Welcome
Submariners worldwide are a special breed, rarely understood by mere mortals and never understood by skimmers. Submariners of all nations understand this and show respect to each other, knowing the hardship and danger that each has faced to achieve membership to that elite club to which they belong.
The Association's aims and goals are:
•To keep alive the unique "esprit de corps" of the Submarine Service;
•To establish and maintain a charitable trust, being a welfare foundation;
•To assist one another as occasion may require and to encourage social activities;
•To liaise with kindred organisations, both nationally and internationally; and,
•To educate members about their entitlements and provide access to Department of Veterans' Affairs advocates
The Association maintains a close relationship with several overseas Submariners' Associations.
Membership is open to all submariners, regardless of the navy in which they served.
Announcement from Bob Trotter SAA President
It is with deep sorrow that I advise you that our Patron Vice Admiral Ian Donald George MacDougall AC AFSM died at 1945 AEST 1 July 2020. His passing was peaceful with his sons Hamish and Fergus by his side.
His was a life well lived and one that will live on in the memories of many across the Nation, especially for all submariners and their families.
I will be sending a condolence card to Ian's family on behalf of all SAA Members. When known, I will advise funeral arrangements.
Kind Regards
Bob Trotter
National President
NOTICES:
The Slops Van is back
The Slops Van has reopened at a new address. Terry Parsons has been hard at work fixing the problems that had recently beset the site and is now launching the new and improved Slops Van. Go there for all your Submarine related purchases. Don't forget all sales assist the Association Welfare Fund
Expansion of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - Continued Dispensing Arrangements Covid-19
The Federal Government has provided the following information with regard to the Dispensing Arrangements during this Covid-19 period. The statement is –
The Australian Government has extended the temporary Continued Dispensing (Emergency Measures) for three months to 30 June 2020, to assist in managing the demand on the health system during the COVID-19 outbreak. An extension of these arrangements will provide another option for consumers to continue to access their PBS subsidised medicines, if they are having difficulty accessing a prescriber to obtain a valid prescription.
These arrangements will apply to most PBS/RPBS medicines supplied through community pharmacies which includes medicines used for asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease and mental illness. This means that Australians who are having difficulty accessing their medical practitioner for a new prescription can obtain a one-off standard quantity of eligible PBS/RPBS medicines subsidised under the PBS without a prescription. The patient must previously have been prescribed this medicine and the pharmacist must be satisfied that it is urgently needed and it is not practicable to obtain a new prescription.
These arrangements complement emergency supply provisions available under state and territory legislation. This includes “owing prescription” arrangements, which enable a prescriber to direct a pharmacist to supply a medicine to a patient in an emergency situation, and then provide a paper prescription to the pharmacy. The emergency supply provisions under the states and territories law generally permit a pharmacist to supply a small amount of most prescription medicines in the absence of a valid prescription (generally up to 3 days’ supply), however this supply is not covered by the PBS and the cost must be met by the patient.
In addition, the Australian Government has recently introduced measures to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and provide protection for patients and health care providers. These include:
• The new temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth (phone or video) items are available to GPs, Medical Practitioners, nurse practitioners, participating midwives and allied health providers. All Medicare eligible Australians can now receive these services. All services provided using the new temporary MBS telehealth items must be bulkbilled;
• Special arrangements to enable prescribers to provide a pharmacy with a digital image (via fax, email or text message) of a prescription for a vulnerable patient who has had a telehealth consultation. The patient or prescriber would then be required to supply the pharmacy with the paper prescription within 15 days; and
• The fast-tracking of implementation of electronic prescribing (e-Prescribing) for up to 80% of general practices and community pharmacies by May 2020.
What should I do if I have run out of my medicines and/or prescriptions and cannot see a doctor to obtain a new one?
• If you are unable to see a medical practitioner face-to-face to obtain a prescription, you should check whether they can provide a telehealth appointment by either phone or video. If they cannot, you should talk to a community pharmacist about other options. This does not have to be your usual pharmacist.
Do I have to see my doctor to get a follow-up prescription to give to the pharmacist?
