RSL LifeCare has welcomed the opportunity by the Australian Government to submit a business case to deliver new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs in the Hawkesbury and Southwest regions in 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 application.
Informed by analysis of veteran data from the census, this application proposes a connected approach to delivering services for the Hawkesbury region. Hubs are to be established in the Hawkesbury region and at Bardia Barracks in Ingleburn, with veterans and their families benefiting from an extensive network of RSL NSW sub-branches between the two locations.
The announcement is 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 region.
More than 11,442 veterans and their families residing in these regions will have access to a range of critical services 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.
“The proposed Hubs will take a connected approach to the corridor between Richmond and Ingleburn, delivering a comprehensive and efficient support network for veterans and their families across the Hawkesbury and Greater Sydney regions,” Muir said.
“Through our hub and spoke model, Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs deliver centrally coordinated and integrated services as well as effective outreach to address location-specific needs. RSL LifeCare and RSL NSW collectively bring significant and valuable resources to the delivery of these Hubs, reducing capital costs for the establishment and ongoing operational costs, and ensuring its financial sustainability.
Muir also thanked RSL NSW and the Department of Veteran Affairs for their continued support for veterans and their families 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. The services provided include health and well-being, 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 have witnessed the benefits of these hubs in action since the Nowra and Riverina Veteran Wellbeing Centres were established. 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,” Mr James said.
“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.”
Commenting on the announcement, Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, the Honourable Matt Keogh MP, said the federal government was developing Veterans and Families Hubs across the country to suit the needs of the local veteran community.
“This significant distribution of veterans will be reflected in the unique set-up of the Hub network, with a Hub and spoke model developed to make sure that services are accessible and available to support veterans close to home,” said Keogh.
The location chosen for the Hawkesbury and Greater Western Sydney Hubs will provide advantages to assist service delivery in the region and, through RSL LifeCare’s design experience, will be established to provide positive interaction among staff, veterans, and their families. The refurbishment of Bardia Barracks will provide several high-quality spaces that are built-to-purpose while also retaining the historical value of the site for veterans while meeting a range of service delivery, well-being and community activities.
RSL LifeCare and RSL NSW have extensive experience supporting veterans and their families, a proven Veterans’ and Families’ Hub model, and a robust governance system that will support the Hawkesbury and Greater Western Sydney Hubs.
