RMA Publications

		Foreword The 2004 RMA/DVA/ESO forum was held in Canberra on the 30 and 31st March. The objectives of the forum were to: restate RMA processes; inform representatives of the Veteran community; address issues of concern to the Veteran community; provide a forum for Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and Department of Defence (DoD) representatives to address current issues; and to provide the opportunity to identify future challenges. The forum was attended by around 45 representatives of Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) and representatives of DoD, DVA, the Repatriation Commission, the Veterans' Review Board and the Specialist Medical Review Council, as well as the members of the RMA and the RMA secretariat. It was opened by the Hon. Danna Vale, MP, Minister for Veterans' Affairs. The format of the forum involved presentations, a workshop on critical appraisal and causal inference, and question and answer sessions. Opportunity for the latter was provided at the end of each presentation as well as at specific sessions dedicated to answering questions submitted prior to the forum. There were thus opportunities for active participation by ESO representatives. The topics of the various presentations were chosen to explain RMA processes, elaborate on the legislative and scientific constraints under which the RMA operates and to reflect current issues of concern. The purpose of this document is both to record the content of the proceedings and to provide veterans or their advocates with a helpful reference for matters which arise when dealing with the Statements of Principles (SOPs). The principles and processes by which the RMA operates, as outlined in the proceedings of the 1998 forum, are essentially reconfirmed in this document. All presentations given by members of the RMA are included, either as a paper or as edited versions of the audio transcript. Presentations given by guest speakers are listed but not included because they provided background information of a topical nature which was only indirectly related to RMA functions. All questions and answers from throughout the forum have been brought together from the audio transcripts, grouped in broad categories and edited for clarity. Additional useful general material is provided in the Appendix. Formal and informal feedback received by the RMA about the forum has been very positive. Delegates felt that the forum met its objectives and was relevant and useful. We hope therefore that this document will be a relevant and useful resource, both to those who were present and those who, in the future, need to gain a greater understanding of the RMA and the SOP system. Professor Ken Donald Chairperson Repatriation Medical Authority Previous | Contents | Next This page last updated 22 March 2005.

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