One Off Veteran Wellbeing Grant recipients announced
21 November 2023
The Australian Government will invest close to $17 million in veterans’ services and infrastructure projects as part of a new grants program to improve veteran and families’ services, support and wellbeing.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs the Hon Matt Keogh today announced the recipients of the Veteran Wellbeing Grants (VWG) One-Off Program which includes the Australian Catholic University (ACU) who will establish an ACU Veterans and Families Education Unit to expand higher education support services for veterans and families, and a new Mental Health Wellbeing Program for female veterans and partners of veterans which will be delivered by St John of God.
The grant program provides targeted funding for projects that improve the infrastructure and support the capacity of organisations providing important wellbeing services to veterans and families for generations.
Ex-service and other organisations that support the veteran community play a vital role in supporting the more than half a million veterans and families living in communities across Australia. Providing grant opportunities like this directly assists organisations to deliver important services to support the veteran community.
Organisations were invited to apply for funding for projects based on factors such as the nature and maturity of the project and the project’s ability to provide support to areas with significant Defence and veteran populations.
For more information on the VWG One-Off Program, visit the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website: Veteran Wellbeing Grants One-Off Program | Department of Veterans’ Affairs (dva.gov.au)
The full list of successful applicants are in the table below.
| Recipient | Funding description | Amount $ |
| 4 Aussie Heroes | Allow uplift of Camp Courage, a live-in rural retreat facility to comprise of up 18 buildings | $800,000 |
| Australian Catholic University
(ACU) |
Expand its higher education support services for veterans and families through ACU Veterans and Families Education Unit | $1,000,000 |
| Australian Special Air Service Association WA
(ASASAWA) |
To refurbish the ASASAWA Wellbeing project facility including the upgrade, realign and weatherproofing of existing stairs and lift access | $250,543 |
| Largs Bay Returned and Services League (RSL) Sub-Branch | Train RSL accredited Welfare Support Officers to deliver wellbeing services to vulnerable and otherwise socially isolated veterans and their families | $317,226 |
| Plympton Glenelg RSL | Increasing connection and access for the South East Veteran Community. | $298,000 |
| Pro Patria Centre | Pro Patria Centre expansion for Riverina veteran community including training and workshop facilities. | $1,263,344.38 |
| RSL LifeCare | The planning phase of the Bardia Barracks Veterans’ and Families’ Hub Project to be completed | $243,100 |
| RSL LifeCare | Riverina Veterans’ and Families’ Hub Project | $520,341 |
| RSL LifeCare | To open a Veteran and Family Hub within the Central Coast region, to provide support to the local veterans and their families | $1,754,335 |
| RSL Qld / Mates4Mates | To support the physical and digital establishment of a Veteran and Family Wellbeing Hub on the Sunshine Coast | $1,800,000 |
| RSL Victoria | Uplift existing hub infrastructure located at Frankston RSL to provide an improved worker and visitor experience | $721,166 |
| Sale RSL & Community Sub-Branch (Gippsland Veterans Centre) | Refurbishment and upgrade of the Gippsland Veterans’ Welfare Centre to provide a safe and welcoming environment to deliver wellbeing services | $1,167,883 |
| SMEAC
|
Refurbish the buildings and facilities at Camp SMEAC, a former sports and recreation camp | $1,500,000 |
| St John of God | A mental health wellbeing program tailored specifically for female veterans and female partners of veterans | $641,027 |
| Recovery and restoration – Veterans Transition Centre | Community based support group that collaborates with the Veteran Transition Centre to provide a network of assistance to veterans | $171,070 |
| Totally and Partially Disabled Veterans of WA | To refurbish their facility and bring it up to standard that will better meet the needs of veterans’ welfare | $208,050 |
| Vasey RSL Care | Individualised housing and support services for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness | $1,200,000 |
| Veterans Wellbeing Network Mid-North Coast | The Mid North Coast Veterans Community Wellbeing Enhancement Project to enhance the veteran community’s social connectedness, access to health and wellbeing support, and broader wellbeing | $1,000,000 |
| Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia – Tasmania | Fit out a multi-purpose education and training facility with modern equipment (including Wi-Fi capability) in a manner conducive to evidence-informed adult-learning principles for training/educational workshops, face to face and Team/Zoom meetings | $290,022 |
| Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia | Upgrade Camp Andrew Russell to a safer level for use by both veterans and their families | $695,841 |
| Wounded Heroes | Upgrade Head Office to provide additional private spaces for veterans to access services and supports. Purchase a vehicle to assist with transporting veterans. | $1,129,127 |
| TOTAL | ||
All very laudable and deserved I am sure, but the Australian Government, unlike the NZ Government, will still not acknowledge ‘war like service’ in SE Asia and pay that deserving group any sustenance or reward.