Member’s Records

Military Records

All records of service in the Army after World War II, including service in Korea, Malaya and Vietnam, are maintained by the Central Army Records Office (CARO).

To obtain your service records please contact the Defence Archive Centre – Fort Queenscliff (DAC-FQ).
Postal address:
Defence Archive Centre – Fort Queenscliff (DAC-FQ)
GPO Box 1932
Melbourne VIC 3001

Phone: 1800 333 362
Fax: (03) 5258 0657

Email address:
[email protected]

Proof of identity or Next-of-Kin relationship is required and all requests require a signature. Due to privacy restrictions, specific regulations apply to the distribution of confidential personnel records.

Health/Medical Records

For all enquiries relating to health/medical records after 1947, write to:
Australian Defence Force Health Records – Army (ADFHR-A)
GPO Box 1932R
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Phone: (03) 92826772
Fax: (03) 92825978

Medals and Awards Enquiries

The Directorate of Honours and Awards is part of the Defence Personal Executive Branch and handles entitlement to medals. This organisation is not part of CARO.  Postal address for medals enquiries:
DHA (Army Medals Section)
Directorate of Honours & Awards
Locked Bag 2003
COOMA NSW 2630

Phone: 1800 065 149
Fax: (02) 6266 1065

Vales and Service Histories

Personnel Records Enquiries

CARO is concerned to ensure the privacy of ex-service members is not impinged upon. CARO adheres to the Commonwealth Privacy Act and the values of the Information Privacy Principles for all records under its control. In this respect, copies of information held on personnel files may be provided upon receipt of written authorisation from the ex-member.
If the ex-member is deceased, information may be released upon receipt of written authorisation from the next of kin. In certain other circumstances CARO may be able to issue summarised information. Written requests should include as much of the following details as possible such as:

• Surname and all given names, including any possible names the person may have served under
• Date and place of birth
• Date of death
• Regimental service number(s)
• State of enlistment
• Enlistment and discharge dates
• Rank attained
• Unit(s) served with and location
• Date/s and period/s served
• Details inscribed on any medals or badges, if held.

The enquirer should also provide their:

• Title (Mr/Ms/Mrs/Miss/Dr etc.)
• Name
• Postal address
• Daytime contact telephone number (if available)
• Relationship to person of whom details are being sought
• Reason for seeking information.

Postal Address for Personal Records Enquiries:

Central Army Records Office
Soldier Career Management Agency
GPO Box 393D
Melbourne VIC 3001

Phone:
(03) 9282 5393
(03) 9282 6235
Fax:
(03) 9282 5434
E-mail: [email protected]

Eulogy Service

CARO will provide limited information on the service of an ex-member to enable an appropriate person to deliver a eulogy at a funeral or memorial service. The person requesting this information must satisfy CARO that he, or she, is acting for the family. A signed request in writing must be received by CARO before it may release information however, as time is often crucial, a request by telephone can initiate action. Often time is crucial so contact:
CARO ARMY Eulogy Hotline: 1800 333 362

Other Useful Addresses Unit Histories:

Australian War Memorial
GPO Box 345
CANBERRA ACT 2601

War Graves:

Office of the Australian War Graves Commission
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
PO Box 21
WODEN ACT 2610