ESO Round Table (ESORT)
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  1. Overview
  2. Membership
  3. Meeting schedule
  4. Meeting minutes and Communiques
  5. Out of Session meetings
  6. Contact

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Overview

This forum intends to enhance the capacity of the Repatriation Commission and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. This forum aims to address issues of strategic importance to the ex-service and defence communities and assist in setting directions for the medium to long term. Specific responsibilities include:

  • acting as the main forum for dialogue between the Military Rehabilitation Compensation Commission (MRCC), Repatriation Commission, Department of Veterans' Affairs and the leadership of the ESO and Defence communities
  • providing advice on how government can better facilitate a common approach to veteran and ex-service issues against the current background of ageing members, declining membership and multiple ex-service organisations not necessarily united in their common concerns
  • guiding strategic directions for the portfolio
  • serving as the main body for consultation under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 on the development of legislative instruments impacting members of the ex service and Defence communities under the:
    • Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
    • Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
    • Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence Related Claims) Act 1988
    • Defence Service Homes Act 1918
    • War Graves Act 1980

Terms of Reference (DOC 47 KB)

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Membership

Organisation Representative
Repatriation Commission and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Alison Frame
Chair and President
Repatriation Commission and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Mark Brewer AM CSC and Bar
Deputy President
Repatriation Commission and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Kahlil Fegan DSC, AM
Member
Repatriation Commission and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Gwen Cherne
Member
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission TBC
Member
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Rear Admiral Letitia van Stralen AM CSC RAN
Head of Military Personnel
Department of Defence Rear Admiral Sonya Bennett
Commander Joint Health
Air Force Association Joe Iervasi
National President
Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association Rod Henderson
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Special Air Service Association The Hon Martin Hamilton-Smith
National Chairman
Defence Families Australia Charlotte Webb
Defence Family Advocate
Defence Force Welfare Association Del Gaudry CSC
National President
Defence Reserves Association BRIG Mike Annett CSC
National President
Legacy Australia Inc. Wayne McNee Legatee
National Chairman
Naval Association of Australia David Manolas
National President
Partners of Veterans Association of Australia Inc. Beverly Benporath
National President
Royal Australian Regiment Corporation Michael von Berg MC OAM
Chair and National President
Returned and Services League of Australia Major General Greg Melick AO RFD FANZCN SC
National President
TPI Federation Australia Scott Jeffrey
National President
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Max Ball
National President
Vietnam Veterans' Federation of Australia William Roberts OAM JP
National President
Australian War Widows Inc. Jenny Gregory OAM
National President
Soldier On Paul Singer CVO
Chief Executive Officer

The leaders of the ESOs listed above are the appointed members of the Round Table.

The Chair of the ESO Round Table is the Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.

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Meeting schedule

The ESO Round Table meets face-to-face two or three times per year and if required, holds more meetings via video or telephone conference.

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Meeting minutes and Communiques

Meeting minutes and Communiques of each ESORT meeting are available via the following links:

ESORT Hearing Services Working Group

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Out of Session meetings

Members of ESORT can be convened Out of Session to discuss emerging issues. No agendas or minutes are issued for these discussions. Dates of Out of Session meetings are below:

Year Date
2025 20 May 2025
23 May 2025
2024 05 July 2024
16 September 2024
2023 11 July 2023
08 September 2023
18 October 2023
27 October 2023
2022 21 March 2022
4 July 2022
12 August 2022
31 August 2022
25 October 2022 - Face to Face
2 December 2022 - Face to Face
2021 7 July 2021
18 August 2021
16 September 2021
29 September 2021
6 October 2021
21 October 2021
25 October 2021
17 November 2021
7 December 2021
2020 22 January 2020
5 February 2020
19 February 2020
13 March 2020
20 March 2020
27 March 2020
1 April 2020
3 April 2020
9 April 2020
15 April 2020
17 April 2020
24 April 2020
29 April 2020
1 May 2020
8 May 2020
27 May 2020
10 June 2020
24 June 2020
8 July 2020
7 August 2020
14 August 2020
7 September 2020
16 September 2020
11 November 2020
2019 14 May 2019
29 May 2019
11 June 2019
25 June 2019
9 July 2019
22 July 2019
6 August 2019
20 August 2019
17 September 2019
1 October 2019
15 October 2019
29 October 2019
10 December 2019
17 December 2019
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Contact

To contact the ESO Round Table Secretariat, please email ESORT.Secretariat@dva.gov.au

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