A tribute to Vietnam veterans for the role they played in establishing a counselling service for veterans and their families was held today at the Adelaide office of the recently renamed VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service. The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Bruce Billson, said Vietnam veterans’ commitment to looking out for each other saw them successfully lobby the Australian Government for counselling and support services, leading to the formation of the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service. The first VVCS office opened in Adelaide in 1982.

“Now, some 25 years after that service was established, the Vietnam veteran community has supported moves to change the name to VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service to better reflect the breadth of clients the Service now supports, " Mr Billson said. “Today, VVCS provides Australia-wide support and services to veterans of all conflicts and peace operations, wives, widows, partners, sons and daughters, as well as eligible ADF personnel. However, there was evidence that many ADF members and veterans of more recent conflicts considered that the VVCS was available only to Vietnam veterans due to its name. The name said it was for 'Vietnam veterans', but it didn't say it was for other veterans," Mr Billson said. "The new name builds on the credibility and recognition of the VVCS while making it more inclusive of the broader veteran community."

Mr Billson said the new name was chosen following consultation with the veteran community and other stakeholders, who supported efforts to ensure the name better reflected the wider veteran and defence communities the VVCS served. "It is important, however, that the role of Vietnam veterans in establishing the VVCS is not forgotten,” Mr Billson said. "To this end, we will be using the phrase A service founded by Vietnam veterans in association with the new name of the service wherever possible to demonstrate our appreciation of their contribution. The acronym VVCS will also remain to recognise the strong heritage of the service and the affection clients have for the VVCS as it reaches out to more recent veterans and their families.”

Mr Billson unveiled a plaque at the Adelaide VVCS office that acknowledges the role of the Vietnam veterans in establishing the service. Similar plaques will be displayed at all VVCS offices throughout Australia to ensure that the VVCS serves as a legacy to the mateship, traditions and mutual support demonstrated by the Vietnam veteran community. Earlier today the Minister opened the VVCS National Conference and last night he attended a dinner to commemorate the contribution of Vietnam veterans in establishing the VVCS and their support of the name change in this, the 25th year of operations of the VVCS.