Pension Officer
Handbook
The Repatriation Handbook is dedicated to the memory of CMDR Robin Pennock,
TIP Co-ordinator for South Australia and Northern Territory from July 1998 to
December 2005.
Robin’s knowledge, energy and persistence were the driving force in maintaining the
handbook as the primary reference point for Pension and Welfare Officers. The
handbook would not be in its present high standard without Robin’s tireless efforts
from 1998 when he first started as a member of the Repat Handbook committee. By
early 2003 he had volunteered for the bulk of the work associated with the handbook
as SRCA and MRCA were added. He completed the final rewrite on 5 December 2005
and passed away suddenly on 22 December 2005.
November 2009: Repatriation Handbook
Pension Officer
Preface
This handbook is designed to assist ex-service (ESO) practitioners such as pension
officers, welfare officers, case officers and advocates. Its contents are intended to
cater for the different degrees of knowledge that these people may possess.
The duties of an ESO practitioner require a wide range of skills. Such people must be
able to:

understand the Repatriation system;

assist veterans and their dependants in their dealings with the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs, etc;

present a veteran’s case to the best of his or her ability, regardless of personal
feelings in the matter;

understand and interpret the relevant laws and regulations;

elicit information from a veteran and from other witnesses, including experts; and

evaluate factual evidence and medical opinion.
Few newcomers to the pension and welfare field have had much experience with the
Repatriation system. Thus this handbook has been written to cater for the newcomer
and in general terms, is designed to provide an easily assimilated description of the
repatriation system as it affects a pension etc officer. Some of its information is of
background interest only, while some is vital to the everyday performance of a
practitioner’s duties.
A handbook such as this can do no more than give an outline of the Repatriation
system and make recommendations as to an approach to provide any necessary
assistance. The information contained in this handbook will need to be supplemented
by reading, observation and discussion if a practitioner is to bring to the performance
of his or her duties, the skills that every veteran has earned the right to expect.
~ IMPORTANT MESSAGE ~
Every effort has been made to make sure the information in this handbook was correct
at the time of printing. However, as the legislation changes, some information may
become outdated. Before using the handbook, please check the currency of any
section you may be using. The print (or reprint) date of each page is at the top corner.
It is vital that each practitioner ensures that they remain on the State TIP Handbook
Maintenance List. Practitioners should contact the relevant State TIP Committee to
report any handbook errors or change requests.
Pension Officer
November 2009: Repatriation Handbook
List of Amendments
No.
Details of Amendment
Date of
Amend.
1
Chapter 4 – Military Compensation Scheme
Oct 2008
2
Chapter 4 – Milcomp Scheme – current and proposed legislative
amendments re same-sex partners
Jan 2009
3
Chapters 1 and 5 – updates of reference material
Feb 2009
3
Chapters 2 and 3 – Disability Compensation and Income Support
Benefits
Feb 2009
4
Complete update of PO Handbook – changes as consequence of
Same-sex legislation; 20 September pension changes; availability of
MRCA e-Learning modules; changes to reference materials and
some links; deletion of Index; replacement of references to MCRS
and MCS
November
2009
November 2009: Repatriation Handbook
Pension Officer