Australian Military Death Support

The Immediate Response: DMFS and the Family Liaison Officer

When an Australian Defence Force (ADF) member dies in service, Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) coordinates the immediate response. A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) is assigned to the next of kin to provide practical support and coordinate the military components of the funeral.

The FLO is your primary point of contact in the early days. They liaise with the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to initiate compensation claims under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA), help arrange military funeral honours, and connect the family with counselling services. The FLO's involvement typically extends through the immediate bereavement period — the funeral, initial claims, and the first weeks of adjustment — before the DVA takes over long-term support.

For current contact details, use Defence Member and Family Support's death and bereavement support page.

Financial Entitlements

Bereavement payment. The ADF provides a bereavement payment equal to four fortnights of the deceased member's gross salary. This is paid quickly to help the family cover immediate expenses while longer-term compensation is processed.

Lump-sum death benefit. Under the MRCA, a lump-sum compensation payment is made to eligible dependants. The amount varies — approximately $47,000 for a surviving spouse and approximately $70,000 for each dependent child, though the exact figures are indexed and updated regularly. These amounts apply to service-related deaths and are tax-free.

Funeral expenses. The ADF covers funeral costs for permanent force members up to $14,000. The family can arrange the funeral privately and submit costs for reimbursement, or Defence can coordinate the funeral directly through its own channels.

Ongoing compensation. Surviving spouses and children may qualify for ongoing weekly compensation payments through the DVA, calculated based on the member's earnings and the circumstances of the death. Claims are lodged through DVA, and the FLO can help initiate the paperwork.

Housing

Families living in Defence housing receive continued accommodation assistance for up to 15 months after the service member's death. If the member lived alone, the entitlement is 28 days.

The 15-month window gives families time to plan a permanent move without rushing. Defence Housing Australia (DHA) manages the transition, and the DVA can provide additional housing support during the relocation process.

Open Arms: Free Counselling

Open Arms — Veterans and Families Counselling is a support service for veterans and families. Contact Open Arms to confirm eligibility and which counselling or support options are currently available to your family.

For current contact details and hours, use Open Arms' official contact information rather than relying on an old phone number.

For children, ask Open Arms what age-appropriate support or referrals are available in your area.

DVA Long-Term Support

Once the initial DMFS and FLO involvement winds down, the Department of Veterans' Affairs becomes the primary agency for ongoing support:

• Compensation claims under the MRCA, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act (DRCA), or the Veterans' Entitlements Act (VEA), depending on the dates and circumstances of service
• Education scheme for surviving children, providing financial support for primary, secondary, and tertiary education
• Health care including Gold Card access for eligible surviving spouses, covering all medical and hospital treatment at DVA's expense
• Financial and legal counselling may be funded up to $2,000, with eligibility restricted to people deemed cognitively immature or impaired; confirm eligibility and current limits with DVA

Death Registration

In Australia, a death must be registered within 28 days. For ADF deaths, the unit and the civilian authorities coordinate, but the family should confirm with the FLO that the registration has been completed — particularly if the death occurred overseas or involved repatriation, since jurisdictional handoffs between states and territories can create delays.

The After a Military Service Death guide includes a dedicated Australian section mapping the DMFS and DVA process side by side, the MRCA claim forms, and a direct comparison of Australian entitlements alongside US, UK, and Canadian equivalents.