Defence may pay for a person to travel to an overseas location if a member or their partner has fallen seriously ill or has died while on a long-term posting overseas.
Who may travel
Defence may pay for one of the following people to travel to your overseas posting location if you become An illness or injury that could endanger a person's life or place them in immediate danger. or die while you're posted overseas:
- your recognised family member or dependant who doesn't live with you at the posting location
- your parent, sibling, child or partner who doesn't live with you at the posting location
- your partner's parent or child
- any other person who Defence approves.
If your partner who lives with you at the posting location becomes seriously ill or dies while they're in the posting location with you, Defence may pay for one of the following people to travel to the location to visit them or make necessary arrangements:
- your partners parent or child who doesn't live with them at the posting location
- any other person who Defence approves as a close relative.
Defence may also pay for you and your partner to return to Australia if a close relative is seriously ill or has died.
Travel to the posting location
If you or your partner become seriously ill while you’re posted overseas, you can get travel costs for a close relative to visit you in the posting location.
A diagnosis of seriously ill must be confirmed by the person’s doctor.
If you or your partner dies while you're posted overseas, you can get travel costs for a close relative to travel to the posting location to:
- make arrangements to bring your or your partner’s body or ashes back to Australia
- attend the funeral.
Your partner may be eligible for other assistance if you die, such as:
- bereavement payments
- help with funeral costs
- help with the costs of moving back to Australia.
Travel costs include flights and transport to and from their home to the airport.
If the person travelling has a child and no one can look after them while they’re away, their child can travel with them. They can apply to have their child’s travel costs covered.
Travel back to Australia
If a close relative is seriously ill or has recently died, you can get your travel costs paid to return to Australia. If your partner is living with you in your posting location, your partner can also get their travel costs paid.
You can travel to and from your posting location to either:
- your close relative’s location
- the funeral location.
This includes flights and transport to and from the airport.
If you have a child and no one can look after them while you’re away, your child can travel with you. You can apply to have your child’s travel costs covered.
Apply for travel costs
Speak to your supervisor to get approval for the travel costs as well as compassionate leave and any other leave you might need.
If you're the partner or close relative of a member who is seriously ill or has died, you can apply for travel costs by contacting the Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) Helpline on 1800 624 608.
If the application is approved, your travel will be booked for you.
Urgent travel
Talk to your supervisor first and get approval.
If you're the partner or close relative of a member who is seriously ill or has died, you can apply for urgent travel by contacting the Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) Helpline on 1800 624 608.
If Defence can’t book the trip urgently for you, you can pay for the travel and keep the receipts.
You can only claim the costs of travelling by the most direct route, even if your travel costs are higher.
You can only claim costs if the travel has been approved before you book it.
Read more about this topic
Help for dependants when a member dies.
Help for members when a dependant dies.
24-hour phone support from the All-hours Support Line on 1800 628 036.
Online and phone support from Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling or phone 1800 011 046.