• You do not need to obtain a follow-up prescription for medicines that are supplied under the Continued Dispensing temporary arrangements.
What medicines can I get?
• These temporary arrangements will apply to most PBS/RPBS medicines supplied by community pharmacies, which represent more than 70 per cent of all PBS listed items, including medicines used for asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, and mental illness. Please note that medicines supplied under section 100 Special Supply Arrangements are not available under these arrangements. This includes HIV medicines available through the Highly Specialised Drugs Program.
What will I have to pay for these medicines?
• You will have to pay the relevant PBS/RPBS co-payment, depending on your concessional status. The current co-payment levels are $6.60 for concessional persons and up to $41.00 for general persons. If you have reached your PBS/RPBS safety net, your PBS/RPBS prescription cost will be reduced to the applicable PBS/RPBS co-payment rate.
Will these medicines count towards my PBS/RPBS Safety Net?
• In most cases, these medicines will count towards your PBS/RPBS Safety Net.
• However, for certain PBS medicines, there is a Safety Net 20 day rule. This means that for certain PBS medicines a resupply within 20 days of having the previous medicine supplied will not count towards your Safety Net. If you had already reached the Safety Net threshold, you will need to pay the relevant pre-Safety Net PBS co-payment, not the reduced Safety Net amount. Your pharmacist will be able to discuss this further with you if this is relevant.
I previously had my blood pressure medicine dispensed under Continued Dispensing because I couldn’t obtain a prescription from my doctor during the recent bushfires. I do not want to wait in a doctor’s surgery, just to get my script for this medicine I regularly take. Can I still have my blood pressure medicine dispensed under Continued Dispensing?
• No. A pharmacist can only dispense a medicine under Continued Dispensing if a person has not had the medicine dispensed under Continued Dispensing in the last 12 months. There may be other options available to you which you should discuss with your medical practitioner or pharmacist.
• The Government recently introduced a range of new measures to enable people to access health services in their home which you may be eligible for. More information on these and other measures is available on the Health website.
What do I do if I have lost my Medicare or Concession Card?
• The pharmacist can contact Services Australia for assistance on getting this information. Alternatively, members of the general public can contact Services Australia on 132 011.
Will I be able to get my next supply of PBS medicines without a prescription?
• A Continued Dispensing medicine can only be supplied once in a 12 month period. You will need to ensure that you speak to a doctor to get a prescription for any future supplies of these medicines. There may be other options available to you which you should discuss with your medical practitioner or pharmacist.
Remember that your GP or Specialist can always contact the DVA Prior Approval phone number of 1800 552 580.
2020 International Submarine Congress (ISC) is Cancelled
The Federal Government has provided the following information with regard to the Dispensing Arrangements during this Covid-19 period. The statement is –
The Australian Government has extended the temporary Continued Dispensing (Emergency Measures) for three months to 30 June 2020, to assist in managing the demand on the health system during the COVID-19 outbreak. An extension of these arrangements will provide another option for consumers to continue to access their PBS subsidised medicines, if they are having difficulty accessing a prescriber to obtain a valid prescription.
These arrangements will apply to most PBS/RPBS medicines supplied through community pharmacies which includes medicines used for asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease and mental illness. This means that Australians who are having difficulty accessing their medical practitioner for a new prescription can obtain a one-off standard quantity of eligible PBS/RPBS medicines subsidised under the PBS without a prescription. The patient must previously have been prescribed this medicine and the pharmacist must be satisfied that it is urgently needed and it is not practicable to obtain a new prescription.
These arrangements complement emergency supply provisions available under state and territory legislation. This includes “owing prescription” arrangements, which enable a prescriber to direct a pharmacist to supply a medicine to a patient in an emergency situation, and then provide a paper prescription to the pharmacy. The emergency supply provisions under the states and territories law generally permit a pharmacist to supply a small amount of most prescription medicines in the absence of a valid prescription (generally up to 3 days’ supply), however this supply is not covered by the PBS and the cost must be met by the patient.
In addition, the Australian Government has recently introduced measures to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and provide protection for patients and health care providers. These include:
• The new temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth (phone or video) items are available to GPs, Medical Practitioners, nurse practitioners, participating midwives and allied health providers. All Medicare eligible Australians can now receive these services. All services provided using the new temporary MBS telehealth items must be bulkbilled;
• Special arrangements to enable prescribers to provide a pharmacy with a digital image (via fax, email or text message) of a prescription for a vulnerable patient who has had a telehealth consultation. The patient or prescriber would then be required to supply the pharmacy with the paper prescription within 15 days; and
• The fast-tracking of implementation of electronic prescribing (e-Prescribing) for up to 80% of general practices and community pharmacies by May 2020.
• What should I do if I have run out of my medicines and/or prescriptions and cannot see a doctor to obtain a new one?
• If you are unable to see a medical practitioner face-to-face to obtain a prescription, you should check whether they can provide a telehealth appointment by either phone or video. If they cannot, you should talk to a community pharmacist about other options. This does not have to be your usual pharmacist.
• Do I have to see my doctor to get a follow-up prescription to give to the pharmacist?
• You do not need to obtain a follow-up prescription for medicines that are supplied under the Continued Dispensing temporary arrangements.
• What medicines can I get?
• These temporary arrangements will apply to most PBS/RPBS medicines supplied by community pharmacies, which represent more than 70 per cent of all PBS listed items, including medicines used for asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, and mental illness. Please note that medicines supplied under section 100 Special Supply Arrangements are not available under these arrangements. This includes HIV medicines available through the Highly Specialised Drugs Program.
• What will I have to pay for these medicines?
• You will have to pay the relevant PBS/RPBS co-payment, depending on your concessional status. The current co-payment levels are $6.60 for concessional persons and up to $41.00 for general persons. If you have reached your PBS/RPBS safety net, your PBS/RPBS prescription cost will be reduced to the applicable PBS/RPBS co-payment rate.
• Will these medicines count towards my PBS/RPBS Safety Net?
• In most cases, these medicines will count towards your PBS/RPBS Safety Net.
• However, for certain PBS medicines, there is a Safety Net 20 day rule. This means that for certain PBS medicines a resupply within 20 days of having the previous medicine supplied will not count towards your Safety Net. If you had already reached the Safety Net threshold, you will need to pay the relevant pre-Safety Net PBS co-payment, not the reduced Safety Net amount. Your pharmacist will be able to discuss this further with you if this is relevant.
• I previously had my blood pressure medicine dispensed under Continued Dispensing because I couldn’t obtain a prescription from my doctor during the recent bushfires. I do not want to wait in a doctor’s surgery, just to get my script for this medicine I regularly take. Can I still have my blood pressure medicine dispensed under Continued Dispensing?
• No. A pharmacist can only dispense a medicine under Continued Dispensing if a person has not had the medicine dispensed under Continued Dispensing in the last 12 months. There may be other options available to you which you should discuss with your medical practitioner or pharmacist.
• The Government recently introduced a range of new measures to enable people to access health services in their home which you may be eligible for. More information on these and other measures is available on the Health website.
• What do I do if I have lost my Medicare or Concession Card?
• The pharmacist can contact Services Australia for assistance on getting this information. Alternatively, members of the general public can contact Services Australia on 132 011.
• Will I be able to get my next supply of PBS medicines without a prescription?
• A Continued Dispensing medicine can only be supplied once in a 12 month period. You will need to ensure that you speak to a doctor to get a prescription for any future supplies of these medicines. There may be other options available to you which you should discuss with your medical practitioner or pharmacist.
Remember that your GP or Specialist can always contact the DVA Prior Approval phone number of 1800 552 580.
2020 International Submarine Congress (ISC) is Cancelled
THE INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE CONGRESS HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR 2020 AND HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR KARLSKRONA SWEDEN 23 TO 27 MAY 2021.
FOLLOWING IS THE ADVICE RECEIVED FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SWEDISH SUBMARINE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT LARS NORDENBERG
From: Lars Nordenberg and the Submariners of Sweden
submarine.ab@hotmail.com
Hello, to all of you in the International Community of Submariners!
