WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF:

The 8th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Association Incorporated.

INCORPORATED IN QUEENSLAND.

ABN 157 362 866

PO Box 213 Scarborough

Qld 4020

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ESORT On Budget 26/27

The Ex-Service Organisations Round Table (ESORT) met on Wednesday, 13 May 2026 to receive a briefing on the 2026-27 Federal Budget from the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, the Hon Matt Keogh MP.

The Budget, handed down by the Treasurer Tuesday 12 May 2026, provided significant additional funding over the forward estimates to continue support for veterans and families of veterans. This funding supports DVA and Defence to implement critical recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, while also further improving services for the veteran community.

Continuing to support veterans and families of veterans

The Government has committed $169.7 million over five years (and $58.8 million per year ongoing) to increase allied health provider fees for Veteran Card holders from 1 July 2027.  This is the largest investment in allied health fees in more than 20 years and will improve choice and availability of services for veterans and families of veterans.

 

This investment is enabled by the introduction of a $5,000 Annual Monetary Limit for veterans’ allied health services from 1 July 2027.  The annual limit can be used by Veteran Card holders each financial year across a range of allied health services, based on their individual treatment needs and preferences.

 

Veterans will continue to access treatment they need, with a mechanism for seeking funding above the annual limit, where clinically required.  Introducing the annual limit supports the Government to sustainably deliver the significant increase in allied health provider feeds, while ensuring veterans are not taken advantage of in cases where some providers are looking to increase profits through over-servicing.

 

In addition, the Government has provided $3.4 million over two years from 2026-27 to extend the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment Program to 31 December 2027, and $0.5 million in 2026-27 to extend the Veteran Employment Program for a further six months to 31 December 2026.

 

Establishing the National Veterans’ Data Asset

The Budget includes $29.8 million over three years to establish a National Veterans’ Data Asset (NVDA), delivered as a joint effort with partner agencies. DVA’s funding allocation is $12.9 million over three years from 2026–27. 

 

Implemented in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, the National Veterans’ Data Asset responds directly to the Royal Commission’s Recommendation 107 to better integrate data across government, to support improved decision‑making on veteran health, wellbeing and suicidality. Once established, this will be the most comprehensive data source available to inform policy, service delivery and program evaluation and improve health and wellbeing outcomes for veterans and their families. 

 

 

ESORT Members in attendance:

Chair, Secretary, Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Deputy President, Repatriation Commission and MRCC Member

Repatriation Commissioner and MRCC Member

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association

Australian War Widows Inc

Defence Force Welfare Association

Defence Reserves Association

The Partners of Veterans Association of Australia Inc

MRCC Member, Department of Defence (Proxy)

MRCC Member, Department of Defence (Proxy)

Returned and Services League of Australia (Proxy)

Royal Australian Regiment Corporation

Soldier On

TPI Federation Australia

Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner, MRCC Member

Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia

Vietnam Veterans’ Federation of Australia

Apologies:

Air Force Association 

Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association

Australian Special Air Service Association

Defence Families Australia

MRCC Member, Department of Defence

MRCC Member, Department of Defence

Naval Association of Australia

Returned and Services League of Australia

The Partners of Veterans Association of Australia Inc

Legacy Australia Inc

Women Veterans Australia Ltd

 

The Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation

Presented to the Eighth Battalion,of

The RoyalAustralianRegiment

 Units awarded this citation receive a unit citation streamer, coloured the same as the Gallantry Cross with Palm, for display

on the unit colours. Members of the unit during the period of the award are conferred with the right to wear the ribbon of the Gallantry Cross with Palm, mounted in a gold frame. In addition, the

Commanding Officer of the unit is granted an individual award of the decoration, Gallantry Cross with Palm.

The citation, as follows, was conferred by General Cao Van Vien, Chief of the Joint General Staff, Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam on 24 October 1970, and officially presented to the

8th Battalion by Lieutenant General Do Cao Tri, Commander of II Corps and Military Region 3 on 29th October 1970.

Synopsis of Cross of Gallantry with Palm Citation by : Tony Silcock

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS WITH PALM UNIT CITATION

You Tube

Click Below.

Operation Hammersley — The Battle of Long Hai Hills

Citation for the Eighth Battalion, Of The Royal Australian Regiment

The Eighth Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force. An excellent combat unit, always displaying high morale while co-operating and assisting the Vietnamese people in their struggle against Communism and to defend peace and freedom. While operating in Military Region III, Republic of Vietnam from 28 November 1969 to the present, the 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force participated in almost every military operation to search out and destroy the enemy in Phuoc Tuy province. Though fighting under the most difficult conditions, the members of the 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force still fought bravely and determinedly and had many glorious victories. Their most remarkable military operations took place in the area of the Long Hai hills.This area is known as ‘Minh Dam Secret Zone’, a base area of the main force Communist units in Phuoc Tuy province. This zone was strongly protected by mines and ditches and had caused many losses to the Allied Forces. But with modern tactics and a determined spirit, the forces of the 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force conducted continuous operations against the area and destroyed the enemy’s secret zone, causing great casualties to the communists and forcing them from the area, thus bringing peace to the Vietnamese people living there. Besides their own military operations, the 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force co -ordinated closely with the Vietnamese Regional Forces and Popular Forces in Long Le sub-sector, organised patrols and ambushes around villages and hamlets, caused heavy casualties to the communists and thereby greatly assisted the Pacification and Development Programme of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam. Together with their military effort, the members of the 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force participated in the civic action programme to assist the local population to reconstruct their houses, roads, bridges, markets and schools etc., and achieved excellent results. Through their glorious activities outlined above, the 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force contributed significantly to the anti-communist struggles of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam, thereby bringing great credit to the Royal Australian Armed Forces.

Back to history

Photographs 8/9 RAR of the Royal Australian Regiment Freedom of Entry Parade in Brisbane’s CBD at 9am

on Saturday 20 September: 

(2) 8 RAR | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1821897934738603/

(2) Facebook

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Video Receipt of new Colours

https://f.io/yuDoYCxh

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Planning Ahead Kit available from your local DVA Branch: Preparing for and Coping with Bereavement