Army and Air Force Canteen Service
AAFCANS · Frontline Defence Services
1979 – present
Previously Australian Services Canteens Organisation (1959–1979).
Commonwealth body that runs canteens, cafes, retail stores and other convenience services for Army and RAAF personnel on bases in Australia and on deployed operations, trading as Frontline Defence Services.
Names over time
- Australian Services Canteens Organisation1959–1979
- Army and Air Force Canteen Service1979–present
How it came into existence
Took its present name in 1979, when the Australian Services Canteens Organisation, set up in 1959 to bring together the Army's canteens service and the RAAF's canteens, became the Army and Air Force Canteen Service; its regulations became the Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations 1959. AAFCANS traces its origins to the AIF canteens service of 1915.
- Army and RAAF canteens and retail services
Legislation: Army and Air Force (Canteen) Regulation 2016 (Defence Act 1903)
Changes during its life
- 1 July 2014Became a corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
- 2016Re-established by the Army and Air Force (Canteen) Regulation 2016, which replaced the 1959 regulations.
Main functions
- Base canteens and retail services
- Food and hospitality services for ADF members
- Canteen support to deployed forces
- Returning profits for the benefit of Army and RAAF members
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Defence.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Defence
- Accountable authority
- Army and Air Force Canteen Service Board of Management – Army and Air Force (Canteen) Regulation 2016 section 7 with reference to section 15 note (membership section 9)
- ABN
- 69 289 134 420 (registered As Dept Of Defence Army and Air Force Canteen Service)
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance) (as Army and Air Force Canteen Service (Frontline Defence Services))
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are uncertain. Corrections are welcome.