Source: https://www.defence.gov.au/PayAndConditions/ADF/Chapter-9/Part-3/Div-9.asp
Timestamp: 2020-07-12 10:37:49
Document Index: 194584920

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 6', 'art 1', 'art 4']

Division 9 - Australians dangerously ill scheme : Part 3 : Department of Defence
Division 9 - Australians dangerously ill scheme
9.3.62 Principle
9.3.63 Purpose
The purpose of this Division is to provide the support of an approved visitor to a member who is hospitalised in Australia with a very serious or serious illness. The visit from an approved visitor is for the benefit of the member.
Note: Chapter 17 Part 4 sets out the provisions for members who are hospitalised overseas with a very serious or serious illness.
9.3.64 Definitions
Approved period The period decided under section 9.3.68 for benefits to assist the approved visitor to visit the member under this Division.
Approved visitor A person who has been approved to visit a member at Commonwealth expense.
Medical authority A person who is a qualified medical practitioner responsible for determining the medical condition of a member.
Very serious illness Has the meaning in section 1.3.78, Very serious illness.
9.3.65 Member this Division applies to
The CDF may approve a member as eligible for support under this Division when they meet both of the following conditions.
The member has been classified as very seriously ill and is likely to remain so, or may not recover.
The member has been classified as suffering a serious medical condition and is hospitalised outside of the posting location to receive specialist treatment.
Persons who can make the decision under section 9.3.65 on behalf of the CDF:
9.3.66 Members who this Division does not apply to
This Division does not provide a visit at Commonwealth expense when the visitor normally lives in the location where the member is in hospital.
Example 1: A member who is posted to Puckapunyal becomes seriously ill and is transferred to a hospital in Melbourne. The member's mother is identified and recorded on PMKeyS as the primary emergency contact. As the member's mother lives in Melbourne, support under this Division is not provided.
Example 2: A member is seriously injured and is hospitalised in their posting location. The member's partner lives with the member in the posting location, so support under this Division is not provided.
9.3.67 People who may be an approved visitor
A parent of the member, if the member has no dependants under section 1.3.82.
Note: A parent of an member may include, but is not limited to, any of the following people.
A child of the eligible person.
They must normally live in Australia.
If the approved visitor is incapable or unable to travel and provide support to the member, the approved visitor may nominate another person from one of the classes in subsection 1 to be considered.
Persons who can make the decisions under subsection 9.3.67.1 and subsection 9.3.67.4 on behalf of the CDF:
9.3.68 Approved period for visit
1. up to 21 consecutive days the member has had major surgery and the post operative recovery is to last longer than seven consecutive days.
the member is undergoing specialist treatment in hospital that will last longer than seven consecutive days.
2. 21 or more consecutive days the member has been assessed by the medical authority as likely to remain very seriously ill or seriously ill for longer than 21 consecutive days.
See also: Section 9.3.75, When the member's condition changes
Persons who can make the decision under subsection 9.3.68.2 on behalf of the CDF:
9.3.69 Long term illness
A member ceases to be eligible for assistance under this Division from the day they are provided a sustainable welfare management plan. This does not affect the return travel benefit for any approved visitor.
9.3.70 Assistance for the approved visitor
The approved visitor may be provided with the following assistance under this Division.
Section 9.3.71, Assistance with domestic travel
Section 9.3.72, Travel by private vehicle
See: Section 9.3.73, Assistance with accommodation
See: Section 9.3.74, Assistance with meals
9.3.71 Assistance with domestic travel
The CDF may approve return economy class air travel within Australia at Commonwealth expense for the approved visitor.
If air travel is not available to the location where the member is hospitalised, assistance with the cost of other modes of transport, such as rail or road, is provided at Commonwealth expense to the approved visitor.
See: If the approved visitor chooses to travel by private vehicle to the member's hospital see section 9.3.72, Travel by private vehicle.
Costs incurred by the approved visitor for public transport, including taxi fares, between any of the following locations may be reimbursed on the production of receipts.
The CDF may approve the reimbursement of the lower of the following costs if the approved visitor arranged their own travel prior to the benefit being approved.
The amount incurred by the approved visitor. The approved visitor must produce receipts for the travel to allow for reimbursement.
The amount that would have been incurred if the travel had been taken by a member and the travel had been arranged by the Defence Community Organisation.
Multiple visits to and from the approved visitor's home location during the approved period may not be reimbursed or paid by the Commonwealth.
Example: An approved visitor is three days into an approved seven day visit. The approved visitor needs to return home to attend a meeting. They then return to the member's location. This return trip may not be reimbursed.
