iscover
From serving and ex-serving ADF members to Defence industry professionals and extended families, discover who may be eligible to join Defence Health.
More than service: supporting the wider Defence community
Australia’s Defence capability is built on the people who make it happen. From ADF personnel and public servants to industry professionals, businesses and families, every connection plays a role in supporting Australia’s national security.
At Defence Health, we recognise that connection. For more than 70 years, we’ve been supporting the health and wellbeing of the Defence community, with a purpose that extends beyond those who have served, to the people and organisations that support them.
As a not-for-profit private health insurer, we’re here to look after our members and give back to the community we serve. And our community is broader than many people realise.
Who can join Defence Health?
You don’t need to have served in the Australian Defence Force to be eligible for Defence Health.
Our membership extends across several groups connected to Defence, including:
- Serving and ex-serving ADF members: Current and former Navy, Army and Air Force personnel, including eligible Reservists.
- Defence employees: People who work or have worked for the Department of Defence and eligible Defence-related government departments.
- Defence industry professionals: Employees who work or have worked for eligible companies, suppliers and contractors where they are nor were involved in providing goods or services to Defence.
- Extended families: Eligible family members of serving and former ADF personnel, including parents, children, grandchildren, siblings and partners or former partners of those listed above. Eligible family connections can also extend to relatives of other qualifying Defence members.
For those working across the Defence industry, this means a professional connection may also open the door to health cover with a fund that understands the community they work in.
Eligibility criteria apply, and individuals can check their circumstances directly with Defence Health.
Health cover that understands your needs
Life in the Defence community can look different for everyone. Whether you’re balancing family commitments, building a career in Defence industry, transitioning out of service or supporting someone who serves, your health needs evolve throughout life.
Defence Health offers a range of hospital and extras cover options to help members find cover suited to their individual circumstances and budget.
Hospital cover can help with eligible hospital treatment, while extras cover can contribute towards services such as dental, optical and physiotherapy.
As a not-for-profit fund, Defence Health focuses on its members rather than shareholders. This allows us to keep the needs of our community at the centre of what we do.
Our connection to Defence also means we understand that supporting health and wellbeing is about more than a policy. It’s about recognising the people behind the uniform, the families who support them and the broader workforce that helps keep Defence moving.
Building stronger connections with Defence industry
Defence industry businesses play an essential role in supporting Australia’s national security. Their people bring specialist skills, technical expertise and critical services to a complex and demanding environment.
Supporting the wellbeing of this workforce is an important part of building a strong, sustainable Defence industry.
Through our industry partnerships, Defence Health works with eligible Defence-related organisations to explore ways to support their employees’ health and wellbeing. This includes access to health cover options, a dedicated partnership team and a growing range of wellbeing resources and initiatives.
We recognise that every organisation has different priorities, from enhancing employee benefits to supporting workforce wellbeing and strengthening employee engagement. Our approach is centred on building relationships, understanding organisational needs and exploring opportunities to deliver meaningful value.
For businesses operating in the Defence ecosystem, partnering with a health fund that understands the community can be another way to demonstrate a commitment to their people.
We look after our own
At Defence Health, our commitment to the Defence community is at the heart of everything we do.
Whether your connection comes through service, family or your work in Defence industry, you may be eligible to join a health fund that understands the people and community behind Defence.
Think you might be eligible?
Visit defencehealth.com.au to check your eligibility, or contact our team to discuss Defence industry partnership opportunities.