This guide is about two government education schemes that are among the most comprehensive - and most misunderstood - in the veteran family support landscape. They aren't scholarships. They're legislative entitlements. They cover everything from primary school through to university. And they're specifically, narrowly, for one group: children of veterans who have died or been severely injured as a direct result of their service.
That distinction matters. If you're searching for general descendant-of-veteran scholarships, the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund and AVCAT are the right starting points. VCES and MRCAETS exist for families dealing with a very different set of circumstances.
The critical distinction
Before anything else, this needs to be clear.
VCES and MRCAETS are NOT general descendant-of-veteran schemes.
Many families researching veteran scholarships assume these DVA programs work like the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund or AVCAT - broad programs available to any descendant of someone who served. They don't.
VCES and MRCAETS are specifically for children and dependants of current or former ADF personnel who have:
- Died as a result of their service, or
- Been severely injured as a result of their service
The connection between the death or injury and military service must be established. A veteran who served and later passed away from unrelated causes doesn't meet the criteria. A veteran who was injured in a way unconnected to their service doesn't meet the criteria. The death or severe injury must be a direct result of service.
This makes VCES and MRCAETS much narrower than AVCAT (which requires operational service or 3+ years full-time) or the GSF (which requires service in any conflict). It also makes them much more comprehensive in what they provide.
VCES - Veterans' Children Education Scheme
VCES is legislated under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA). It provides education support for children and dependants of veterans whose death or incapacity is related to service covered by the VEA.
Who is eligible
Children and dependants of ADF personnel who have died or been severely injured as a result of service. The service connection must be formally recognised through DVA. In practice, this typically means the veteran's death or injury has been accepted by DVA as service-related.
What it covers
VCES isn't a one-off payment. It's ongoing support that covers the full span of a child's education.
Education levels covered:
- Primary school
- Secondary school
- Full-time tertiary study (up to age 25)
Types of support:
- Education allowance - a regular payment to assist with education costs
- Additional tutoring - when a child needs extra academic support
- Counselling - psychological support related to the impact of the veteran's death or injury on the child's education
- Special assistance - up to $3,000 for specific education-related needs
- Rent assistance - for tertiary students living away from home
- Fares allowance - travel costs related to education
- Start-up scholarship - to help with initial tertiary enrolment costs
- Relocation scholarship - for students who need to move to access tertiary education
The breadth of this support is significant. VCES doesn't just contribute to tuition. It recognises that a child whose parent has died or been severely injured in service may face challenges across every aspect of their education - academic, financial, logistical, and emotional.
MRCAETS - Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme
MRCAETS is legislated under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). It provides the same range of education support as VCES, for service covered under the MRCA.
The difference between VCES and MRCAETS
The distinction is legislative, not practical. Both schemes provide the same types of support.
- VCES covers service under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. This generally applies to service before the MRCA came into effect.
- MRCAETS covers service under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004. This generally applies to service from 2004 onwards.
Which scheme applies to your family depends on the legislation under which the veteran's death or injury was accepted by DVA. In many cases, DVA will determine the applicable scheme as part of the claims process. You don't need to choose between them.
What MRCAETS covers
The same range of support as VCES:
- Education allowance
- Additional tutoring
- Counselling
- Special assistance (up to $3,000)
- Rent assistance
- Fares allowance
- Start-up and relocation scholarships
How to apply
Application timing
VCES and MRCAETS have no fixed application deadline. Applications are accepted year-round through DVA. This is different from the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund (January to February) and AVCAT (August to October), which have specific windows.
Where to apply
Apply through the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The DVA website has information on education schemes at dva.gov.au.
You can also contact DVA directly:
- DVA general enquiries: 1800 555 254
- MyService portal: my.dva.gov.au
What you'll need
- Evidence of the veteran's service and service-related death or injury. This is the foundation. DVA will typically require that the death or severe injury has been formally accepted as service-related. If this determination hasn't yet been made, DVA can guide you through the claims process.
- Proof of relationship - birth certificates or other documents establishing that the child is a dependant of the veteran.
- Education details - enrolment information, school or institution details, and the child's current education stage.
Getting help with the DVA process
The DVA claims and application process can be complex. Two organisations can help:
Legacy Australia provides DVA paperwork assistance and claims advocacy through local Legacy clubs. If you're eligible for Legacy support (veteran parent/partner died or was wounded, ill, or injured as a result of service), your Legatee can help navigate the DVA application process.
Ex-service organisations such as RSL branches, Vietnam Veterans' associations, and TPI associations often have DVA advocacy services that can assist with claims and applications.
