SCOA Australia is an apolitical, not-for-profit national retiree organisation established in 1923. SCOA pursues fair retirement conditions for its members and assists them to access information about superannuation, age pension, taxation and many other seniors’ benefits through this website and our quarterly newsletter SuperTime.
Our Mission Statement
“To advocate for the protection of the superannuation rights of Commonwealth PSS and CSS and other superannuants, to ensure that successive governments abide by the spirit of the legislation in providing a pension indexed to the actual cost of living, and do not erode any other benefits this group receive under any other related legislation”.
What we do
SCOA Australia’s current priorities include Commonwealth superannuation pension indexation, taxation of superannuation pensions, eligibility for the age pension, the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and other Centrelink benefits for older persons, aged care accommodation and services, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, hearing aids and dental schemes.
Our achievements
SCOA Australia is proud of our achievements, some of which we accomplished with the assistance of other like organisations. Our main achievements include twice-yearly indexation of Commonwealth superannuation pensions; a Comcare client assistance program and the introduction of the low income energy supplement.
Member benefits
Benefits to members include advocacy and support; information about superannuation and retirement issues; representation of members’ interests to their superannuation funds; a free copy of SCOA’s Bereavement Book; access to shopping discounts at Union Shopper; access to SCOA Qantas Club Corporate Scheme discount; our quarterly newsletter SuperTime, informing members about key retirement issues; interesting guest speakers at local meetings; volunteering and friendship opportunities; and this website full of useful information about all the above issues and much more.
Management and administration
SCOA Australia is managed by a National Committee, National Executive and administered by National Office.
National Office
Anne Willenborg (Executive Officer and Member of the National Committee – Secretary ex officio)
In these roles, Anne is responsible for the day to day running of National Office and the management of the affairs of National Committee and is the editor of SuperTime.
Anne’s professional background includes roles in the areas of superannuation, compliance, legislation and government liaison including seven years with the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation.
Contact Anne Willenborg by phone 02 6286 7977 or by email to [email protected]
Arlene Wilkinson (Office Manager and SCOA Australia’s Membership Secretary)
Arlene has an extensive background in office management, financial management and budgeting as well as database management.
Contact Arlene Wilkinson by phone 02 6286 7977 or by email to [email protected]
Shelley O’Neill (Admin Officer)
Shelley’s friendly voice is the one you hear when you call SCOA Australia’s National Office in Canberra.
Shelley had a long career in the public service and has a background in HR and Learning and Development.
Contact Shelley O’Neill by phone 02 6286 7977 or by email to [email protected]
National Committee
SCOA Australia’s National Committee is elected for a 12 month period at the Annual General Meeting.
The National Committee elected 30 October 2018:
Peter Illidge (President)
Peter Illidge has a background in law. He joined the Australian Public Service initially in the Department of Primary Industry in Western Australia, later moving to the Department of Health and Community Services, finishing up in the Australian Trade Commission.
Peter Illidge is also the SCOA Australia WA local convener.
Email: [email protected]
John Blount (Vice President)
John Blount served as an Australian diplomat in DFAT from 1972 to 1993, and then as a full-time Member of the Refugee Review Tribunal until 2006 and undertook part-time review from 2010 to 2015. He served on the ACT Executive Committee of ACOA (now the PSU) in 1977-79 and 1982-85.
John joined SCOA in 2009, since when he has been a member of the ACT Committee. He was President of the ACT Branch 2010-2013 and 2016-17, was a Federal Councillor 2016-17, and has been a member of the National Committee since 2016.
Email: [email protected]
Tom Dent (Treasurer)
Anne Willenborg (Executive Officer and Member of the National Committee – Secretary ex officio)
In these roles, Anne is responsible for the day to day running of National Office and the management of the affairs of National Committee and is the editor of SuperTime.
Anne’s professional background includes roles in the areas of superannuation, compliance, legislation and government liaison including seven years with the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation.
Contact Anne Willenborg by phone 02 6286 7977 or by email to [email protected]
Alan Raftery (Member)
Alan Raftery was elected as a Member of National Committee at SCOA’s Annual General Meeting held in Brisbane on 30 October 2018.
Email: [email protected]
Bob Steins (Member)
Bob Steins has a law background (ANU, admitted to the NSW Bar in 1984) and has had a variety of roles in both the PNG and the Australian public service including the ATO, the Australian Taxation Office, Department of Administrative Services and in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (Cabinet Office) and the Attorney-General’s Department.
Bob joined SCOA in 2001 and has served as a member of the former ACT Branch Executive and Public Officer. Bob also provides assistance to members with Comcare cases.
Email: [email protected]
James Vandenberg (Member)
James Vandenberg is a former Federal Councillor (South Australia) and recently took up the role of SCOA Australia South Australia Local Convener.
Email: [email protected]
George Szylkarski (Member)
Worked as engineer PMG / TELSTRA 1961 to 1995 in Qld. Joined SCOA soon after retirement. Involvement with SCOA was limited, mainly many pleasant lunches in the Brisbane Irish Club with retired fellow engineers after SCOA Qld meetings.
George continued to volunteer for SCOA on the Qld Branch executive committee and served for a number of years as the Queensland Federal Councillor on SCOA’s Federal Council. When SCOA Australia was established, George was elected as a member of the SCOA Australia National Committee.
George is passionately committed to the cause of obtaining fairer indexation of the Commonwealth superannuation pensions.
Email: [email protected]
Current Rules and Statement of Objects and Purposes
| Document | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10 April 2018 | SCOA Australia Rules as amended 10 April 2018 |
| 15 March 2017 | SCOA Australia Current Statement of Objects and Purposes as amended 29 November 2016 |
Other downloads
Current Rules and Statement of Objects and Purposes
| Document | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10 April 2018 | SCOA Australia Rules as amended 10 April 2018 |
| 15 March 2017 | SCOA Australia Current Statement of Objects and Purposes as amended 29 November 2016 |