Veteran & Family Hub Update – April to June 2024

Our Veteran Wellbeing Centres have a new name – Veteran & Family Hubs, to align with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs program of work.  Our teams are committed to providing the best, and most comprehensive support services that they can for local veterans and their families.  We are grateful to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for supporting us to support veterans.  Together, we can help veterans live well.

Between April and June 2024, our Veteran & Family Hubs:

• Welcomed over 1,060 visitors
• Received a satisfaction rating of ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ from 99% of visitors
• Hosted 42 on-site events
• Took part in 14 off-site events

Here’s a few highlights from each of our locations:

Riverina Veteran & Family Hub

The Riverina Hub hosted a Community Celebration on Friday the 21^st of June, where local veterans, families and community members came together to help us mark the completed hub refurbishments which were made possible thanks to a grant from the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs .

We were honoured to hear from David McCann – RSL NSW Board member, LCDR Rodney David – Senior Naval Officer Wagga, Michael McCormack – Federal MP for Riverina and Bill Bowe – Department of Veterans Affairs.

The hub has been committed to providing quality services to support veterans & family members for over 2 years now, and our improvements in the hub are just one way that we deliver these.

A big thank you to the Wagga Wagga RSL Sub-Branch for manning the amazing BBQ and the Australian Army Band Kapooka for lending us their amazing solo artist for our entertainment! Big thanks also to The RANCH and Blamey Community Group for their support on the day.

The RVFH  Team want to thank the Riverina community for the support over the last 2 years and we look forward to what the future brings

Shoalhaven Veteran & Family Hub

In July, the Shoalhaven Veteran & Family Hub hosted a 2-day Mental Health First Aid course with support from Medilinks.

The course supported 14 participants, including current and former serving members, family members, and professionals dedicated to supporting veterans and their families. This initiative aligns with the hub’s purpose to enhance the overall wellbeing of veterans and their families. It is fulfilling to contribute to strengthening community support systems for our veterans and their loved ones.

Following the success of this course, the Shoalhaven Veteran & Family Hub will host its next course exclusively for base personnel at HMAS Albatross and Creswell. The hub is committed to collaborating closely with the defence community to enhance mental health and overall wellbeing wherever possible.

Northern Beaches Veteran Wellbeing Centre

In May, the Northern Beaches Veteran Wellbeing Centre hosted its inaugural Wellbeing Open Day, drawing over 40 veterans and family members. The event featured nearly 30 exhibitors, ranging from local sub-Branches to dragon boat racers and photography clubs.

Visitors explored the centre’s services and programs, including Winter Wellness Walks held every Friday. The Veteran Employment team engaged with local businesses on promoting roles suitable for veterans and discussed opportunities for veteran and family member employment. The day proved successful as a networking platform for veterans, family members, and exhibitors alike.

Hunter Veteran & Family Hub

The Hunter Veteran & Family Hub was invited to attend the annual ADF Member and Family Transition Seminar held in Newcastle on Wednesday 5^th June. The event was attended by over 270 people, with approximately 25 organisations present. There was significant interest and requests for assistance for DVA Claims & Advocacy services, as well as curiosity and positive support for the upcoming  ‘Maitland-based’ Hunter Veteran & Family Hub following the announcement in March.

We were also invited to participate in the Joint Transition Authority Forum with approximately 40 key government agencies and senior ADF personnel to discuss the transition ecosystem, identify specific areas of deficit, and share ideas for improvements and future development.

Both events provided valuable networking opportunities where we were able to demonstrate RSL LifeCare is a professional, reliable and trusted Ex-Service Organisation.

Curious about our other veteran support updates? Read our quarterly update here.

Our efforts are proudly supported by funds from RSL NSW and its sub-Branches, and the services we provide would not be possible without the generous support of our donors.  

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected], or call 02 8088 0388.

If you’d like to stay up to date on what the team is doing, please subscribe to our regular newsletter updates.