated Veterans’ and Families Hub to service the Southwest Perth region is one step closer – with its new location confirmed at 65 Dixon Road, Rockingham, WA 6168.
DVA welcomes new Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner
Ms Annabelle Wilson has been appointed as the new Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner, commencing on 18 August 2025.
Plans for new Hudson memorial in Queensland
Efforts are underway to establish a memorial cairn and plaque at RAAF Park in Brighton, Queensland, to honour the six aircrew of No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron’s Lockheed Hudson Bomber A16-27, which mysteriously vanished on 12 August 1940 during a navigational exercise off Brisbane’s coast.
Cardwell Honours Battle of the Coral Sea and Local Hero
The small coastal town of Cardwell, located 165 km north of Townsville, has held its annual Battle of the Coral Sea memorial, a heartfelt tradition organised in collaboration with the Cardwell and Cairns RSL branches.
Shaping Support Service for Women Veterans
NSW Office for Veterans Affairs, RSL NSW and Monash University have launched the “Shaping Support Services for Women Veterans” research project to enhance wellbeing services for women who have served in the Australian Defence Force and reside in New South Wales.
EM Lane Concordians’ Museum Opens, Celebrating Australia’s Military Nursing Legacy
A new chapter in preserving Australia’s military nursing history has begun with the grand opening of the EM Lane Concordians’ Museum at Concord Repatriation General Hospital.
Australian Aviation Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Inductees and Southern Cross Award Recipient
The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF) has unveiled its 2025 inductees and the recipient of the esteemed Southern Cross Award, honouring extraordinary contributions to Australian aviation and aerospace.
New AFA Australian Veteran Inclusion Statement
In Australia, a ‘veteran means a person who has served, or is serving, as a member of the Permanent Forces or as a member of the Reserves’. This definition is found in the Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019. The extent of this definition provides for any person who has served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), which includes the Navy, Army and Air Force. It ensures that every person who has served in the ADF is recognised as a veteran, whether their ‘defence service means warlike service, non warlike service or peacetime service.’
Navigating life after service – Defence launches transition support app
The Department of Defence has launched a free mobile app designed to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and families as they navigate their transition to civilian life.
2025 Prime Minister’s National Veteran Employment Awards: Nominations open
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Prime Minister’s National Veteran Employment Awards.
The 2025 Prime Minister’s National Veteran Employment Awards recognise the achievements in the civilian workforce of veteran and partner employees and entrepreneurs, and the employers supporting them.
New Autobiography Chronicles the Daring Life of Test Pilot GPCAPT Milton Cottee AFC
The Air Force Association (AFA) Far North Coast Branch is proud to announce the release of Memoirs of a Test Pilot, an autobiography by the late Group Captain Milton Cottee AFC.
AFA Strengthens Plans and Partnerships
The Air Force Association (AFA) is pushing forward with fresh momentum, as National President Air Vice-Marshal Joe Iervasi (retd) shared updates from recent engagements in Melbourne, Russell and the Ex-Service Organisation Round Table (ESORT) in June.
National Service Commemorates 75th Anniversary of Australian Korean War Service
A National Commemorative Service was held at the Australian National Korean War Memorial in Canberra on 25 June 2025 to mark the 75th anniversary of Australian involvement in the Korean War.
Victory In The Pacific 80th Anniversary Concert Performed By Air Force Band
To recognise the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific, the Air Force Band will conduct two commemorative concerts at the Canberra Theatre Centre on 14 August 2025 to honour the service and sacrifice of those who contributed to the victory during the Second World War.
MORE NEWS
World War II aircraft located in PNG
After 82 years, the wreckage of a Royal Australian Air Force Beaufort aircraft lost during a World War II mission has been located in the rugged Baining Mountains of East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. This discovery ends more than eight decades of...
Sunderland Legacy Honoured at Adelaide Awards Dinner
A moving ceremony in Adelaide has marked the continuation of a treasured RAAF tradition, with No. 10 Squadron presenting the prestigious Dudley Marrows Trophy. The annual dinner, now jointly hosted by 10 Squadron in South Australia rather than Sydney, recognised...
From Conflict to Compassion: The Story Behind the RAAF Veterans’ Residences Trust
There are few positives that come from conflict, but the creation of the RAAF Veterans’ Residences Trust stands as an enduring exception. The Trust’s origins trace back to a remarkable episode during the closing months of the Second World War. On 16 November 1944, an...
AFA-SA marks the 80th Anniversary of 460SQN Disbandment with 460SQN Friends and Family
In October, AFA-SA joined with representatives of the 460SQN Friends and Family Group and a 462SQN aviator from RAAF Edinburgh at the Air Force Memorial, Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide, to acknowledge the 80th Anniversary of the disbandment of 460SQN and those who...
New option for veterans struggling with severe PTSD and treatment resistant depression
DVA is committed to supporting veterans to achieve improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes by providing access to a range of programs and treatment options. From 1 July 2023, new treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treatment resistant...
Veteran Wellbeing Grants now open – start early to beat the holiday rush
Applications for the 2025–26 Veteran Wellbeing Grants Program are officially open, with more than $3.8 million in funding available to support projects that improve the health, wellbeing, and connection of Australian veterans and families. If your organisation has a...
RAAF Association Townsville Branch ADF Graves Refurbishment Project
A War Cemetery, located at the entrance to the Belgian Gardens cemetery in Townsville, was proudly established during World War 2 for those ADF members, in the local area, who were lost on active service. In 1946 the War Cemetery was closed to any further burials...
Bond University Study Seeks Health Practitioners’ Insights on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Veterans with PTSD
Bond University is seeking input from Australian health practitioners for a national research project exploring the potential benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in treating veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study, led by PhD candidate...
Veteran’s Life Transformed by Assistance Dog
A year after receiving his assistance dog Twix, sponsored by the Air Force Association NSW (RAAFA-NSW), veteran Ian has reclaimed his life in ways he never thought possible. The Defence Community Dogs (DCD) program, supported by RAAFA-NSW’s generosity, paired Ian with...
New Air Force Memorial honours military aviators lost in peacetime in South Australia
On 17 October, more than 120 attendees attended the Dedication of, and the Inaugural Commemorative Service at, the new Air Force Memorial at the South Australian Aviation Museum in Port Adelaide. The new Air Force Memorial is a major collaborative initiative between...