The Australian Government today announced that RSL Victoria has been awarded a $50,000 grant to develop a business case to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Surf Coast/Geelong region.
The expansion of the Veterans’ and Families’ Hub network will see the more than 6,600 veterans and their families in the Surf Coast and Geelong region access improved specialist services close to home.
“With this $50,000 grant, RSL Victoria will be able to undertake further consultation with key local veteran, family and service provider stakeholders, allowing them to identify local needs and opportunities and maximise benefits for veterans and families across the Surf Coast and Geelong,” said Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh.
“RSL Victoria’s first Hub, the Tim Fischer Veterans and Families Hub in Wodonga, showcases the success of how the provision of services all in the same place can make the lives of veterans and their families much easier.
“We don’t want to take a cookie cutter approach with Hubs around the country. The opportunity for enhanced stakeholder consultation enables Hub services to be designed so they best meet the needs of the local veteran community which can be maintained and sustained for many years to come.”
The current high level proposition will likely see an expansion of the Geelong RSL to accommodate the Hub, with an additional satellite site at Torquay in the Surf Coast Shire, as well as leveraging other RSL sub-branch sites. This model follows feedback from community consultation that identified the need for services to be available and easily accessible across the Surf Coast, rather than in just one location.
The multipurpose Hub is set to feature a range of culturally appropriate, coordinated services to assist with advocacy, case management, financial literacy, medical and allied health services and access to housing supports for veterans’ and families.
The intention is this Hub, just like RSL Victoria’s first Hub in Wodonga, will not only provide the services and supports the local veteran community needs, but be sustainable into the future.
“The Albanese Government is steadfast in its commitment to delivering services that will support veterans and their families,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Corio, Richard Marles.
“I welcome this important step towards seeing those services delivered for the veteran community across greater Geelong who will benefit immensely.”
The expansion of the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs network in the Surf Coast/Geelong is part of the Government’s $46.7 million commitment to deliver ten new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across the country.
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