RSL Australia

Advocating for the serving and former serving men and women of the ADF and their families, and commemorating their service and sacrifice.

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL Australia) was formed in 1916 in response to the lack of a unified approach to the organisation of repatriation facilities and medical services for those returning from the Great War. Since its formation, RSL Australia has evolved into the nation’s largest Ex-Service Organisation, operating through a federated structure of State and Territory Branch

es and 1,135 Sub-Branches, and representing approximately 150,000 members. An ethos of compassion and service remains the motivating influence of the League. Our core mission has never changed and has continued to evolve to meet the needs of each generation of servicemen and women. RSL Australia today supports public debate, education, and increased public awareness of issues relating to the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio. RSL Australia also serves as a sounding board for the Government in the development of policy and practice. The National Office of the League is situated in Canberra. Whilst each State and Territory have a Branch Headquarters to serve the grassroots members. The RSL national office's role is to coordinate and promote the national interests of the organisation, making representations to Parliamentarians, Government, various Government Departments, and to other bodies. We encourage our community to interact with us on our social media platforms but ask that all interactions comply with our social media terms of use to keep this community safe for all. Any comments that are potentially defamatory will not be tolerated and will be removed by our moderators. https://www.rslaustralia.org/social-media-terms-of-use

12/06/2026

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Black Hawk accident in Townsville, in which 18 ADF members tragically lost their lives.

During training for counter-terrorism operations on the night of June 12, 1996, two Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters collided in the Townsville Field Training Area.

As a result of the accident, there were 18 fatalities; 15 from the Special Air Service Regiment and three from the 5th Aviation Regiment. It was Australia's worst peacetime military aviation disaster, and it sent shockwaves of sadness across the nation.

This tragedy highlights the constant risks associated with serving in the nation’s armed services and the commitment and bravery of those who serve.

We Will Remember Them

Corporal M. Baker
Captain J. Berrigan
Captain K. Hales
Signalman H. Peeters
Trooper T.J. McDonald
Lance Corporal D. Frost
Trooper J.G.S. Church
Lance Corporal G.D. Hagan
Lance Corporal D.A. Johnstone
Lance Corporal G.A. Callow
Corporal B.A. Tombs
Corporal D.J. Smith
Corporal D.R. Oldham
Corporal A. Constantinidis
Corporal M.J. Bird
Corporal M. Avedissian
Sergeant H.W. Ellis
Captain T.J. Stevens

Lest We Forget

📸 Ian Coate

11/06/2026

The proposed $5,000 cap on allied health services is a barrier our veterans simply shouldn't face, and it's causing 25,000+ of our nation's most vulnerable veterans to feel anxious.
RSL Australia's National President Peter Tinley AM spoke to calling out the lack of clarity in the plan, and making clear we stand firmly against it.
"They are putting a wall in front of veterans, and we think there's a better way to crack down on provider fraud."
📺 Watch the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfKd-t76tJE

09/06/2026

Congratulations to all Australians recognised in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours.

949 Australians were honoured yesterday. Among them, our veterans, our RSL members, and the men and women of the ADF who serve quietly and give generously.

The King's Birthday Honours are a meaningful acknowledgement of the extraordinary contributions made by members of our Defence and veteran community, not only during their service but in everything they continue to give back to their communities long after.

We are proud of every recipient. Your dedication, sacrifice, and service to veterans, families and this nation will never go unrecognised.

07/06/2026

Australian Defence Force dogs have shown enormous courage, unwavering loyalty, and commitment to hard work during training activities and on operations overseas.

To recognise their service since WW1, today is Military Working Dog Day.

They have served throughout Asia, Somalia, Bougainville, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, and Afghanistan. ADF dogs serve in Army’s Military Police, Combat Engineer Regiments, Special Operations Engineer Regiment, Special Air Service Regiment and the 2nd Commando Regiment as well as Air Force’s Security Forces Squadrons.

Sapper Darren Smith and Explosive Detection Dog Herbie were killed in action in Afghanistan on June 7, 2010. National Military Working Dog Day commemorates the sacrifice of Sapper Smith who was the first ADF dog handler to be killed in action while working with a military dog.

To show your support for war animals and to help animals in current conflicts, you can purchase a from https://thepurplepoppy.com.au

06/06/2026

On this day in 1944, the course of World War II changed forever.

