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Commonwealth act
The Services Trust Funds Act 1947 sets up three separate welfare funds to support Australian military personnel, veterans, and their families. The funds were originally seeded from profits made by military canteens (on-base shops and food outlets) during World War II, which began on 3 September 1939.
You may be eligible if you are:
Important exclusion: Trustees and their own dependants cannot receive benefits from the fund they manage.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Services Trust Funds Act 1947.
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View on official registerSourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Each fund is managed by a group of trustees (people appointed to manage money on behalf of others) who are appointed and can be dismissed by the relevant Minister at any time. Key points:
The funds are subject to the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (a law governing how Commonwealth government entities manage public money and report on their performance), except for one specific investment rule that doesn't apply here — giving the trustees slightly more flexibility in how they invest fund money.
If you've served in the Australian Defence Force — or you're the family member of someone who has — these funds exist to provide financial relief and welfare support. The type and amount of benefit is at the trustees' discretion, meaning there's no fixed entitlement, but you can apply and the trustees must genuinely consider your case.