Ninety community organisations, ex-service organisations, schools, and councils across Australia will receive a share in more than $1 million in grants through the latest round of the Albanese Government’s Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program. These...
DVA
Media Release: Consultation now open on Veterans’ Legislation Reform
The Albanese Government has today released exposure draft legislation which will simplify and harmonise the century old veterans’ entitlements, compensation and rehabilitation system. The current system is difficult to understand and complex to administer. The Royal...
Statement from the Secretary of DVA on the Veterans’ MATES Program
The Department is aware that the withdrawal of Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Human Research Ethics Committee approval on Monday, 5 February 2024 has increased concerns in the veteran community regarding the Veterans’ MATES Program (MATES),...
Alison Frame: Change leader looking to make a difference in veterans’ lives.
Alison Frame had a lot of work ahead of her when she became secretary of Department of Veterans’ Affairs just over 12 months ago. Not only was there a backlog of claims to manage but a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which began its important work...
Aussie war heroes are ‘not broken’ says Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh
30 Nov 2023 Australia’s war veterans are “not broken”, despite the publicity surrounding the royal commission into defence and veteran suicide, the minister for veterans affairs Matt Keogh has told a leading British security think tank. Mr Keogh addressed the Royal...
DVA Statement – Veterans’ MATES program
10 Aug 2023 In response to recent public commentary on the Veterans MATES program DVA has released this Statement. The Veterans’ MATES program has been operating for more than 18 years to provide a valuable proactive service addressing ‘real life’ health...
Consultation on new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy underway
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has made it abundantly clear that more needs to be done to support the mental health and wellbeing of Defence personnel, veterans and families. We’re taking action. Today I hosted a round-table meeting with mental...
Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide – Newsletter Edition 20 – 2 August 2023
Commission Chair expresses frustration at delays to Defence’s mental health reformsThe Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has expressed concern reforms to improve mental health outcomes for Australian Defence Force members are...
Have your say – Draft Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
The Department of Defence (Defence) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) are working together to develop a new joint Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy will inform our joint approach to supporting the mental...
Government shared veterans’ confidential medical data
Identified medical records belonging to 300,000 veterans, widows and others connected to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs have been routinely provided to a university for cost-saving research without the knowledge or consent of the people involved. The practice,...