Overseas living allowances offset the likely effects of a long‑term posting overseas on the member and their dependants living with them at the posting location. These allowances assist the member in meeting unexpected living costs associated with the posting and the added costs at the posting location. Meal allowance and clothing allowance may be provided in limited 

Overseas living allowances consist of the following:

• Cost of living adjustment, which helps maintains the purchasing power of the member’s income and provide an equivalent standard of living at the posting location overseas. The allowance has the effect of adjusting the member’s salary by the post index rate that applies to their posting location (see Division 2).

• Cost of posting allowance, which compensates a member for financial and non-financial disadvantage due to the overseas posting. The allowance based on a percentage of the member’s salary and is subject to lower and upper limits (see Division 3).

• Child supplement allowance, which assist a member with the additional costs inherent in maintaining a child by provide the he member an allowance for each child living with a member in the posting location overseas to. The based rate of allowance is a fixed amount relevant to the child’s age, which is modified by the post index rate of the posting location (see Division 4).

Overseas living allowances above may be affected by the location and period of the member’s posting overseas, and the member’s categorisation. The absence of the member or their family from the posting location also affects the payment overseas living allowances (see Division 5). 

Meal allowances may be provided to a member who performs additional duty on a day (see section 15.2A.27) or for the costs of meals when they are in temporary accommodation (see section 15.2A.28).

An allowance for the cost of special garments is also available if the member is required to purchase additional garments due to dress code imposed by religious custom or law at the posting location (see section 15.2A.29).