
Nowra Veteran Centre Open for Business
Up to 20,000 veterans and their families will be able to access vital mental and physical wellbeing, housing and employment support services from today as part of the first and only Veteran Wellbeing Centre in NSW under the Federal Government’s 2019 election commitment.
Run by RSL LifeCare, the Wellbeing Centre will begin operating from a temporary site at Nowra on the NSW South Coast while a permanent site is under development nearby.
Nowra is a garrison town with three separate defence bases in the area. The centre is one of six being built nationwide, alongside those in Perth, Townsville, Darwin, Adelaide and Wodonga.
It will service southern NSW from Wollongong to Yass and every local government area in-between.
The new services are being made available only weeks after the Australian Government announced a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
RSL LifeCare Board Chair, Andrew Condon, said that providing critical support services to veterans and their families can be life changing.
“Transitioning from service to civilian life can be very challenging for defence personnel and their families. We want to help them find their feet, feel supported and become a part of their local community,” Mr Condon said.
“This centre will provide essential integrated support, with a focus on wellbeing, to veterans and their families.”
Approximately 6,000 veterans transition out of the ADF every year, 18 per cent of whom are discharged for medical reasons[1].
The Nowra Wellbeing Centre will include:
- Connection to Defence and other Ex-Service Organisations, including ADF Transition programs and activities
- DVA Claims and Advocacy support services
- Social connection – e. support groups and sport activities including NSW Government supported programs through Veteran Sport Australia
- Holistic veteran and family wellbeing support services
- Housing assistance services, including the existing NSW Government programs such as Rent Choice Veterans and Link2home
- Open Arms community and peer advisor support services
- Employment support assistance and services including the RSL Employment Program and connection to the NSW Government Veteran Employment Program
- Mental health support services and referral services with programs such as Open Arms, the National Centre for Veterans Healthcare and other NSW Health services locally
The new centre will service the following areas:
- Albion Park
- Austinmer Thirroul
- Berry
- Bomaderry
- Bowral
- Braidwood
- Bundanoon
- Callala Beach
- Coledale
- Corrimal
- Crookwell
- Culburra Beach – Orient Point
- Dapto – Point Kembla
- Gerringong
- Goulburn
- Huskisson
- Kiama – Jamberoo
- Milton – Ulladulla
- Mittagong
- Mossvale
- Picton – Thirlmere – Bargo
- Queanbeyan
- Shoalhaven Heads
- St Georges Basin
- Sussex Inlet
- Taralga
- Warilla
- Wollongong
- Woonona – Bulli
- Yass
The Nowra Wellbeing Centre is currently under Development Application. Construction is set to begin as soon as the DA is approved and is expected to be completely operational by mid-2022.
Media enquiries: Irina Kamychnikova 0426 221 550 [email protected]
[1] A Better Way to Support Veterans – Productivity Commission Inquiry Report, 2019, https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/veterans/report
Blog Posts
11 Nov 2021
RSL LifeCare Annual Report 2021
I am pleased to advise that the 2021 RSL LifeCare Annual Report is now available. This annual report is...
10 Oct 2021
Rapid Antigen Test kits now available to Aged Care providers.
The Department of Health is offering Rapid Antigen Test kits to aged care providers across NSW in high-risk Local...

8 Aug 2021
Aged Care Employee Day is a day to thank everyone at RSL LifeCare.
7th August is Aged Care Employee Day. This is a day for us to thank every person who works...

7 Jul 2021
World War 2 code breaker Marion Painter features in Sky News documentary
ANZAC Village, Narrabeen resident Marion Painter has featured in Sky News documentary, The Alliance, about her time as a...

6 Jun 2021
Aged care workers should be vaccinated on site.
AGED care provider, RSL LifeCare, have applauded the Australian Government for their decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for staff...

3 Mar 2016
Laughter is the best medicine
Laughter releases endorphins, giving us the ‘feel good factor’ Acts as aerobic exercise and is like ‘internal jogging’ Unleashes...

5 May 2016
A healthy diet for a healthy heart
Valentine’s Day saw people thinking of love and things of the heart and we thought it would be a...

10 Oct 2016
Pets and Positive Ageing
Animals play an important role in our lives. As Community Staff, we are blessed to see the bonds that...

More from the blog
Latest News
Vale Walter Williams OAM
RSL LifeCare staff and residents alike have been deeply saddened to learn of the passing of long - time ANZAC Village resident and respected RSL...
Read moreGiving our nurses a voice to lead
Today, on International Nurses Day (IND) we shine a light on our nursing staff and their vital work. Our nurses are a core part of RSL...
Read moreHugh Cunningham Gardens welcomes Australian Defence Force support
RSL LifeCare has welcomed the support of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel at Hugh Cunningham Gardens residential aged care home at Tura Beach. The 15-person...
Read moreConstruction Begins on Permanent Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre
Construction has begun on a new purpose built, state-of-the-art facility to permanently house the Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre, providing an expanded range of health and...
Read moreToday we honour Rawdon Hume “Ron” Middleton, VC.
SEVENTY nine years ago today a bomber took off from an air base in Suffolk, England. It was one of more than 200 aircraft on...
Read moreBaby Boomers to change the face of aged care for ever
Baby Boomers are set to revolutionise aged care by banging down the doors of change, according to the annual research we (RSL LifeCare) have undertaken...
Read moreRapid Antigen Test kits now available to Aged Care providers.
The Department of Health is offering Rapid Antigen Test kits to aged care providers across NSW in high-risk Local Government Areas (LGAs). Rapid Antigen Testing...
Read moreRSL NSW members dig deep to support their fellow veterans
*This media release originally appeared on the RSL NSW website. RSL NSW veteran members have rallied to bolster life-changing support for veterans and their families...
Read moreHomes for Heroes comes home
After a two-year partnership with Wesley Mission delivering the life-changing Homes for Heroes program, RSL LifeCare Veteran Services has built its internal capabilities and is...
Read moreVeteran Employment a Focus in New South Wales
RSL LifeCare, has today announced that it is partnering with specialist career management firm, Right Management to deliver the RSL Employment Program in New South...
Read moreRiverina Veterans front and centre for RSL NSW and RSL LifeCare
RSL NSW and its partner charity RSL LifeCare have announced today that a veteran wellbeing centre will be established and operated by them in Wagga...
Read more