Veterans’ advocacy services have today received a boost, with more than 119 ex-service organisations (ESOs) across Australia sharing in $4.45 million of funding under the Australian Government’s Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants program.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh said the BEST grants program helps fund a range of support services delivered by ESOs, to provide localised advice and assistance to veterans and families through wellbeing and compensation advocates.
“ESOs play a vital role in supporting more than half a million veterans across the country, so it’s important they have the resources they need to deliver their important services,” Minister Keogh said.
“This program provides ESOs with the funding and resources to assist our veterans and families who may need help with claims, accessing health, housing and other community services.
“The grant funding is a contribution towards the wages of compensation advocates and their support staff, as well as equipment and administration expenses they may require as part of delivering services to veterans and families.“
Veterans and families are encouraged to access the additional support services available to them by connecting in with their local ex-service organisation.
“I congratulate our 2022-23 BEST grant recipients and want to thank each and every one of you for continuing to delivery high quality support services to our veterans and families,” said the Minister.
The full list of successful applicants are:
ACT:
Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Federation ACT Incorporated $206,172
The Legacy Club of Canberra Incorporated $18,879
Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association Limited $19,896
NSW:
Rooty Hill Sub-Section of the Naval Association of Australia (NAA) Incorporated $3,252
Eurobodalla Vietnam Veterans Incorporated $6,180
Vietnam Veterans’, Peacekeepers’ & Peacemakers’ Association of Australia, Central Coast Sub-Branch Incorporated $38,408
Forster Tuncurry Returned & Services League Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia NSW Branch) $2,032
Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans and Associated Forces Incorporated $13,751
Vietnam Veterans’ Peacekeepers & Peacemakers Association of Australia (NSW Branch) $218,051
City of Sydney Returned & Services League Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia NSW Branch) $2,500
Far North Coast Legacy (sponsored by Legacy Club Services) $18,501
Tamworth Legacy (sponsored by Legacy Club Services) $15,322
Mudgee & Districts Vietnam Veterans Peacekeepers & Peacemakers Association Incorporated $14,300
The Partners of Veterans Association of Australia – NSW Branch Incorporated $21,108
Illawarra Veterans Entitlement Service Incorporated $34,626
Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Returned & Services League Sub-Branch Incorporated $50,495
Port Stephens Veterans Network (sponsored by Legacy Club Services) $57,707
Newcastle Legacy (sponsored by Legacy Club Services) $45,312
Armidale Legacy (sponsored by Legacy Club Services) $7,862
Lachlan Legacy (sponsored by Legacy Club Services) $6,426
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia St Marys Outpost Sub-Branch Incorporated $260,071
Veterans’ Advocacy Centre Incorporated $46,951
RSL Lifecare Limited $294,016
Tamworth Returned & Services League Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia NSW Branch) $32,984
Coffs Harbour Legacy Welfare Fund $22,681
Veterans Centre Australia Incorporated $98,730
Veterans Centre Mid-North Coast Incorporated $45,159
Cardiff Returned & Services League Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia NSW Branch) $7,300
Legacy Club Services $300,185
Veterans’ Advocacy Centre Incorporated $7,724
Northern Territory:
Veterans Australia Northern Territory Incorporated $11,040
Queensland:
The Returned & Services League Queensland Blackbutt Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $2,275
Veterans Care Association Incorporated $29,800
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Samford Sub-Branch Incorporated $23,100
The Legacy Club of Brisbane Limited $61,757
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Beenleigh & District Branch $8,983
The Returned & Services League Queensland Helidon Sub-Branch Incorporated (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $2,174
Veterans Support Centre North Queensland Incorporated $9,671
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Maryborough Sub-Branch $8,495
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Sandgate Sub-Branch $39,743
The Returned & Services League Queensland Yarraman Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $2,495
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Gympie Sub-Branch Incorporated $23,513
The Returned & Services League Queensland Toogoolawah Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $5,975
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Nanango Sub-Branch $3,909
The Returned Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Kilcoy Sub-Branch Incorporated $12,547
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Manly-Lota Sub-Branch $20,319
The Returned & Services League Queensland Moreton District PAWS (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $2,915
The Returned & Services League Queensland Ipswich Returned & Services League Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $14,615
The Returned & Services League Queensland Grantham Ma Ma Creek Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $900
The Returned & Services League Queensland Kalbar Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $5,630
Veterans’ Advocacy Community of Practice Brisbane West Incorporated $90,219
Veterans of Australia AssociationIncorporated $47,716
The Returned & Services League Queensland Gatton Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $5,210
The Returned & Services League Queensland Esk Sub-Branch Incorporated (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $1,785
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Currumbin Palm Beach $44,004
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Gaythorne Sub-Branch $46,287
Armed Services Assistance Centre Incorporated $79,659
The Partners of Veterans Association of Australia (Queensland Branch) Incorporated $876
The Returned & Services League Queensland Redbank Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $1,585
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Redlands Sub-Branch $104,553
The Returned & Services League Queensland Ipswich Railway Sub- Branch Incorporated (sponsored By Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $7,973
The Returned & Services League Queensland Boonah Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $4,820
The Returned & Services League Queensland Redbank Plains Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $2,930
Defence Force Welfare Association (Queensland Branch) Incorporated $20,769
The Returned & Services League Queensland Rosewood Sub-Branch (sponsored by Returned & Services League of Australia Queensland Branch Moreton District Branch) $1,263
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Gordonvale Sub-Branch $16,129
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Bundaberg Sub-Branch $18,237
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Murgon Sub-Branch Incorporated $15,180
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Bribie Island Sub-Branch $42,596
Totally and Permanently Disabled Ex Servicepersons Association (Townsville) Incorporated $24,495
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Sherwood Indooroopilly $16,840
Defence Veterans Drop-In Centre Incorporated $5,418
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Centenary Suburbs Sub-Branch $2,030
Vietnam Veterans’ Federation of Australia Queensland Branch Incorporated $165,631
The Oasis Townsville Limited $28,362
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Pine Rivers District $19,376
Bundaberg Legacy Incorporated $11,344
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Townsville Sub-Branch $76,424
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Kenmore-Moggill Sub-Branch $41,649
For more information on BEST grants, visit the grants page on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website (www.dva.gov.au/grants).