We have had discussions with most of the involved partners for the ISC Congress, which was planned for this year. All of them understand the situation because of the Coronavirus and wish us to welcome all of you back next year to Sweden.
We have decided on the new dates for 2021. Please plan for next year’s Congress to be held in Karlskrona 23rd-27th of May 2021(Sun-Thu).
This change is almost the same program as this year. It will soon be possible to register and rebook or change the dates of the hotels on our website again.
All those who have paid the fee for this year´s Congress will still be on the list for next year. Others have to register again to come upon the list of participants. When they have paid the fee, they will be marked in green color.
We will also try to have a limit of attendees from each country to a maximum limit of 300 participants.
Sorry to hear that several will not attend next year!
Naturally, we will pay back money to those who already decided not to come next year! Hopefully not all will jump off! Please let us know who will be staying and who will not participate next year by e-mailing submarine.ab@hotmail.com
We have already had lots of costs for all the items and gifts we bought! Hopefully, we will have new participants signing up soon!
If they paid with pay pal, it’s easily accessible to reimburse! If they can wait some time, it would help us a lot.
Tomorrow I will contact all hotels and rebook them again for next year!
With respect, Lars
PS THE TWO FOLLOWING ISC WILL BE HELD
Congress in Greece will be held 2022 and Congress in Germany will be held in 2023.
If anyone is interested in attending any of the conferences while travelling in Europe please contact me
Sid Czabotar for any information.”
The website link for ISC 57 (2021) is
http://www.57isc.com/
SUBCON 2020 is Cancelled
G’day Members,
Most of you will know by now via your Branch President or Secretary, that the AGM and Subcon 2020 in October at Holbrook has been cancelled. The National Executive made this decision in consultation with the intended host, the ACT Branch, in the interests of members wellbeing and to eliminate financial risk.
The information and instructions from governments concerning the COVID 19 virus are unambiguous regarding your health and, whereas many of us might think young, the reality is that most of us are in the COVID 19 high risk age group, especially if any of us have underlying health issues.
Moreover, the COVID 19 Pandemic involves a high degree of uncertainty with the end of the uncertainty itself being uncertain. It is clear though that early action regarding events etc would help individuals to better plan their lives.
ACT Branch was about to commit funds to the Holbrook arrangements and, I am sure, members would have or be about to book travel and accommodation, much of which would be advance pre-paid with uncertain refundability as travel dates become closer. All information so far indicates that the Pandemic uncertainty will continue for some months, so it is timely to eliminate the risk of financial loss consequent to a later decision to cancel, thus protecting members’ and SAA money as far as is possible.
It is obvious that, apart from members’ disappointment, this decision will affect the people and businesses of the Holbrook Shire and the SAA’s good relationships with it. So, it will be discussing within the National Committee, the merit or otherwise of simply kicking the Subcon Host Program one year to the right with ACT hosting the AGM and Subcon at Holbrook in 2021.
To close, be aware that the Commissioner for eSafety and the Government Scamwatch are warning that there are many untruths, scaremongering and scams circulating on email and social media. Avoid believing and/or passing on any COVID 19 information by any means that is not from an authoritative source. If you want the truth and the best guidance go exclusively to the Federal and State Health websites.
Diesel Boats Forever – stop showering and create social distance!
Stay apart and healthy.
Kind Regards
Bob
Commodore Bob Trotter OAM RAN Ret’d
National President
0418 487 158
https://au.linkedin.com/in/bob-trotter-111b949
Collins Class Boats keeping our sea lanes open.
C Boats returning from Deployment
HMAS Farncomb - See the concentration required to park at Stirling
HMAS Farncomb coming in to restock with green flares after an FCP
HMAS Farncomb's Mullets showing how to throw string
HMAS Farncomb's crew's latest game - "Docking Tenpin or how many can we hit with one shot?"
HMAS Farncomb - Nearly there
HMAS Collins
HMAS Dechaineux
Submarines Association Australia