A recent review into the serving member’s death by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force concluded that the member’s cancer was in all likelihood caused by exposure to respirable asbestos fibres, petroleum, petroleum by-products, toxins or a combination of these while serving with 817 squadron  from 1999 to 2012.

817 Squadron was the home of the Sea King Helicopter.

Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia posted the news of the review outcome on its website.

Commander Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Chris Smallhorn said former 817 Squadron members should be aware that the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) provides healthcare to eligible ex-ADF members suffering from cancer, even where the cancer was not caused by their ADF service.

“An ex-member may be eligible if they served on an operational deployment during their career or served at least three years between December 1972 and April 1994,” CDRE Smallhorn said.

“Where an ex-member is concerned that a medical condition may have been caused by their ADF service they should consider lodging a claim with DVA.”

Additional information on the process is available on the DVA website www.dva.gov.au/benefits-and-payments/compensation or by contacting DVA on 133 254.

The FAAAA said the review raised a number of broader questions and the organisation would seek further advice from navy.