Queensland

Terms of reference

The Queensland Consultative Forum will:

1. provide a mechanism for regular consultation and discussion between the Deputy Commissioner and Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) to discuss systemic issues that concern the veteran and defence communities arising from the range of DVA operations including:
   • operational issues
   • health care including hospital and community based care
   • aged care both residential and community based
   • health and well-being
   • income support
   • compensation
   • rehabilitation
   • emerging issues for currently serving and recently separated ADF members
2. sitting as the Queensland Treatment Monitoring Committee, monitor the access to and the quality of treatment available to entitled persons as private patients under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
3. enhance the ex-service community's understanding of DVA's service delivery performance in the Queensland through improved communication and information sharing between DVA and the ex-service community
4. assist in identifying issues that may require referral to a national-led forum e.g. the ESO Round Table for strategic issues or the Operational Working Party for day-to-day operational matters
5. provide a mechanism to disseminate information about Veterans' Affairs initiatives and Department of Defence and broader Commonwealth activities where appropriate
6. provide a forum which facilitates the maintenance of an effective working relationship between ESOs, the Deputy Commissioner and DVA staff in the Queensland.

Membership

Membership comprises representatives of the following organisations:

Organisation	Members
Australian Peacekeeper & Peacemaker Veterans' Association	Mr Randall New
Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council	Mr Peter (Casey) Jones
Brisbane Legacy	Mr Brendan Cox
Defence Force Welfare Association	Mr John Lowis
Defence Reserves Association	COL Jenny Cotton
Mates4Mates	Mr Simon Sauer
Naval Association of Australia	Mr Ross Wiseman
Partners of Veterans Association of Australia	Mrs Robyn Sutherland
Queensland Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Servicemen's Association	Mr Chris Richards
Queensland Veterans Advisory Council	Mr Danny O'Kearney
Returned and Services League	Mr Robert Skoda
Royal Australian Air Force Association	Mr Lindsay Bennett
Royal Australian Regiment Association (Queensland Division) Inc	Mr Neil Weekes
Totally and Permanently Disabled Soldiers' Association of Australia	Mr Owen Legg
Veterans Care Association	Mr Gary Stone
Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia	Mr Darryl Shipp
Vietnam Veterans' Federation of Australia	Mr Peter Handy
War Widows' Guild of Australia	Ms Jenny Gregory

Chair

The forum is chaired by the Deputy Commissioner.

Proxies

The Chair has discretion to allow members to nominate a substitute attendee when considered necessary.

Meeting schedule

It is anticipated that face-to-face meetings of the State and Territory Forums will be restricted to two or three each calendar year with any additional out-of-session meetings being conducted via video or telephone conferencing as required.