This month’s update includes an increase to the amount of child supplement allowance and location allowance that members who are posted on long-term postings overseas may get. It also increases the amount you’ll have to contribute to your child's schooling if you get early childhood education assistance.  

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 in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN).

What’s changed this month

This month, new Determinations introduced changes that:

  • increase the rates of child supplement allowance and location allowance
  • increase the amount you’ll need to contribute to your child’s early childhood education
  • moved most overseas conditions of service definitions into PACMAN Chapter 12
  • remove temporary removal benefits that were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • improve overseas health care benefits for eligible dependants and APS employees
  • add new Military Factor allowances for members who are posted to a nuclear submarine as part of an AUKUS career pathway or are undertaking duty on a nuclear submarine as part of an AUKUS career pathway
  • expand eligibility to the Recruit Instructor allowance so members of the Air Force may now be eligible
  • updated the Maritime Warfare Officer – Submariner employment category, changing the category name to Submarine Warfare Officer and increasing the pay grade for Submarine Executive Officers
  • update housing contribution rates from 30 July 2026.

Last month’s Determination included the revision of COVID-19 related removal benefits. These changes are now in effect and the benefits have been removed from PACMAN. If you got your Toll Movement Plan Letter (MPL) before 2 July 2026, you may still get the temporary COVID-19 benefits, even if your move happens after that date.

Your updated benefits explained

Here is a breakdown of what's changed and how it may affect you.

Child supplement allowance increase

The child supplement allowance helps you with the costs of having a child live with you at your overseas posting location. The rate of child supplement allowance has increased. The amount you get depends on your child’s age and your location.

Learn more about the child supplement allowance and how much you may get.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 15 Pt 2A Div 4 of PACMAN.

Location allowance increase

Location allowance is one of the extra benefits you may get if you’re working in a hardship location overseas for at least 28 consecutive days.

The rate of hardship allowance has increased.  

Learn more about hardship locations and how much location allowance you may get.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 16 Pt 2A of PACMAN. 

Contribution rate increases for early childhood education assistance

Defence offers financial assistance to members on a long-term posting overseas who have children under the age of 3 living with them.  

If your child is enrolled in a centre-based, early childhood education facility, such as a daycare centre, Defence may help you pay the fees.  

If you meet the criteria, you'll need to pay a minimum contribution amount of the fees each year. You can claim the cost of the fees and Defence will reimburse you for the amount you've paid above your contribution. Your annual contribution amount for early childhood education assistance has increased to:

  • $14,861 if you’re an unaccompanied member
  • $20,665 if you’re an accompanied member.  

Learn more about early childhood education when you’re overseas.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 15 Pt 6 Div 1A of PACMAN.

Overseas benefit definitions in PACMAN

To make it easier for you to understand your benefits and conditions of service, PACMAN includes definitions of specific policy terms and phrases used throughout its chapters.  

The definitions relating to your overseas conditions of service were originally spread throughout chapters 12 to 17, making it hard for people to find the meaning of a particular term.  

These definitions have now been grouped at the beginning of Chapter 12, so you only need to look in one place.  

Find the updated policy definitions in Ch 12 Pt 3 of PACMAN.

Temporary COVID-19 removal benefits

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ADF members and their resident families who were posted to new locations faced additional costs and challenges due to movement restrictions. Between 2020 and 2021, Defence introduced temporary benefits to support them with the added costs and pressure of relocating during the pandemic.

As COVID-19 movement restrictions are no longer in place, Defence has removed some of the temporary benefits introduced during that time. If you got your Toll Movement Plan Letter (MPL) before 2 July 2026, you may still get the temporary COVID-19 benefits, even if your move happens after that date. If you get your Toll MPL after 2 July 2026, you won’t get the temporary benefits.  

In addition to a funded move with Toll, you’ll continue to have access to other benefits if you relocate for a posting of 6 months or more.

Find the transitional details in Ch 1 Pt 2 Div 2 of PACMAN.

Overseas health costs

Defence may cover some of the costs for your dependants who join you on a long-term posting overseas. From 1 July 2026, your eligible dependants may be able to claim more health care costs and pay less out of pocket.

These changes expand the types of health services you can claim and better clarify the benefits that are available, making it easier to plan and manage your family’s health care while living overseas.

Learn more about the types of healthcare costs Defence may cover.

Find the updated policy details in Ch 15 Pt 5 of PACMAN.

New Military Factor allowance added for nuclear submarine 

Military Factor allowances compensate members for hardships associated with service in specific environments such as sea, flying, field and other types of duty. These allowances are not static and over time the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal may add new allowances to account for the ever-changing needs of the ADF.  

The Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal has created a new group of allowances, Maritime Crew G allowances, for members who are either posted to, or are undertaking duty on, a nuclear submarine as part of an AUKUS career pathway.  

To accommodate the creation of these allowances, Defence has introduced 2 new Military Factor tiers: Tier M and Tier N.

Learn more about Military Factor allowances.

Find the updated policy definition in Ch 4 Pt 2a Div 1 of PACMAN and the pay rates in Annex A.1 of PACMAN

Expanded eligibility for the Recruit Instructor Allowance

Recruit Instructor Allowance is an allowance paid to qualified recruit instructors posted to an approved training establishment. It recognises the difficulties associated with long hours, adverse working conditions and loss of regular contact with family for extended periods.  

On 2 July, the Recruit Instructor allowance was expanded to include members of the Air Force who are qualified to undertake recruit instructor duties and are posted to a position at an Air Force school as a recruit instructor. 

Learn more about Recruit Instructor Allowance.

Find the updated policy definition in Ch 4 Part 2a Div 4 of PACMAN.

Changes to Maritime Warfare Officer – Submariner employment category: new employment category name and increased Executive Officer pay

To provide a more appropriately experienced, multi-skilled and sustainable workforce with Navy, from 2 July:

  • the employment category Maritime Warfare Officer – Submarine will be known as Submarine Warfare Officer
  • certain members of the Submarine Warfare Officer will get a pay increase.  

If you're categorised as an SM Executive Officer, you'll move from pay grade 7 to pay grade 8, meaning you'll get a pay increase from the 2nd of July.  

You'll see the increased pay into your bank account from the 16th of July.

Find your pay grades in Schedule B.2 of PACMAN.

New housing contribution rates from 30 July 2026

If you get subsidised housing through Defence, the contribution amount you pay towards it will change on 30 July 2026 as part of the annual Group Rent Scheme (GRS) adjustment process.

You’ll see the new amount reflected in your pay from 13 August 2026.

The subsidised housing and housing assistance affected by the GRS include:

  • living-in accommodation
  • Service residence
  • rent allowance
  • temporary accommodation allowance
  • disturbance allowance.

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

These changes will be reflected in PACMAN from 30 July 2026: