PFAS Exposure and DVA Claims: What Veterans Need to Know

If you served at RAAF Base Williamtown, Army Aviation Centre Oakey, RAAF Base Tindal, HMAS Albatross, or any of the other 28 Defence sites where PFAS contamination has been confirmed, you may have been exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during your service. These chemicals were used in firefighting foams (AFFF) on military bases for decades, and they don’t break down in the environment or in your body.

The health effects are real. The science is developing. And DVA’s compensation framework hasn’t caught up yet.

What PFAS is and why it matters

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), the standard firefighting foam on ADF bases from the 1970s through the 2000s. Personnel who worked in or near firefighting roles, aircraft maintenance, fuel handling, or base infrastructure were most directly exposed. But PFAS contaminated groundwater and soil, meaning anyone living or working on affected sites may have been exposed.

PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t degrade naturally. They accumulate in the body over time. From 1 July 2025, manufacture and use of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS was prohibited in Australia. But the exposure already happened.

The 28 confirmed Defence sites

Defence has completed detailed environmental investigations at all 28 affected sites. The most prominent include RAAF Base Williamtown (NSW), Army Aviation Centre Oakey (QLD), RAAF Base Tindal (NT), RAAF Base Edinburgh (SA), RAAF Base Pearce (WA), RAAF Base East Sale (VIC), RAAF Base Amberley (QLD), HMAS Albatross (NSW), and Holsworthy Barracks (NSW).

The ANU Blood Serum Study found communities near contaminated Defence sites had 29–42% elevated PFOS and 48–55% elevated PFHxS blood levels compared to control communities.

What the health research says

Health associations identified in current research include:

• Increased risk of testicular cancer and kidney cancer
• Weakened immune system function
• Liver damage
• Decreased fertility
• Thyroid disease
• Elevated cholesterol
• Pregnancy-related complications including pre-eclampsia
• Potential effects passed to children through breast milk and in-utero exposure

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans in 2023.

The gap in DVA’s compensation framework

Despite confirmed contamination and health evidence, Australia has not established any presumptive conditions for PFAS-exposed veterans. There is no SoP specifically covering PFAS-related conditions. There is no presumptive liability list. Compare this to the United States, where the VA has established presumptive service connection for several PFAS-linked conditions.

In Australia, you’re left filing individual claims and building a causal chain through medical evidence. For conditions where the PFAS link is supported by international research but not yet reflected in an Australian SoP, this is a significant evidentiary burden.

How to claim through DVA for PFAS-related conditions

• Conditions with existing SoPs that include chemical exposure factors. Some SoPs contain factors for environmental contaminant or occupational exposure. Your claim may succeed by establishing PFAS as the chemical in question.
• Cancer claims. Several cancer SoPs include factors for carcinogenic substance exposure. PFOA is classified as carcinogenic by IARC.
• Conditions without a clear SoP pathway. Much harder. You’d need medical expert opinion outside the standard SoP framework.

Evidence to gather: service records showing postings to affected bases and proximity to AFFF use, any PFAS blood test results, specialist reports addressing the possible PFAS link, and published research supporting the association.

What might change

The VETS Act introduces presumptive liability power from 1 July 2026. If PFAS-related conditions are eventually added to a presumptive list, veterans at contaminated sites could have those conditions accepted without the individual evidentiary burden. This hasn’t happened yet, but the legislative vehicle is in place and the senate committee’s 47 recommendations create political pressure.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a PFAS blood test through DVA?

DVA does not currently fund PFAS blood testing as a standard entitlement. Defence offered voluntary testing for personnel at contaminated sites. If you want a test, discuss with your GP.

I served at Williamtown. Does that automatically mean I have a claim?

Not automatically. Serving at a contaminated site establishes exposure. But a DVA claim requires a diagnosed condition with a relevant SoP factor connecting the exposure to the condition.

Will the VETS Act create presumptive coverage for PFAS?

The VETS Act creates the legal mechanism. But no specific PFAS conditions have been listed yet. Whether and when they’re added depends on government decision-making and evolving health research.

Is Defence liable for PFAS contamination?

Defence has acknowledged the contamination. Liability for health effects is a separate legal question. DVA compensation through SoP-based claims is distinct from potential common law liability.

What about my family who lived on base?

DVA compensation covers the veteran’s service-related conditions. Family health concerns from PFAS fall outside DVA and are being addressed through Defence and environmental health programs.