RSL LifeCare has welcomed the opportunity by the Australian Government to submit a business case to deliver three Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs in critical areas of regional NSW. In partnership with RSL NSW, RSL LifeCare is a step closer to improving access to much-needed services in these communities for veterans and their families following the success of their stage one grant applications.
The announcements are a part of the Australian Government’s $46.7 million commitment to deliver ten new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across the country. In consultation with the local communities and other ex-service organisations, a ‘hub and spoke’ model will be implemented by RSL LifeCare and RSL NSW through the network of RSL sub-Branches in the Hunter, Tweed and Queanbeyan regions. More than 70,000 veterans and their families that reside in these regions will have access to a range of critical services that are tailored to the needs of the local communities.
RSL LifeCare CEO Janet Muir said that advancing to this next stage in the bid process is an essential milestone for RSL LifeCare and RSL NSW and their commitment to supporting veterans and their families.
“Since its inception in 1911, RSL LifeCare has been dedicated to supporting Australian Defence Force personnel who have given so much to protect our country. Our hubs are the embodiment of this support,” said Muir.
“As an organisation, we are very excited at the prospect of adding new hubs to our veteran support network in the Hunter, Tweed-North Coast, and Queanbeyan regions, extending the support we can provide to even more veterans and their families.
“I want to give my thanks to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for recognising the importance of these hubs and providing the funding needed for organisations across Australia to provide these important services, and to RSL NSW for its continued support as we look to continue building our network of support services across the State.”
RSL LifeCare, with support from RSL NSW, has established four Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs that provide a holistic range of services to veterans and their families across the Nowra, Riverina, Northern Beaches regions, and Newcastle (in a temporary centre). The services provided include health and wellbeing, education, housing, social support and connection, employment support, income and financial support, and support with making claims for entitlements and subsequent advocacy where required.
RSL NSW President Ray James said veteran communities had witnessed the benefits of these hubs in action since the Nowra and Riverina Veteran Wellbeing Centres were established and that RSL NSW and RSL LifeCare have a strong and sustainable business case to support how the organisations can operate the centres using their combined resources.
“RSL NSW is committed to supporting the hubs because we know they work,” said James.
“Since 2021, RSL NSW sub-branches have donated over $5.2 million to RSL LifeCare to support the ongoing delivery of services to veterans and their families, and we welcome the commitment from the Australian Government to expand the services to other areas.”
“It is fantastic to see the progress being made in expanding the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs program, to bring services and support to the doorsteps of our veteran community across the country. Services provided by hubs are tailored to the local community, delivered in partnership with state, territory and local government, ex-service organisations and community groups," said Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, the Honourable Matt Keogh MP.
“RSL LifeCare Veteran Services and RSL NSW have a strong understanding of veteran community needs, with four similar facilities around New South Wales, including the Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Nowra, which was also funded under the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs program.”
RSL LifeCare Veteran Services will work with a consortium of ex-service organisations and local providers, such as Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling, to offer a one-stop-shop for the delivery of critical services and support at the centre of the Veterans’ and Families’ Hub strategy.
