From May 9 to 27 the RSL (Queensland Branch) will be touring the RSL Western District to provide assistance on pension, advocacy and welfare matters to the veteran community. 

These tours are conducted at least twice a year by the RSL Pensions, Advocacy and Welfare Service (PAWS). According to PAWS advocate Michael Boyd, “the purpose of these tours is to ensure that our most isolated clientele have access to our services on a personal basis”.  

Feedback from past tours suggests that they are highly effective, and without these services, most were unaware of their entitlements.   

“We receive feedback from clients, that without our services they would have never known they were entitled to various pensions, treatments and services,” Mr Boyd said. 

RSL staff aim to go above and beyond to assist a veteran in need, and where possible, their family members as well. The RSL Queensland’s mission is to ensure that programs are in place for the well-being, care, compensation and commemoration of all serving and ex-serving defence force members. 

Throughout the tour the RSL will provide free professional advice and assistance on obtaining benefits under the: 

-Veterans Entitlement Act (VEA)
-Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (SRCA)
-Military, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA) 

They also provide advice and assistance on obtaining benefits with:
 
-Service related medical conditions
-Reassessment of accepted conditions
-Lodgement of appeals to the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB) or Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)
-War Widow/Widower Benefits

For a full list of tour dates click here