Exception: In exceptional circumstances, the CDF may approve the reimbursement of travel costs incurred if the approved visitor is required to return to their home location during the approved period.
The approved visitor may choose to stay beyond the approved period. The costs that may be reimbursed for travel after the approved period are limited. The CDF may only approve the lesser of the following costs.
The cost that would have been incurred if the travel had been taken by a member and if the return journey had been arranged by the Defence Community Organisation.
See: Part 1 section 9.1.2, Travel overview
Persons who can make the decisions under subsection 9.3.71.1, subsection 9.3.71.4, subsection 9.3.71.5, exception, and subsection 9.3.71.6 on behalf of the CDF:
9.3.72 Travel by private vehicle
The CDF may approve travel by private vehicle when both the following conditions are met.
The approved visitor wishes to travel by private vehicle.
The duration of the journey is considered reasonable. To determine if the journey is reasonable the CDF must consider the following factors.
The time it would take to travel the distance.
Example: A member posted to Newcastle is injured while on training. Due to the seriousness of the injury the member is sent to a hospital in Sydney. The member's partner chooses to drive to Sydney. The time it would take to travel between Newcastle and Sydney is considered reasonable for the purposes of this Division.
Non-example: A member posted to Townsville is injured and is sent to hospital in Brisbane. The member's partner wishes to drive to Brisbane for the visit. The time it would take to travel between Townsville to Brisbane is not considered reasonable for the purposes of this Division.
The CDF may approve the reimbursement of the lesser of the following costs when the approved visitor travels by private vehicle approved under subsection 1.
The amount for fuel incurred by the approved visitor during the approved period. The approved visitor must produce receipts for the fuel to allow for reimbursement.
The vehicle allowance costs which would have been incurred by the Commonwealth under section 9.6.25 for the distance travelled.
See: Part 6 Division 5 section 9.6.25, Amount of allowance and calculation of distance
Exception: The cost of tolls, parking fees, traffic fines or parking tickets is not reimbursed.
Persons who can make the decisions under subsection 9.3.72.1 and subsection 9.3.72.2 on behalf of the CDF:
9.3.73 Assistance with accommodation
The CDF may approve commercial accommodation at Commonwealth expense up to the relevant rate in Annex 9.5.A Part 1 column C.
The accommodation must be within a reasonable distance from the hospital where the member is located, having regard to the circumstances.
The CDF may approve accommodation at a higher rate than set under subsection 1 when both the following criteria are met.
The accommodation is located near the member's hospital.
The cost of travel to and from the closest hotel within the allowable cost would exceed the savings of staying in that hotel.
Example: The closest hotel within the allowable cost is located 20km from the hospital where the member is located. There is a hotel 2km away from the hospital which is $25 a night over the allowable cost. The cost of transport to and from the hotel 20km away would be greater than the $25 a night extra payable at the closer hotel.
Non-example: The closest hotel within the allowable cost is located 10km away from the hospital where the member is located. There is a hotel 2km away from the hospital which is $150 a night over the allowable travel cost. The transport costs to and from the hotel 10km away would not exceed $150 a day so the cost of staying in the closer hotel is not reasonable.
If the approved visitor arranges their own accommodation prior to the visit being approved, the CDF may approve the reimbursement of the lesser of the following costs.
The cost of the accommodation incurred by the approved visitor. The approved visitor must produce receipts for the accommodation to allow for reimbursement.
The cost of the accommodation that would have been incurred if the visit has been arranged by the Defence Community Organisation.
Exception: See subsection 9.3.75.2, When the member's condition changes
Persons who can make the decisions under subsection 9.3.73.1, subsection 9.3.73.3 and subsection 9.3.73.4 on behalf of the CDF:
9.3.74 Assistance with meals
The CDF may approve the reimbursement of the lesser of the following meal costs.
The cost of meals incurred by the approved visitor. The approved visitor must produce receipts for the meals to allow for reimbursement.
The meal costs that would have been paid by the Commonwealth under Annex 9.5.A Part 4.
Persons who can make the decision under subsection 9.3.74.1 on behalf of the CDF:
9.3.75 When the member's condition changes
If the member's condition improves and their condition is no longer classified by a medical authority as very seriously ill or seriously ill, the benefits provided under this Division ceases 24 hours after the approved person is informed of the member's reclassification.
The CDF may approve an extension of the period for which benefits provided under this Division when both of the following conditions are met.
The CDF may approve another visit for a member. The member must meet both of the following conditions.
The member was previously classified by medical authority as no longer very seriously ill or seriously ill.
Persons who can make the decisions under subsection 9.3.75.2 and subsection 9.3.75.3 on behalf of the CDF:
Tax alert, item 135