6 June 1944. D-Day.

More than 130,000 Allied troops landed on 5 Normandy beaches in Nazi-occupied France, launching a campaign to liberate Western Europe.

Australia was there. Around 3,300 Australians contributed to D-Day, predominantly through the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy.

Today we remember all who served at Normandy and acknowledge the Australians who stood alongside our Allies in one of history's most defining moments.

We will remember them.

Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

📸 Images courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

05/06/2026

110 years. One unbroken mission.

On 6 June 1916, delegates from across Australia gathered in Melbourne to establish what would become the RSL, driven by a need to care for returned soldiers who had given everything in service of this nation.

That belief is as alive today as it was then. We stand beside serving members, veterans and their families through four enduring values: Care. Advocacy. Camaraderie. Commemoration.

Four values. One community. All in service of those who serve and sacrifice for our country.

Here's to 110 years, and everything still to come, together.

RSL ACT Branch RSL NSW RSL WA RSL Victoria RSL Tasmania RSL Queensland RSL South Australia

02/06/2026

Welcome to the fleet, HMAS Eyre!
The Royal Australian Navy commissioned its second Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel over the weekend at HMAS Stirling, WA. It's a proud moment for our nation and the men and women who serve at sea.

HMAS Eyre will patrol Australia's maritime borders, support humanitarian and disaster relief operations, and strengthen security across our region.

We congratulate the ship's company and all those who played a part in bringing her to life. ⚓

📷 Images courtesy of the Defence Image Gallery, marking a proud day for the Royal Australian Navy.

29/05/2026

We are calling on the Government to go further in its $2 billion legal fight against 3M and include the costs of health testing, ongoing care and fair compensation for all veterans who are paying the real price of PFAS contamination.

Veteran firefighters handled this toxic foam, known as AFFF, every day between the 1970s and mid 2000s. They stood in it, breathed it, wore it home. Now they're living with cancers, kidney failure and lifelong illness. Most have never been tested, let along supported.

Read our full statement
👉 https://bit.ly/49oRww6

27/05/2026

What a two days at .

Yesterday, our National President Peter Tinley AM chaired the session: The Human Dividend, making the evidence case for why Australia's 580,000 veterans are one of this country's most underutilised strategic assets. The room was full and the conversation was exactly the one we came to Perth to have. Thank you to Major General Hugh Meggitt of ASCA and Danielle Bull of ASC Pty Ltd for participating in the session and engaging in a robust discussion.

Today, Peter took that same message into two more sessions.

In the Industry Session: Successful Veterans Programs, the panel got into the detail of what genuine veteran employment integration actually looks like and why the organisations doing it well are gaining a real workforce advantage.

Then in session on the main stage, Personnel for Defence, alongside some of Australia's most senior Defence and industry leaders, the conversation turned to the big picture: how does Australia build and sustain the skilled, resilient workforce its future capability demands? Veterans, and the systems that support their transition, are not a footnote to that question. They are a central part of the answer.

Across three sessions and two days, the message has been consistent. The challenge is not capability. It has never been capability. It is recognition, connection, and the political and industry will to act.

came to IODS to push that conversation forward. The discussions were meaningful, the connections were real, and the momentum is there.

25/05/2026

Tomorrow, our National President Peter Tinley AM takes the chair at .

The Human Dividend session puts a direct question to the Defence Industry: Australia has 580,000 skilled, security-cleared veterans. Many are already working inside the sector. So why does our policy still treat veteran workforce integration as an afterthought rather than a national strategy?

Peter will be joined by Major General Hugh Meggitt AM CSC, Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, and Danielle Bull, Chief Capability Officer at ASC, two people who are building Australia's Defence workforce right now.

This is not a session about sovereign capability, workforce pipeline, and what industry can do differently.

The Human Dividend: Australia's 580,000 Veterans as Sovereign Capability for the AUKUS Workforce
🕙 Tuesday 26 May 1030–1130
📍 Meeting Room 1, Level 2 @ Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Be part of the conversation in Perth.

Register 👉 https://bit.ly/4nL0mKd

Address

137/81 Constitution Avenue
Canberra City, ACT
2612

Telephone

+61262804079

Website

https://www.rslaustralia.org/

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