For over 37 years, Australia has provided civilian police for peacekeeping duties, predominantly for service with the United Nations (UN). Since October 1979, the Australian Federal Police, along with other agencies, have responsibility to:

"Meet Australia's obligations to United Nations peacekeeping requests and the maintenance of regional stability impacting on national security and law and order'

This responsibility involves working closely with other Australian agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT), Department of Defence and more recently, other Australian police services.

Internationally, the AFP has built strong relationships with external organisations involved with Peace Operations, including: the UN, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Singapore Police Force and other law enforcement agencies.

Australian police have served in a variety of such UN 'peace operations', most notably:

• Cyprus;
• Cambodia;
• East Timor;
• Mozambique; and,
• Somalia.

Australian police have also served in other non-UN Peace Operations, being:

• Bougainville (UN Sanctioned, Australian - New Zealand led);
• Haiti (UN Sanctioned, United States led); and,
• Solomon Islands (Australian - New Zealand led).

AFP members are currently deployed to Peace Operations in:

• Cyprus;
• East Timor; and,
• Solomon Islands.

To view the various worldwide deployments that Australia's Police Forces have and are involved in, view this map.

In order to provide information as to the eligibility of Police Peacekeepers toward the VEA, please find attached some fact sheets. You will notice that operations that are currently served continue to have eligibility under the VEA.

AFP - VEA Eligibility May 2009.pdf

Police VEA.pdf Within the Budget 2009-2010, it has been noted that Police International Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme under the Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA), has been allocated $1,127,000 for the FY09/10. (Ref: Table 1.1: DVA resources statement – Budget estimates for 2009-10 as at Budget May 2009, p.18 to Portfolio Budget statements 2009-10, Budget related paper no. 1.4B, Defence Portfolio (DVA).

Whilst we are still yet to see further development of this Police International Compensation Scheme, it appears that the Commonwealth is moving along with the issue of Police overseas compensation.

Please also note more information is available on the new National Police Service Medal in: National Police Service Medal 1512081.pdf

For more information please visit the International Activities section of
the Australian Federal Police Website located at:
http://www.afp.gov.au/international