Good morning.
I want to give members a general overview of how the system works in Australia.
I will probably say something wrong. So you can correct me later on.
The system generally works in a very similar fashion to the Canadian system. The main difference is in how the permanent impairment compensation is paid in Australia. Since 2006 in Canada it's been paid as a lump sum, based on the level of disability, up to 100%. It's a lump sum of up to $360,000 now. Australia, at about the same time, decided to continue with a monthly life pension—I believe it's actually paid twice a month—but veterans can decide to have that monthly payment turned into a lump sum. The maximum amount is around $1,500 a month.
If I'm wrong on that, please correct me later.
The advantage of that is that the amount of the lump sum, if the veteran elects to be paid the lump sum, takes into account the age of the veteran at the time of disability. If a veteran is injured at age 30 or earlier, the amount will be the same, but then the amount of the lump sum will be a little lower as the veteran ages. That's the general idea.
Again, you can correct me if I've said something wrong.
Most of the other elements of the system are the same. One distinction, though, is that Australia sent a significant contingent to Vietnam. As we know from our travel to the U.S., that population of veterans might have some specific issues concerning mental health that did not appear in other contingents. That would be an issue to inquire about. The contingent was about 8,000, if my information is right.
They have a similar rehabilitation program for physical and mental health problems, as well as vocational rehab. Something that Australia has and that doesn't exist in Canada is housing aids. They have subsidized loans, depending on the condition, age, and other criteria. They also have their Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service, which is very similar to the phone line that Veterans Affairs Canada administers here.
I won't go into the details of all of that, but you have a general idea. The main thing is that the system is very similar to the Canadian system. The difference is the payment of the monthly pensions. That is very specific to Australia.
Thank you.