Veteran Services Highlights for 2024

We are exceptionally proud of the support and help we’ve been able to offer the veteran community in 2024.  From opening new hubs, to hosting dedicated wellbeing days, our core focus has been ensuring veterans and families are supported across a range of important services for their wellbeing.

There are too many highlights to mention, so we’ve chosen a few which demonstrate the diverse yet focused support we offer our veteran community.

We’d like to thank our veterans and families who have reached out for support and trusted us with their wellbeing at some of their most vulnerable times. Our team are dedicated to supporting you. As always, our support is possible thanks to the ongoing and generous support of RSL NSW and its sub-Branches; and from the support of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and other key donors and contributors.  Together, we can offer meaningful support to more veterans and their families, every day.

During 2024 we supported the veteran community by:

• Providing over $389,000 in financial assistance. 
• Assisting 165 veterans experiencing homelessness, and providing 3,940 nights of accommodation. 
• Helping 746 veterans to lodge 2,931 DVA claims. 
• Referring 104 veterans or partners into our employment program.
• Lodging 190 new VRB appeals, completing 307 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mediation discussions and represented 39 full VRB Hearings. 
• Guided 191 veterans through 25 horse handling and riding courses and logged 1,796 hours of volunteer activities at Spur Ranch. 

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Wellbeing

Our wellbeing team provides support that ranges from financial assistance, employment, education support and wellbeing.  In 2024 we provided $389,758 of financial assistance.

RSL Employment Program

The start of 2024 marked a significant milestone for RSL LifeCare Veteran Services as we partnered with RSL Queensland to introduce the award-winning RSL Employment Program to New South Wales (NSW). With over five years of proven success, this partnership provided us with a strong, established program that we were eager to bring to the veteran community in NSW.

In the community

The team have been out and about across the state, hosting or attending a number of key events and meeting with veterans and their families.  We thank our fellow ESOs and organization for inviting us to take part in these initiatives so that we can work together to give veterans a holistic support offering.   Here’s a snapshot of what the team have been up to in 2024:

• 8 ADF Transition Seminars, engaging with more than 400 transitioning members and their partners
• 7 Defence Partner Employment Information Sessions
• Central West & Orana: regional roadshow in October & November
• Clarence Valley: Presentation at the Council’s inaugural Veterans Employment Program
• Tumut: Snowy Valleys Heroes Book Launch
• Middle Head: Family & Veteran’s Guild wellbeing events

Veterans’ Health Week

In October, our teams hosted a number of key activities to focus on ‘keeping connected’ as part of Veterans’ Health Week. From wellbeing days, to bush walks, bowling and golf days and ice baths, our veteran community came together and truly lived the spirit of the theme. To read more about Veterans’ Health Week 2024 with RSL LifeCare, click here.

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Veteran and Family Hubs

2024 has been a year of milestones for our Veteran and Family Hub Network.  From celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the Northern Beaches Veteran Wellbeing Centre, celebrating the 2 year anniversary and refurbishment of our Riverina Hub, and of course opening the brand new hub which services the Central Coast region, our team are thrilled to be even more accessible to veterans and their families.

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 assistance, housing, education and more.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the key moments in our Hubs:

Central Coast Veteran & Family Hub

In September 2024, we opened our 5th Veteran and Family Hub at Wyong.  The local community have been such an incredible support for the Hub team, and the opening event was testament to this support.  We were honoured to have the NSW Minister for Veterans, the Honourable David Harris MP and Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride MP, attend the event, together with nearly 200 local community members.

To stay up to date on our Central Coast Hub, click here. 

Riverina Veteran & Family Hub

We celebrated the refurbishment of the Hub, and the 2^nd anniversary in June.   Thanks to the ongoing support of RSL NSW and the local sub-Branches, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the grant to refurbish the Hub.

This year, the team have continued their support of local veterans, providing support to more than 1040 veterans who visited the centre.

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

To read more about what all of our Hubs have been up to in 2024, click here.

Spur Ranch

This year our Spur team have been galloping around to support even more veterans.  They supported 191 veterans – nearly double the amount of veterans from 2023 – who participated in a range of horse handling and mustering events and courses.

One of the major highlights of this year was the Coonabarabran muster, which was preceded by a very moving Remembrance Day commemoration in the town.  The Spur team marched in the commemorative service, honouring the first Remembrance Day service in 1919 which took place in the town.  To read more, please click here.

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Engaging with the local community – raising awareness & funds

In April this year, we held the annual Remembrance Golf Day at beautiful Cromer Golf Course.  70 players across 17 teams had a fantastic day of golf, followed by a lunch which celebrated all who played.  The camaraderie and good spirits of the day was felt by all, as we came together in support of veterans and their families.   Thanks again to our major Sponsor, Dee Why RSL, who provide ongoing support to us to enable us to help more veterans and their families.  Stay tuned for next year’s Golf Day – and get in quick to register your team.

Our teams host and take part in a number of initiatives throughout the year, to commemorate veterans and their sacrifices, and also to raise awareness and funds in support of the veteran community.  The annual Anzac Day Dawn Service Bridge Climb is a very  moving commemoration event which leaves a lasting memory for participants.  Our team also works closely with RSL NSW for the annual ANZAC and Poppy Appeals and were once again part of the Lest We Forget concert on Anzac Day in Sydney.

This year’s Poppy Ball was held at the stunning Victoria Barracks. Guests entered to the marching beat of the Scots College Pipe and Drum Band, and then enjoyed performances from John Schumann and Ian Politis, before exploring the fantastic grounds of the Barracks.  Our generous sponsors, led by Raytheon Australia as Platinum Sponsor helped us to make the night such a success.  To read more, click here.

Together, our fundraising activities this year have raised more than $300,000 in support of veterans and their families.

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Housing support for veterans and their families

Having access to safe housing is an essential building block to helping veterans live confidently, and transition into civilian society with pride.  This year, we have been able to help 165 veterans through our housing programs, including Homes for Heroes and the Rent Choice Veterans program.

We are constantly improving the Homes for Heroes program experience, to help veterans feel safe and improve their overall wellbeing and develop important life skills.   

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Leading in Veterans Care

As a leading support organisation for veterans, our team members take pride in ensuring their knowledge and skills are current.  This year, the team have attended key ESO forums including AVLAN Forum in May and November, as well as being invited to attend forums which focus on Legislative Reform that relates to veteran care.

Our Claims Advisors continue to help more veterans, and we are increasing the capacity of the team so that we can keep up with the increased support requirements of the Veteran & Family Hubs.   Veterans deserve to have easy access to professionals, and our team is here to help.

This year the team has processed 2,931 claims, helping 746 individuals.  In addition, they have represented 39 clients at the Advocacy forum – DVA Veterans’ Review Board.

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, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. 

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