Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs expansion
The establishment of Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs in Caboolture (South East Queensland) and Burnie (Tasmania) is another step closer with the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh recently announcing the awarding of grants for the development of these hubs.
The North West Tasmanian Veteran Welfare Board has been awarded $2.2 million to lead the establishment of the Burnie hub, and Lives Lived Well has been awarded $5 million to lead the establishment of a hub in Caboolture in South East Queensland.
Every community is different and the lead organisations will engage in ongoing consultation with veterans, families and the local community to match services and support to local needs and opportunities.
Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs deliver integrated support to veterans and families, drawing on government, business and community partnerships. Hubs provide a space for veteran service providers and other organisations to co-exist and offer veterans and families a facility where they can access a range of localised services such as support for transition, employment, health and wellbeing, housing and social connection.
There are currently six hubs operating across Australia, located in Adelaide (SA), Perth (WA), Townsville (QLD), Nowra (NSW), Wodonga (VIC) and Darwin (NT).
As part of the October 2022–23 Budget, the Australian Government announced a further $46.7 million for the establishment of eight new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs nationally, and committed to continuing the expansion and delivery of hubs in Southeast Queensland and Tasmania.
The eight new hubs are to be established in the Hawkesbury region, the Hunter region, the Tweed/North Coast region, Queanbeyan, Ipswich, Northern Adelaide, Southwest Perth and the Surf Coast/Geelong region. A grant of up to $5 million will be available for each location.
The implementation of the new hubs has already begun, with initial online consultation sessions held for each location in November and December 2022, followed by detailed online consultations conducted in February and March 2023. The grant application process will identify a single organisation or consortium in each location that will then be invited to develop a comprehensive business case for the establishment of a hub.
Completion of the new hubs is expected by mid-2026, with services to veterans and families likely to be provided before this time.
We look forward to seeing the new hubs provide better coordination of services and supports, to assist more veterans and families across the nation.
If you would like further information, please visit the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs page on the DVA website.
Minister Keogh (centre) announcing that Lives Lived Well is the lead organisation to develop the Southeast Queensland Veterans’ and Families’ Hub. Left: Darryl Shipp, Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Qld Branch Secretary; right: Mitchell Giles, CEO Lives Lived Well