Veteran & Family Hub Highlights – July to September 2025

More than 3,050 people attended a range of events and activities in the past quarter and we proudly hosted over 280 events and activities for the veteran community. 

In July, our Hub Managers gathered at the Central Coast Veteran and Family Hub for two days of collaboration and planning. The time together was invaluable and the collective effort ensures our Hubs remain responsive, inclusive, and deeply connected to the veteran communities they serve.

The 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII was commemorated across our Hub Network. The Central Coast Hub created a Poppy Cascade Wall from poppies that had been crocheted at their weekly craft get together and from local Country Women’s Association Supporters. The event included a celebratory morning tea, with stories shared by local veterans. The Shoalhaven Hub involved the local primary schools who made craft paper poppies that were used to create their Poppy Cascade Wall by local veterans, followed by an afternoon tea and story telling from local veterans, including those living in our Retirement Living and Residential Care accommodation nearby. The Northern Beaches team joined a large crowd at the Sydney Cenotaph in Martin Place to mark the anniversary on Friday, 15th August. 

The Hubs are a true place of connection and community for our veterans and their families.  They can visit the Hub and make use of the facilities as they need to and also access the support offerings which are available to them – from claims and advocacy support, wellbeing and financial, housing or education and more. 

From July to September 2025, our Veteran & Family Hubs:

• Welcomed over 3,050 visitors
• Received over 570 phone inquiries
• Hosted over 280 on-site events at the Hubs
• Took part in 93 off-site events attended by over 6,500 people

Queanbeyan Veteran & Family Hub

Our Queanbeyan team are pleased to announce that their second location at Lyneham is now open, which makes our services even more accessible to ACT & Queanbeyan veterans and family members.   The ACT Veteran and Family Hub is located at 26 Archibald St, Lyneham and is already attended by an exercise physiologist and psychologist supporting our veterans and their families.   

The ACT Veteran and Family Hub hosted an information session on 28th August, providing information to local stakeholders on plans to commence an Interagency Working Group to help understand the local veteran support landscape and ensure access is streamlined and relevant for veterans and their families. 

The Queanbeyan Hub has been hosting a range of different events and activities for the local veteran community.  Follow the Hub on Facebook, or sign up to their newsletter.

To stay up to date on Queanbeyan news, please click here.

Shoalhaven Veteran & Family Hub

September was a month full of warmth, creativity, and connection at the Hub. We began by welcoming around 30 current serving and APS women for the Shoalhaven Women in Defence Networking Lunch, featuring guest speaker Lauren Hart, whose insights sparked meaningful conversations and new connections.

The Hub team are also working with LaTrobe University and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to evaluate the quality of our services to veteran and their families.   

The team hosts a variety of events and information sessions to appeal to all members of the veteran and family community. From social connections to arts and craft, health information sessions and more – there’s something for everyone.   

• Sunday Brunch Club continues to be a hit and in August hosted PJs and Pancakes for our Defence families, including turning the Hall into a giant PJ party with movies and pancakes. 
• An Information Session was delivered to a local GP, Heritage Medical in Berry, as part of the team’s focus to work with local health providers to support veterans and their families.  This is an initiative of the Shoalhaven Hub’s ESO Interagency.
• A Kiama Community College Cyber Security course was held for over 50s.
• The DMFS Medallion Ceremony was hosted for over 95 veteran families. 
• Fortnightly coffee catch ups at Earnest Arthur continue to be popular. These relaxed gatherings offer a chance to take a breather, share stories, and support one another. We welcome all current and ex-serving ADF members to join us – your mental health matters, and a friendly chat can go a long way.
• A beautiful basket weaving workshop was hosted in collaboration with Shoalhaven Defence Families Association, and facilitated by talented local artist Helena Geiger. It was a calming and creative evening, bringing people together through shared stories and hands-on art.

Our team at Shoalhaven are very grateful to their volunteers who provide support and spirit to the Hub.

A big thank you to our amazing volunteer Coral, who’s been cooking up a storm for a good cause – preparing meals to donate to the SAHSSI Homeless Hub. This will now be a monthly activity, and we’d love to see more volunteers join us next time. In November and December, we’ll also be baking festive treats to share as we head into the Christmas season. 

To stay up to date on the Shoalhaven Hub, please click here.

Riverina Veteran & Family Hub

The Riverina Veteran & Family Hub hosted a Father’s Day Crafting event across three days, which provided plenty of opportunities for local families to participate.  The event culminated in a Tool Giveaway from Total Tools Wagga Wagga. 

The weekly gaming event continues to be a huge success, creating a regular opportunity for social engagement and connection. 

The Hub Team were invited to participate in the Temora Airshow, driving a bus to support the local RAAF and having an information stall. 

Thanks to a partnership with Invictus Australia, Yoga will be returning to the Hub in October. 

To stay up to date on the Riverina Hub, please click here.

Central Coast Veteran & Family Hub

The Central Coast Veteran & Family Hub celebrated their 1st birthday in September. They celebrated the occasion by hosting a birthday party with 30 veterans and family members in attendance. The team at the Hub were incredibly touched when presented with a wonderful trophy, which was 3D printed by one of our veterans, on behalf of their local veterans and family members. We’d also like to take the opportunity to thank our volunteers – nothing at the Hub would be able to run the way it does without our ‘Dream Team’. Shout out to Robyn, Vickie, Dave, Peter, Lyn, Greg, Ralph, and Geoff. 

The Hub team were thrilled to announce the launch of their Outreach Clinics, developed thanks to the collaboration with Ettalong Diggers, Ettalong sub-Branch members and their President, Dode.

Another incredibly successful Winter Warmer event was attended by a record 50 veterans and their families – all enjoying a slow cooked smoked BBQ and each other’s company on Saturday, 30 August.  The event wouldn’t be possible without the support of the dedicated Hub volunteers – one of whom enjoyed their birthday celebration as part of the event.

