Veteran Wellbeing Centres
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- The Commonwealth Government Commitment: Wellbeing Centres
- Expansion of the Wellbeing Centre Network: Tasmania and South East Queensland
- What is wellbeing?
- What is a Wellbeing Centre?
- Where will the Wellbeing Centres be located and who is running them?
- When will services commence?
- How will the funding be used?
- Who can access the Wellbeing Centres and their services?
- What services will be provided?
- Is there a cost to access these services?
- Will all the Wellbeing Centres be the same?
- Tasmanian Feasibility Study
- ACT Feasibility Study
The Commonwealth Government Commitment: Wellbeing Centres
The 2019 Election Commitment announced a $30 million investment for a network of six Wellbeing Centres to be located in Townsville, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Wodonga and Nowra. This presents an opportunity for a national approach to delivering integrated support to veterans and their families from government, business and community partnerships.
Back to topExpansion of the Wellbeing Centre Network: Tasmania and South East Queensland
In addition to the original six Centres, further funding was announced as part of the 2021-22 Federal Budget, to expand the Veteran Wellbeing Centre network to Tasmania and South East Queensland.
$5 million has been allocated to each of these locations, with funding commencing in 2021-22.
The implementation approach for Tasmania and South East Queensland is being carefully considered to ensure that the expansion best meets the needs of veterans and their families.
For more information, please email veteranswellbeingcentres [at] dva.gov.au
Back to topWhat is wellbeing?
Simply put, wellbeing describes how you feel about yourself and your life. Wellbeing is both subjective and objective and includes a complex combination of biological, lifestyle, socioeconomic, societal and environmental factors, which can be influenced by health care, welfare support and other interventions (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018).
DVA has introduced a Wellbeing Model to help guide our understanding of the life factors that matter most to veterans and their families.
Back to topWhat is a Wellbeing Centre?
A Wellbeing Centre will provide veterans and their families with greater access to wellbeing services and support in their local community.
The Centres act as a shopfront to provide simple and seamless access to services, which are tailored to local needs and opportunities. The Centres help connect veterans and their families to a range of core services including support for transition, employment, health and social connection and advocacy. The core purpose of the Government funding for the Centres is to provide support services for veterans and their families.
The Centres will operate by hosting services and support provided by Commonwealth, state and territory governments, ex-service organisation (ESOs) and other non-government organisations which can link veterans and their families to existing relevant services tailored to the needs and opportunities of the local area.
Back to topWhere will the Wellbeing Centres be located and who is running them?
The Wellbeing Centre Network covers the following locations:
- Perth ANZAC House Veteran Central, 28 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA
Led by RSLWA:
https://www.rslwa.org.au/ - Adelaide - 216 Daws Road, Daw Park SA
In conjunction with SA Health (South Australia Government):
https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/services/health+services+for/veterans+health+services/veteran+wellbeing+centre - Townsville -The Oasis Townsville, 1 Staging Camp Avenue, Oonoonba QLD
The Oasis Townsville in conjunction with Queensland Government:
https://www.theoasistownsville.org.au/dva-wellbeing-centres-network - Nowra - Service delivery through a temporary premises at Unit 1, 19 Nowra Lane, Nowra NSW, with the permanent Centre to be finalised.
Led by RSL LifeCare:
https://rsllifecare.org.au/veteran-services/nowra-vwc - Wodonga - Service delivery through Hume Veterans’ Information Centre at 138 Melbourne Road, Wodonga VIC, with the permanent Centre to be finalised.
Led by RSL Victoria:
http://www.rslvic.com.au/
https://www.humeveteransalburywodonga.org.au/ - Darwin - Service delivery through a temporary premises at SATEPAK House, Suite 1A, 11 Palmerston Circuit, Palmerston NT, with the permanent Centre to be finalised.
Led by Mates4Mates:
https://mates4mates.org/whom-we-are/our-locations/northern-territory - South East Queensland - Details to be determined.
- Tasmania - Details to be determined.
When will services commence?
The Perth Centre, ANZAC House Veteran Central, opened in November 2020 and is delivering a wide range of services to veterans and their families.
The Repat Veteran Wellbeing Centre in Adelaide launched In April 2021, with service provision commencing in early June 2021.
In June 2021, the third Wellbeing Centre, The Oasis in Townsville, opened to veterans and their families.
In Nowra, Wodonga and Darwin services are being provided from temporary premises prior to the completion of the Centre.
Details for the expansion of the network into South East Queensland and Tasmania are being finalised.
Back to topHow will the funding be used?
Each location will receive $5 million for:
- facilitating the provision of comprehensive, affordable and high quality wellbeing services for veterans and their families
- capital works projects to construct new buildings or redevelop or enhance existing buildings
- the provision of space for community partners, ESOs and DVA.
The Wellbeing Centre Grant Opportunity Guidelines can be found here.
Back to topWho can access the Wellbeing Centres and their services?
Current and former serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, including reservists, and their families can access the Centres and the services that they offer.
Back to topWhat services will be provided?
Each Centre will provide services and support that are based on local needs and opportunities. These services may include, but are not limited to:
- transition and employment support
- ESO advocacy services and social connectedness
- physical and mental health services
- client and community engagement.
Outreach services to the wider community may also be provided subject to the location of a Centre and the local need.
Back to topIs there a cost to access these services?
The services that operate from the Centres will have their own guidelines and therefore will manage their cost arrangements and any charges.
Ongoing sustainability is a key consideration in each of the Centres’ operating models.
Back to topWill all the Wellbeing Centres be the same?
No. Each Centre will be run by a lead organisation to ensure that the services and support delivered is based on local need and opportunity. This will be determined through consultation with veterans, their families and the local community. Ongoing evaluation will ensure responsiveness to local needs and priorities.
For more information, please email veteranswellbeingcentres [at] dva.gov.au
Back to topTasmanian Feasibility Study
In September 2020, DVA and the Tasmanian Government engaged the University of Tasmania (UTAS) to undertake a joint feasibility study into the potential for a veteran support service for the state.
DVA is working with the Tasmanian Government to consider a way forward.
If you wish to know more about this study please email veteranswellbeingcentres [at] dva.gov.au
Back to topACT Feasibility Study
The ACT Government and DVA undertook a joint feasibility study into how to best support the wellbeing of ACT veterans and their families.
DVA is working with the ACT Government to consider a way forward.
If you wish to know more about this study please email veteranswellbeingcentres [at] dva.gov.au