BECOME A MEMBER

The Returned and Services League has some 1500 Sub-Branches throughout Australia and with a membership of 240,000, is one of the largest service and ex-service associations in Australia.

The RSL offers two main forms of membership, Service, (for those who have served in the Armed Forces), and Affiliate membership, (for those related to people eligible for Service Membership).

Membership Card Replacement Cost is $5.00

Social

Any person is eligible to be a Social Member if he or she is not eligible to be a Service or Affiliate Member of the League is between the ages of eighteen [18] years or older.

A Social Member is not entitled to vote on any matter other than in respect of the election of a Social Member to the Committee of the Sub-Branch.

A Social Member on the Committee of a Sub-Branch may vote only on matters relating to the operation of the Sub-Branch Facilities available to Social Members of the Sub-Branch.

Service

Service membership of the RSL is for anyone who is currently serving or has served in the ADF or any Australian allied armed forces.

Service Membership Criteria

• Must be 18 years of age or over
• Has served in any Australian Defence Force in any conflict
• Has served not less than 6 months in the regular or reserve Australian Defence Force
• Has completed a period of National Service in the Australian Defence Force
• Has served in the Defence Forces of any country that is part of the Commonwealth
• Has served in the Defence Forces of the New Zealand or the United State of America
• Is an Australian citizen and has served in the Defence Force of any country allied to Australia

What are the benefits of Service Membership?

• Full voting rights within your main Sub-Branch
• The ability to stand for any elected position within the RSL in Victoria, from a Sub-Branch committee to State President
• Full access to members facilities and prices at over 80 licensed RSL venues throughout Victoria
• The right to wear the time-honored RSL badge
• The opportunity to continue to enjoy the spirit of comradeship experienced during your service in the armed forces with other serving or ex-defence force members
• A quarterly journal through which you can keep in touch with issues relevant to League members
• Discounts on a wide range of electrical appliances and white goods (courtesy Clive Peeters stores)
• The opportunity to participate in a number of RSL sporting and social activities
• The opportunity to continue to enjoy the spirit of comradeship
• The opportunity to participate in a number of sporting or social activities

Affiliate

No person who is eligible for a Service Membership of the League shall be admitted as an Affiliate Member. Any eligible persons, who may be elected, as Affiliate Members, are those who comply with following:

Affiliate Membership Criteria

• Must be 18 years of age or over
• Any person who is any relative of a League member, or of a person who at the time of his death was eligible to be a League member such as parent, grandparent, spouse, brother, sister, child, grandchild, stepchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, cousin or nephew.
• Any person who has been awarded the certificate Merit, National or State
• Certificate for giving valuable service to the League
• Any person who is or has been a member, for at least six months, of one of the following:
• A State or Federal Police Force
• An Ambulance Service or Brigade
• A Fire Brigade or Fire Authority
• An Affiliate Member shall carry out the Objects of the League in the same manner as a Service Member
• Affiliate Members have a separate badge to the League
• Affiliate Members may not be elected to the positions of President or Vice President, but may be elected to be a Secretary, Treasurer or Committeeman on the Committee
• An Affiliate may speak and vote on any matters relating to the Sub-Branch except remits for the State Conference

What are the benefits of Affiliate Membership?

• Receipt of a journal (Mufti), through which you can keep in touch with issues and events relevant to the RSL
• The opportunity to share in the spirit of comradeship common to those who have served in the Armed Forces
• The ability to serve on Sub-Branch committees
• Discounts on a wide range of electrical appliances, computers and white goods (courtesy of Clive Peeters stores)
• The opportunity to participate in a range of RSL sporting and social activities
• The right to vote on most matters pertaining to the Sub-Branch of which you are a member
• Many Affiliate Members currently serve as Sub-Branch Secretaries or Treasurers
• Full access to members’ facilities and prices at over 80 licensed RSL venues throughout Victoria
• The opportunity to make a difference in the care and remembrance of those who have and continue to serve is in both war and peace
• The right to wear the RSL Affiliate badge
• Leadership opportunities – the League needs people who can accept the responsibility and the challenge of undertaking a leadership role in a variety of areas, including welfare memorabilia, recruiting, fund raising, etc