How VCES and MRCAETS interact with other scholarships
This is important: VCES and MRCAETS are government entitlements, not scholarships. They can generally be received alongside scholarship programs. They also unlock eligibility for other programs.
AVCAT Long Tan Bursaries
If you're receiving VCES or MRCAETS, you automatically satisfy the means test for the AVCAT Long Tan Bursaries. The Long Tan means test requires you to be receiving or eligible for Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, Austudy, VCES, or MRCAETS. Having VCES or MRCAETS ticks the box.
This means you can receive DVA education support and apply for Long Tan Bursaries ($4,000 to $6,000 per year, up to $18,000 over three years). The programs stack.
AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships
The same AVCAT application that covers Long Tan also covers all Sponsored Scholarships. If you're a descendant of a veteran who died or was severely injured in service, you're likely eligible for AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships as well. One form, dozens of scholarships.
Gallipoli Scholarship Fund
The GSF operates independently. If you're under 25, in your first year of tertiary study, and a descendant of a veteran from any conflict, you can apply to the GSF (1 January to 28 February) in addition to receiving VCES or MRCAETS.
Legacy Australia
Legacy's education support is designed for precisely the same families as VCES and MRCAETS - those where a veteran parent has died or been injured in service. Legacy's support is complementary: scholarships, school costs, technology, activities, and ongoing mentorship from a dedicated volunteer. Contact your local Legacy club.
Summary of stacking
| Program | Can it stack with VCES/MRCAETS? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AVCAT Long Tan Bursaries | Yes | VCES/MRCAETS satisfies the means test |
| AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships | Yes | Same AVCAT application |
| Gallipoli Scholarship Fund | Yes | Separate application, separate program |
| Legacy Education Support | Yes | Contact local Legacy club |
| University-specific scholarships | Check with institution | Varies |
A family receiving VCES or MRCAETS can potentially access DVA education support, an AVCAT scholarship, a GSF scholarship, and Legacy support simultaneously. The total value across all programs can be substantial.
Comparing VCES/MRCAETS with AVCAT and GSF
| Feature | VCES/MRCAETS | AVCAT Sponsored | GSF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Government entitlement | Scholarship | Scholarship |
| Eligibility | Children of veterans who died or were severely injured in service | Descendants of veterans with operational or 3+ years FT service | Descendants of veterans from any conflict |
| Education levels | Primary, secondary, tertiary | Tertiary only | Tertiary only (first year) |
| Value | Variable (allowances, tutoring, counselling, up to $3,000 special assistance, rent, fares) | $4,000-$6,000/year | $8,000 (one year) |
| Duration | Ongoing (up to age 25 for tertiary) | Up to 3 years | 1 year |
| Application deadline | Year-round | 18 Aug - 31 Oct | 1 Jan - 28 Feb |
| Counselling included | Yes | No | No |
| Rent and fares | Yes | No | No |
VCES and MRCAETS are the most comprehensive support available - they cover more categories of assistance across a longer timeframe than any scholarship. Their narrow eligibility reflects the severity of the circumstances they're designed to address.
Proving the service connection
VCES and MRCAETS require a formal link between the veteran's death or injury and their military service. This is established through DVA's claims process, not through the education scheme application alone.
If the service connection has already been accepted by DVA (for example, if the veteran's death is recorded as war-caused, or their injury is accepted as service-related), the education scheme application is more straightforward.
If the service connection hasn't yet been formally established, you'll need to go through DVA's claims process first. This is where a clear understanding of the veteran's service history becomes important.
A decoded service record from Decode My Digger provides a plain-language breakdown of the veteran's complete service history for $59. It shows where they served, when, in what capacity, and what operational deployments they undertook. While a decoded record doesn't establish a medical or causal link to death or injury, it provides the service history context that supports a DVA claim.
Next steps
- Determine whether the veteran's death or severe injury has been accepted by DVA as service-related
- If not yet determined, contact DVA (1800 555 254) or your local Legacy club or ex-service organisation for claims advocacy assistance
- Apply to DVA for VCES or MRCAETS at dva.gov.au
- Also apply to AVCAT when applications open on 18 August - VCES/MRCAETS satisfies the Long Tan means test
- Apply to the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund when applications open on 1 January
- Contact your local Legacy club for additional support
For the full picture of every scholarship and scheme available to veteran families, see our complete application guide and searchable scholarships database.
Data sourced from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Last verified 8 June 2026. VCES is legislated under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. MRCAETS is legislated under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004. Verify all eligibility criteria and application processes directly with DVA at dva.gov.au.