Returned and Services League of Australia

'''The Returned & Services League of Australia''', also known as the '''RSL''', '''RSL Australia''' and '''RSLA''',{{refn|group=note|The league's corporate entity is The Returned & Services League of Australia Limited, a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity with the [[Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission]].{{cite web|url=https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=63008488097 |title=Current details for ABN 63 008 488 097 |date=2025 |website=ABN Lookup |publisher=[[Australian Taxation Office]] |access-date=12 November 2025 }}}} has the primary purpose of promoting the interests and welfare of current and former serving members of the [[Australian Defence Force]], as well as their dependants. {{As of|2025}}, it had more than 150,000 members. Through its branches and affiliated local clubs across Australia, the RSL offers camaraderie as well as direct financial aid, mental health support, housing assistance, and help with employment and transitioning to civilian life. It also assists veterans in navigating entitlements and benefits from the [[Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|Department of Veterans' Affairs]]. It organises and supports major events such as [[ANZAC Day]] and [[Remembrance Day]] to honour and preserve the memory of the men and women who served in the defence of Australia. The RSL also lobbies Australian federal and state governments on policies and issues affecting veterans' welfare, and advocates for the broader defence community.

'''The Returned & Services League of Australia''', also known as the '''RSL''', '''RSL Australia''' and '''RSLA''',{{refn|group=note|The league's corporate entity is The Returned & Services League of Australia Limited, a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity with the [[Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission]].{{cite web|url=https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=63008488097 |title=Current details for ABN 63 008 488 097 |date=2025 |website=ABN Lookup |publisher=[[Australian Taxation Office]] |access-date=12 November 2025 }}}} has the primary purpose of promoting the interests and welfare of current and former serving members of the [[Australian Defence Force]], as well as their dependants. {{As of|2025}}, it had more than 150,000 members. Through its branches and affiliated local clubs across Australia, the RSL offers camaraderie as well as direct financial aid, mental health support, housing assistance, and help with employment and transitioning to civilian life. It also assists veterans in navigating entitlements and benefits from the [[Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|Department of Veterans' Affairs]]. It organises and supports major events such as [[ANZAC Day]] and [[Remembrance Day]] to honour and preserve the memory of the men and women who served in the defence of Australia. The RSL also lobbies Australian federal and state governments on policies and issues affecting veterans' welfare, and advocates for the broader defence community.

[[File:National Office of the Returned and Services League of Australia, Canberra.jpg|thumb|National office of the Returned and Services League of Australia, Canberra|thumb|350px|left|National Office of the RSL on the ground floor of 81 Constitution Avenue, Canberra, near [[Russell Offices]] – headquarters of the [[Australian Defence Force]] and [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]]]]

==History==

[[File:RSL National Office (1963 to 2011) b.jpg|thumb|350px|left|The RSL's national office from 1963 to 2011 was on the same site in Constitution Avenue before it was redeveloped]]

The League was formed in 1916 in response to the lack of a unified approach with Australian repatriation facilities and medical services for those returning from [[World War I]]. On 6 June 1916, a meeting of representatives from [[New South Wales]], [[Queensland]], [[South Australia]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] resolved to form the '''Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia''' ('''RSSILA''').A Tasmanian representative was unable to attend but [[Tasmania]] nevertheless joined with Queensland, South Australia and Victoria as a founding member of the League. [[New South Wales]] was admitted to the League the following year and [[Western Australia]] in 1918. In 1927, the [[Australian Capital Territory]] formed a branch and was admitted. Their intention was to lobby for better benefits, treatment and welfare of veterans and serving members of the Defence Force and to preserve the health, wellbeing and security of Australia and the Australian way of life. Before then, state Returned Service Associations had lobbied for better conditions for returned service people in their respective states. The League soon became, and remains, the nation's largest ex-service organisation.{{Cite web|title=About Us |url=https://www.rslaustralia.org/about-us|access-date=29 November 2023|website=RSL Australia }}

The League was formed in 1916 in response to the lack of a unified approach with Australian repatriation facilities and medical services for those returning from [[World War I]]. On 6 June 1916, a meeting of representatives from [[New South Wales]], [[Queensland]], [[South Australia]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] resolved to form the '''Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia''' ('''RSSILA''').A Tasmanian representative was unable to attend but [[Tasmania]] nevertheless joined with Queensland, South Australia and Victoria as a founding member of the League. [[New South Wales]] was admitted to the League the following year and [[Western Australia]] in 1918. In 1927, the [[Australian Capital Territory]] formed a branch and was admitted. Their intention was to lobby for better benefits, treatment and welfare of veterans and serving members of the Defence Force and to preserve the health, wellbeing and security of Australia and the Australian way of life. Before then, state Returned Service Associations had lobbied for better conditions for returned service people in their respective states. The League soon became, and remains, the nation's largest ex-service organisation.{{Cite web|title=About Us |url=https://www.rslaustralia.org/about-us|access-date=29 November 2023|website=RSL Australia }}