To stay up to date, click here.

Northern Beaches Veteran Wellbeing Centre

The Northern Beaches VWC hosted Dr Sophie Scamps MP, Federal Member for Mackellar, for a visit to the Centre and spending time with the team.  They had some fantastic conversations about the upcoming events they’re planning for veterans and their families, as well as the ongoing challenges many face on the Northern Beaches.

On September 4th, they were honoured to receive a special mention at the Dee Why RSL ClubGRANTS Cocktail Evening. The event was attended by over 70 incredible organisations. The Dee Why RSL Club’s President acknowledged the continued work the VWC does to support veterans and their families — a recognition that means so much to the team and community. 

The team also hosted a free Veteran and Family Expo at the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park on Wednesday, 1 October.  This event provided a chance for veterans from Sydney to connect with services and organisations, all in the name of providing greater support and access for the veteran community. 

To stay up to date on our Northern Beaches Veteran Wellbeing Centre, please click here.

Hunter Veteran & Family Hub

Hunter continues to operate out of a temporary Hub in Newcastle, delivering the full suite of Veteran Services, including wellbeing support, claims assistance, homelessness services, employment programs, and aged care support. 

Together with Geoff McLaughlin, Wellbeing Support Officer (WSO) Coordinator from the Cardiff RSL sub-Branch, they recently attended the annual Hunter Homeless Connect Day at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. This event was a valuable opportunity to connect with local organisations, learn more about the fantastic work they’re doing in our community, and build strong referral pathways for veterans experiencing—or at risk of—homelessness. It also allowed us to introduce these organisations to the wide range of support services available for veterans and their families through the Hub. 

The Hub also had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Newcastle WSO Peer Network Meeting, hosted by RSL NSW’s Jye Martyn at the Mayfield Ex-Services Club. More than 20 local WSOs came together to share insights, experiences, and support. It was inspiring to meet so many dedicated individuals, all generous with their time and deeply committed to supporting our veteran community. 

Father’s Day-inspired Trivia at the Bull and Bush Hotel Medowie had it all… laughs, questionable answers, raffle wins and more Dad jokes than Bunnings sells sausages.  The weather might have bucketed down, but it didn’t dampen spirits. The Bull and Bush menu hit the spot, the raffle winners went home smiling, and the local businesses that donated prizes proved once more why they’re absolute legends. The team would like to extend a special thanks to their Trivia Master, James, and Bull and Bush MVP, Josh. 

The Hunter Team had the pleasure of joining the wonderful team from Medowie RSL sub-Branch, Hunter Defence Member and Family Support and several local Defence School Mentors at Bower Estate Park, Medowie.

For news and updates about the Hunter Hub, please click here.

Hawkesbury Veteran & Family Hub

The Hawkesbury Veteran and Family Hub Team were honoured to join forces with an army of volunteers at Castle Hill RSL in October for a Community Packing Event for the SuperTee Project. The volunteers helped pack a colourful tin with a SuperTee for sick children, stickers, comic book and a bookmark. The 500 tins packed that day will be donated to Hawkesbury Hospital’s Paediatric ward and Westmead Children’s Hospital before Christmas. 

While the Hub has only recently opened doors, it is already buzzing with activity — the Guitars for Veterans group is jamming twice a week, and the RSL Women’s Auxiliary is holding regular meetups. 

31st October: the inaugural Hawkesbury Veteran & Family Hub Golf Day tees off at Windsor Golf Club.  Tickets are still available, so grab your clubs and book your tickets now.  Click here to book tickets.

Coming soon: Free weekly yoga with Invictus, sessions with an exercise physiologist, a dietician, the Nora Music Program — and heaps more on the way! 

To stay up to date on Hawkesbury Hub news, please click here.

North Coast Veteran & Family Hub

Our North Coast Hub Manager had the privilege of joining the Project Norden group who take veteran groups to domestic and overseas cemeteries and memorials where our fallen are buried and tend to their graves and memorials. 

The Hub team also welcomed their newest team member, Engagement and Community Officer, Shelley.  Shelley will be helping veterans and their families who need financial assistance or information and support from services in the area.  

The Team have also been working closely with RSL Queensland to provide seamless services and referrals across the border for veterans and their families. 

The Wednesday Walking Group is going from strength to strength – a beautiful walk along the coast followed by a catch-up cuppa at a local coffee shop.  If you are free on a Wednesday morning at 7.30 am – meet us at the Hub! 

The Hub team have been out and about presenting at Tweed Heads and Mullumbimbee Heads RSL sub-Branches, Tweeds Men’s Shed and attending the Our Connect to Home Homelessness Expo.  The Hub typically supports one or two veterans a week who are homeless and rough sleeping so connecting to the local community of homeless support is critical. 

An exciting Fishing Picnic Day: On the Horizon, a partnership event with the Brain Injury Institute: inviting veterans and their families living with acquired brain injury to connect and enjoy a fun day out was held on 8 August. Despite a windy overcast day, between 10 and 20 veterans and their families braved the conditions. 

The Hub’s inaugural Veterans Roll-Up Monthly Social Bowls Day bowled off on 28 August from 2-5pm at Club Tweed.  12 local veterans booked out the inaugural event and next month the Hub is confident to open it up to double this number.   

To stay up to date on North Coast Hub news, please click here.

Like to know more about all of our veteran support team updates? Read our Quarter 2 update here.

Veteran Services Update - July to September 2025

Our efforts are proudly supported by funds from RSL NSW and its sub-Branches. 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, get in touch with us at [email protected]. Or call 02 8088 0388.

To stay up to date on what the team is doing, please subscribe to our regular newsletter updates.

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