Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin today provided an update on the review of Government-funded veteran advocacy and welfare services. Mr Griffin said an ageing population of veterans and war widows, and an increasing number of younger ex-service members and their families meant that support delivery may need adjusting.

“Advocacy and welfare services need to be responsive to the different service experiences and needs of the ex-service community, both young and old,” Mr Griffin said. "Ex-service organisations (ESO) provide many of these services, however, we see less younger veterans joining these organisations and they may not have access to their entitled support. Also of concern is that ESOs are supporting an ageing veteran community with complex welfare needs, relying on a similarly ageing volunteer force to do so.”

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is undertaking the Review which will examine the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) program, Training and Information Program (TIP) and Veteran and Community Grants Program — looking broadly at the interdependencies and interactions between the three programs.

“Over the past few weeks, my Department has conducted focus groups with key stakeholders, and invited ESO leaders and BEST grant applicants from across Australia to make submissions to the Review process,” Mr Griffin said. “Individual members of the veteran community can contribute their views through online submissions or by writing directly to the Review Team.”

Mr Griffin said the Review will also consider recommendations in Professor Dunt’s suicide report regarding advocacy arrangements for the veteran community. “The Review will help inform further improvements to advocacy and welfare support to the ex-service community,” he said.