Family Members To Join Injured Soldier

Family Members To Join Injured Soldier

The mother and fiancé of Corporal Sarah Webster, who was injured in Monday’s rocket attack on the International Zone in Baghdad, will travel to Germany in the next few days to support her during her ongoing treatment. She will be accompanied by her family and a defence force officer when she returns home.

Corporal Webster remains in a stable condition and has now departed Baghdad en route to a United States military hospital in Germany.

Defence will fund the travel for Corporal Webster’s mother and fiancé under the Australian Defence Force’s Australians Dangerously Ill (AUSDIL) scheme. The AUSDIL scheme exists to sponsor visits by next of kin, relatives or nominated persons to members of the ADF who have been hospitalised due to serious injury or illness.

In Corporal Webster’s case, the ADF has judged that a visit by her mother and fiancé will assist her recovery.

Corporal Webster’s family has requested that the media respect their privacy during this time. Details of their movement to Germany will not be released, nor will the media have access to Corporal Webster or her family members in Germany.

It is anticipated that Corporal Webster will return to Australia as soon as possible, but the timing of this movement is yet to be confirmed.

The families of the other soldiers involved in Monday’s incident have also requested the media respect their privacy.

The Army, with the help of the Defence Community Organisation continues to provide personalised emotional support and counselling to affected families. Social worker support, counselling and care are available 24 hours a day for as long as the families need.

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