2012 Christmas for the Troops

Background

Australia has almost 2,400 uniformed Defence personnel in the Middle East, including 1,550 in Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. Furthermore there are close to 400 troops in East Timor and 80 in the Solomon Islands and small numbers in South Sudan, Sinai and Egypt. These committed men and women are serving our nation and will miss out on spending Christmas at home with family and friends.

The aim of ‘Christmas for the Troops’ is to provide an Aussie Christmas for our deployed forces through the provision of care packages that contain donated items including magazines, lollies or toiletries.

Concept

Australia Post offers a free postal service for care packages, up to 2kg (cubed), to all Australian Forces Postal Offices (AFPO). This service includes our forces in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, as well to East Timor and the Solomon Islands. The service helps to boost the morale of deployed troops through the provision of care packages and letters of support within the package. Including a stamped self addressed envelope will also allow the recipient to send a letter of thanks back to the sender.

How to Donate

Defence has amended its guidance since 2011 with relation to the sending of care packages, including what can be sent, so please be sure to read the following information carefully.

A care package can be sent free of charge to the below AFPO address so long as it strictly complies with Australia Post guidelines.

In order to qualify for free postage, care packages can weigh no more than 2kg (cubed) and should be packaged within a “BM” size box, which is available from Australia Post for approximately two dollars. You will also be required to present photographic identification, fill in some customs forms and it is suggested that you use a liberal amount of packing tape to ensure that all of the contents arrive at their destination.

In order to ensure parcels reach the widest possible number of personnel, please ensure they are gender neutral and address all parcels to “An Australian Defence Member” and not to a specific job title, trade or unit.

Additionally, please note that Defence is no longer able to accept care packages for Military Working Dogs or Explosive Detection Dogs due to their strict diet and training requirements.

The unique Australian Forces Post Office (AFPO) box will be open from 22 October until 7 December 2012. In order to ensure the packages reach the troops by Christmas, all packages should be lodged with Australia Post no later than 7 December 2012.

Address Details

To send a care package or letter of support to an ADF member posted overseas, address the package or letter to:

An Australian Defence Member

AFPO 60

ADF NSW 2890

What can be included in Care Packages