Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh, today announced that RSL Tasmania has been awarded $5 million by the Australian Government to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub network across Tasmania.
‘VeteranHub’ will operate in a ‘hub and spoke’ model, recognising that in Tasmania, veterans are spread across the state, the Minister said.
“This model will allow veterans and their families to visit a one-stop shop of services, ensuring they receive the right support, either remotely or in person,” said Mr Keogh.
“This will complement and work with the Veterans’ Hub that will be established in Burnie and the recently renovated RSL Launceston premises.
“This model follows feedback from community consultation that identified the need for services to be available broadly across Tasmania, and not just in one location.
“Our Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs Program provides grant funding to organisations to better coordinate and deliver support services for serving personnel, veterans and families close to home.”
He said RSL Tasmania is committed to delivering not only a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Hobart, but also providing support services through a range of locations across the state.
“This project represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a game-changing model to the way we support our Tasmanian veterans and their families into the future,” said RSL Tasmania CEO, John Hardy.
“The funding of the establishment of the Tasmanian VeteranHub network is critical to the future of first-class veteran support across our island state. We need to act now to make a real difference in the lives of those who have so valiantly served our country.”
Minister Keogh said RSL Tasmania had worked to identify the needs of local veterans, and would provide a range of services tailored to the community such as assistance with transition, employment, advocacy services, and mental health support.
“Importantly, the Tasmanian Veterans’ and Families’ hub and spoke model will incorporate homelessness services and support including emergency veteran housing,” he said.
The Tasmania VeteranHub forms part of the Government’s broader commitment in the October 2022-23 Budget, which will see a further 10 hubs delivered across Australia.
For more information about the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs, visit www.dva.gov.au/vfhubs.
