News from the Department
Liz Cosson AM CSC
Secretary
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
I have always enjoyed writing this column; it is one way I can connect with you, our veterans, our veterans’ families, and our veteran community. However, this will be the last column I write as the Secretary of the Department, President of the Repatriation Commission and Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. After the Christmas break I will be concluding my tenure in this role, and a new Secretary will take the reins. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve in this role.
It is time for me to start a new chapter of my life, and, as you can imagine I have spent quite a bit of time reflecting on my time at DVA. While there is much to celebrate, I also recognise that the increased demand on our compensation and other services has led to unacceptable delays. I personally apologise to veterans and their families who have been affected by this. I have also been thinking of the important work of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. I take this opportunity to recognise the families and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. You have always been in my thoughts, and will continue to be. I am sorry for your loss.
To those serving and those who have served, thank you for your service. I am very privileged to have served alongside you and to have worked with many more of you since I joined DVA. The Defence and veteran communities are integral to both the history and future of our nation. I am honoured to have led this department and contributed in some way to ensuring there is support for those who have served our country, and the families who support them. We must continue to commemorate the men and women who volunteer to serve, the families who support them in this service and those who make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our democracy, values and freedoms.
I am proud to have been part of a significant chapter in DVA’s history, where we have expanded the services available to veterans and families and improved the ease of access for veterans to gain assistance and support. I am particularly proud of the expansion of the mental health services and support that we now offer to veterans and families and our shift in focus to not just treatment but the overall wellbeing of veterans throughout their lives. We have a much simpler, streamlined digital process for veterans to register with us, and our work with Defence is continuing to make it easier for us to know veterans before and during their transition. I am also proud of our increased focus on veterans’ families.
It is the wonderful staff at DVA who have made these achievements possible. They are some of the most dedicated, capable and caring individuals I have ever had the privilege to work with. Every day I receive messages from members of the veteran community, thanking individual staff for the difference they have made. So many of our staff have personal connections to the veteran and defence communities and it shows in their drive and commitment to support and assist veterans and families as best as they possibly can. I take this opportunity to thank all of the staff for their ongoing support throughout my time as Secretary and for their resilience and kindness, particularly through the last few challenging years with the pandemic having such an impact on the way we work.
The support I have received from the veteran community and wonderful DVA staff has kept me inspired and motivated throughout my tenure, and I am very grateful this. My focus has been on making a difference to the lives of veterans and their families and I can promise you that I will continue to advocate for the care and acknowledgement you all deserve, well beyond my time in this role.
I step down from this role with a heart filled with gratitude and hope for the future. I wish you a Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2023. Thank You.
The new Secretary, announced by the Prime Minister on 15 December 2022, will be Ms Alison Frame. Alison comes from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet where she has been in the role of Deputy Secretary, Social Policy. She has been a senior public servant for both the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments in a range of complex service delivery and policy roles. Ms Frame brings significant experience working with stakeholders and leading staff to deliver positive outcomes for the community. She will begin her five-year appointment on 23 January and I know that I’ll be leaving the department in very capable hands.
Attending the commemorative service at Sandakan, Malaysia on Sandakan Memorial Day