Before and after deployment leave travel

Defence may pay for travel costs so members can visit their nominated family before and after  deployment Deployment means overseas service by a member who is force assigned with an ADF deployment, a United Nations’ mission or similar force on any of the following: 
• warlike deployment 
• non-warlike deployment 
• peacetime deployment.    overseas.

If you don't have any nominated family in Australia, you may also be eligible.

You can get paid travel costs before you're deployed if you:

• have been granted a short absence - pre-deployment
• have no nominated family living with you at your housing benefit location
• are not travelling to a location where you'll have to isolate when you get back.

You can get paid travel costs when you get back if you:

• are returning from a location that attracts a short absence - pre-deployment
• have no nominated family living at your housing benefit location
• are not travelling to a location where you'll have to isolate when you get back.

You can get one return trip, including door-to-door travel from your location in Australia to either:

• the location of your nominated family in Australia
• your nearest capital city, if you don't have nominated family.

If you have a recreation leave travel benefit, you need to use that first.

You need to travel by whichever way is the most economical Based on where you're travelling to, the types of transport available, the actual cost and the estimated value of your pay and allowances for travel time. .

In special circumstances, you may get approval to travel to another location instead of where your family usually lives.

You will still need to be travelling for pre-deployment purposes.

You can only claim the amount it would cost to travel to your nominated family's usual location. You'll need to pay any extra costs yourself.

Complete the Travel Request Form (AE505) to apply for travel costs. You can download this from the intranet Forms tab on the Defence Protected Network (DPN).

If you need to update your nominated family, you must complete the Amendment of Personal Data Details – ADF (AD150) form. You can also download this on the DPN.