RSL MEMBERSHIP
RSL Australia currently has 149,000+ members. Will you join us?
Belong to the RSL and get involved in Australia’s largest veteran community.
The RSL welcomes new members and encourages you to belong to the RSL family.
The League’s future is in the hands of its committed members and the effective contribution that each member makes.
Our members actively live the foundations that the RSL is built on...
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Care
Our members share the bond of service and are committed to giving back to their Defence family and local communities. They care for the welfare and interests of other veterans. They’re there for veterans who are ill or injured, struggling with transition, or who need a friend.
They deliver meals, visit the sick, assist with RSL events, organise care packages, and raise funds to support veterans.
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Advocacy
By staying up to date on veterans' issues, our members can make a difference by adding their collective voice to important issues pertaining to veterans and, through our organisation, by ensuring that voice is heard by governments, public authorities and the public generally.
Importantly, they also provide input to submissions to Government Inquiries and Royal Commissions.
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Commemoration
Our members recognise and remember the service and sacrifice of those who served before us and with us, as well as those who are still serving or will serve after us.
Members enable and support commemorative services ensuring Australians remember the fallen. They also honour veterans by assisting with funeral tributes.
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Camaraderie
Connections are forged through membership. Connecting with other members of the Defence Family allows veterans to rekindle bonds of service and mateship and can make for a smoother transition to civilian life.
Members are made aware of events and opportunities to spend time with other veterans. Belonging to the RSL means someone always has your back.
Members receive:
Regular communications and updates
Services and support
Connection to camaraderie and opportunities to make new friendships
Voting rights with the right to be heard and make a difference on important issues
A membership badge that is recognised by veterans across Australia
Becoming a member
RSL Memberships are managed by State Branches and are unique to their jurisdiction in terms of certain types of membership, available services, benefits and fee structure.
Service Membership
Service Membership is available to those who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force, and for those who have served in the Armed Forces of our Allies (UK, US or another Commonwealth nation or for those who served in support of Australia and its allies in a theatre of conflict).
Affiliate Membership
Affiliate Membership is available to those not eligible to join as Service Members but who demonstrate a commitment to serving the League and realising its objectives. Most Affiliate members are a relative of, or are connected to, someone who is or would have been eligible for Service membership or is/was a member for at least six months of the emergency services or a cadet/cadet officer. As the criteria for Affiliate membership varies from State to State, contact your local State Branch for details.
Auxiliary Members
Auxiliary Membership was traditionally open to spouses of Service members of the League. Customarily, members of the Auxiliaries coordinated fundraising events, assisted with sub-branch commemorations and provided meals for sub-branch functions. Today some Branches offer this type of membership to those in the community who wish to help our Defence family and provide extra resources to our veterans.
Connect with your State Branch for membership details
RSL member numbers by Branch - December 2022
Transferring membership
The RSL operates under a federated governance model. This means that all individual members of the League are members of their State Branches. Accordingly, each State Branch is responsible for its region’s structure, benefits, services and finances in accordance with the National Constitution and By-Laws.
Service Members can request to transfer their membership to another Branch. However, as the criteria for Affiliate and other types of membership vary between States, those memberships cannot be transferred.
Service Members can request a transfer to another Branch by completing a Request for Transfer Form which is available through their Sub-Branch or State Branch.