This month’s update includes increases to child education assistance and changes to deployment allowance rates, trainee’s dependant allowance eligibility, ADF district allowance locations, and additional recreation leave eligibility.

Defence regularly updates pay and conditions for ADF members through official changes called amending determinations. These updates ensure pay rates, allowances, and conditions of service stay fit for purpose under the Defence Act 1903.

Each month, we’ll keep you informed about the latest amendments to pay, conditions, allowances, or other entitlements that may affect you and your family.

You can find all previous amendments on the Federal Register of Legislation or the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal website (for amending determinations related to Military Factor allowances and Salary).

The most up-to-date policy inclusions are reflected on our site in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN).

Previous changes now in effect

Last month’s Determination included updates to housing contribution rates and rent allowance. These changes came into effect on 30 July 2026, and you’ll now be able to see the new amount on your latest payslip.

Learn more about annual housing contribution adjustments or find your new contribution rate.

What’s changed this month

On 13 August 2026, a new Determination introduced changes that:

  • improve child education assistance for members posted within Australia
  • improve child education assistance for members on a long-term posting overseas
  • update the list of operations eligible for deployment allowance and their associated daily rates
  • increase the trainee’s dependant allowance earnings threshold to align with the National Minimum Wage
  • add a new posting location to the ADF district allowance eligibility list
  • add a new posting location to the additional recreation leave eligibility list
  • increase travel and meal allowances, commencing 8 October 2026.

Your updated benefits explained

Below is a breakdown of what’s changed and how it may affect you.

Increased child education assistance benefits and contribution amounts while posted within Australia

Defence has increased a range of education assistance benefits to provide greater support for your family while you're posted to a location within Australia.

The maximum amount you can claim for education assistance for children with special needs has increased to:

  • $1,016 for a needs assessment
  • $138 an hour for therapy services
  • $41,077 a year for compulsory tuition.

If you get this benefit, your contribution towards compulsory tuition fees has increased to $495 a year.

If your primary or secondary school child is moving schools due to your posting, the maximum amount you can claim for your child’s web-based tutoring has increased to:

  • $1,933 if they’ve previously studied the subject and it's offered at the new school
  • $3,587 if they haven't previously studied the subject but it's offered at the new school
  • $7,175 for Year 10, 11 or 12 students who need the subject to support their career aspirations.

In addition, if your secondary school-aged child needs to live away from home while you serve, the annual limit you can claim to help pay their boarding costs has increased to $36,302 a year. Your contribution will now be $3,548 for the first year and $3,984 for each additional year.

You can also now claim up to $41,077 each year for compulsory tuition fees, and your contribution will be $495 a year.

For tertiary students required to live away from home to complete their studies, the accommodation allowance has increased to $562 a fortnight.

Learn more about education assistance while posted in Australia.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 8 Pt 4 of PACMAN.

Increased child education assistance benefits and contribution amounts while on long-term overseas postings

Disclaimer: all benefit amounts listed refer to AUD.

Defence has increased a range of benefits to provide greater support for your child's education while you're on a long-term posting overseas.

If your child has accompanied you to your overseas posting location and is attending a benchmark school there, Defence may help you pay for compulsory tuition fees. If you get this benefit, the amount you'll need to contribute towards the fees each year has increased based on the type of school your child is attending:

  • $662 for preschool or kindergarten
  • $226 for primary school
  • $527 for secondary school.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 15 Pt 6 Div 2 of PACMAN.

If your child is continuing their education in Australia while you're posted overseas, Defence may help you pay for compulsory tuition fees. The maximum amount Defence will cover has increased to $41,077.

If you get this benefit, the amount you'll need to contribute towards the compulsory tuition fees has also increased based on the type of school they're attending:

  • $226 for preschool or primary school
  • $527 for secondary school.

Defence may also help you pay for your child's boarding or accommodation fees. The maximum amount Defence will cover has increased to:

  • $36,302 a year if your child is boarding at school
  • $19,909 a year if your child is boarding in private accommodation.

If you get this benefit, the amount you'll need to contribute towards the accommodation has also increased to either:

  • $3,548 for the first year, then $3,984 each following year, while boarding at school
  • $3,984 each year while boarding in private accommodation.

Defence may also help you pay for your child's remedial tuition for their school. The maximum amount Defence will reimburse you for each hour of remedial tuition you pay has increased to $138.

Learn more about child education when you're overseas.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 15 Pt 6 Div 4 of PACMAN.

Updated daily rates of deployment allowance and specified areas for some operations

You may get deployment allowance while on a warlike or non-warlike deployment to help compensate for the risks and hardships you may experience.

The deployment allowance daily rate has changed for some of the operation-specified areas. The list of operations eligible for the allowance and their specified areas has also been updated.

Learn more about when your deployment allowance starts and stops.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 17 Pt 7 Div 1 of PACMAN.

Increased earnings threshold for the trainee’s dependant allowance

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is Australia's national workplace relations tribunal. It’s responsible for conducting an Annual Wage Review to ensure minimum wages continue to provide a fair and relevant safety net for employees while supporting Australia's economic performance and competitiveness.

On 1 July 2026, the FWC increased the National Minimum Wage to $52,398.36 a year.

Defence has increased the amount an eligible family member can earn, before it affects eligibility, in line with the new minimum wage.

Learn more about the trainee's dependant allowance.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 4 Pt 8 Div 1A of PACMAN.

New location added to list of remote locations eligible for ADF district allowance

If you're posted to a remote location, you may get ADF district allowance to compensate for any hardships you experience while living there.

Geraldton, WA, has now been added to the list of remote locations.

Learn more about the rates and payments of ADF district allowance.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 4 Pt 4 Annex 4.4.A of PACMAN.

New location added to list of remote locations eligible for additional recreation leave

If you're posted to a remote location, you'll accrue additional days of recreation leave while you live there. How many extra days you get depends on the remote location.

Geraldton, WA, has now been added to the list of remote locations. If you're posted there, you'll get an additional 2 days of recreation leave each year.

Learn more about how recreation leave works.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 5 Pt 4 Annex 5.4.A of PACMAN.

Upcoming updates to travel and meal allowances

From 8 October 2026, you'll see changes to your travel and meal allowances, including:

  • increased meal allowance amounts
  • increased meal benefit amounts for some temporary accommodation allowance
  • increased part-day travelling allowance rate
  • increased daily rate for incidentals if you're staying in LIA during a business travel period or getting travelling allowance
  • updates to location-based accommodation, meals and incidentals rates for travelling allowance
  • increased daily maximum rate for meals after 21 days of travel
  • increased meal allowance rate when performing additional duty.

These changes will be reflected in PACMAN from 8 October 2026.