Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs

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Further expansion of the Veterans’ and Families’ Hub network

On 24 April 2022, the Australian Government committed $42.9 million to develop ten new Veterans’ and Families' Hubs across Australia in locations with significant defence and veteran communities. This is a key commitment in the Government’s plan to enhance support for veterans and families.

The locations for the new hubs are Southwest Perth, Northern Adelaide, Ipswich, Queanbeyan, the Hawkesbury and Hunter regions, the Tweed and North Coast region and the Surf Coast and Geelong region. These new locations build on the recently commenced expansion of the network into Southeast Queensland and Tasmania.  

At this stage, no lead organisations have been determined for the new hubs. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs expects to work closely with key stakeholders from the communities of the new locations, with completion of the hubs expected by 2024-25.

As the network develops, it presents an opportunity to improve the delivery of integrated support to veterans and families through Government, business and community partnerships.

Funding under this program will be provided via grant processes administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. More information on the grant opportunities will be available in due course.

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Background

In 2019, $30 million was committed to develop a network of six Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs (formerly known as Veteran Wellbeing Centres) across Australia, in partnership with ex-service organisations and state and territory governments. The hubs focus on health and wellbeing and welcome all members of the veteran community and families. The hubs connect veterans and families to a range of services which include support for transition, employment, health and social connections.

Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs have now been developed in Perth, Townsville, and Adelaide, whilst in Darwin, Wodonga and Nowra, services are being provided through temporary premises while construction or refurbishment works on their permanent buildings are completed.

The Department has been working closely with the lead organisations in each location to maximise benefits for local veterans and families. 

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Network expansion to Southeast Queensland and Tasmania

In addition to the original six hubs, further funding was announced as part of the 2021–22 Federal Budget, to expand the network into Tasmania and Southeast Queensland.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has been working closely with relevant organisations and the hubs in Southeast Queensland and Tasmania are expected to be fully operational by mid-2024 and mid-2025 respectively.

On 23 December 2021, an additional commitment of $2.5 million was announced to further facilitate the provision of wellbeing services and support to veterans and families in Tasmania. This commitment included $2.2 million for the North West Tasmanian Veterans Welfare Board in Burnie and $250,000 for RSL Launceston.

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Role of Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs

Wellbeing describes how you feel about yourself and your life. It includes a complex combination of biological, lifestyle, socioeconomic, societal and environmental factors. Access to health care, welfare support and other interventions can greatly affect an individual’s sense of wellbeing (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018).

The hubs provide a space for veterans’ services and advocacy organisations to co-exist and provide integrated support to current and ex-service personnel and families. Both the existing and future hubs offer a one-stop shop for local veteran services, which may include health and mental health services, wellbeing support, advocacy, employment and housing advice, and social connection.  Lead organisations in each location will either provide, or facilitate access to these services, integrating support to veterans and families in partnership with ex‑service organisations, community and other organisations and state and territory governments.

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Existing Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs

Table showing existing Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs

Location	Address	Organisation
Perth	ANZAC House Veteran Central 28 St Georges Terrace Perth WA	RSLWA (lead organisation)
Adelaide	216 Daws Road Daw Park SA	In conjunction with SA Health (South Australian Government)
Townsville	The Oasis Townsville 1 Staging Camp Avenue Oonoonba QLD	The Oasis Townsville
Nowra	Unit 1, 19 Nowra Lane Nowra NSW (temporary premises)	RSL LifeCare (lead organisation)
Wodonga	Hume Veterans' Information Centre 138 Melbourne Road Wodonga VIC (temporary premises)	RSL Victoria (lead organisation)
Darwin	SATEPAK House Suite 1A, 11 Palmerston Circuit Palmerston NT (temporary premises)	Mates4Mates (lead organisation)

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Accessing Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs

The hubs and their services are available to all current and former serving Australian Defence Force members and reservists and families.

The organisations that operate the hubs have individualised operational and service models based on local needs and will determine their own cost arrangements and charges (if any) to veterans and families. Whilst some services may be free of charge, services facilitated via the hubs to another service provider may have their own fee structures.

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Services provided

Each hub will provide services and supports based on local needs and opportunities. These services may include, but are not limited to:

• Transition and employment support
• ESO advocacy services
• Social connectedness
• Physical and mental health services
• Community engagement

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Grant Opportunity Guidelines

The Grant Opportunity Guidelines provide further details about the grants program and the aims and objectives of the Veterans’ and Families’ Hub network.  These Guidelines are able to be updated from time to time to reflect future changes in the program. 

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Hub regional differences

The lead organisations of each hub will consult with veterans, families and the local community to ensure services align with local needs and opportunities. They will also undertake ongoing review and evaluation to ensure the hub remains responsive to local needs and priorities, as they change.

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Tasmanian feasibility study

In September 2020, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Tasmanian Government engaged the University of Tasmania (UTAS), to undertake a joint feasibility study into a veteran support service for the state.

The Tasmanian Veterans Needs Assessment and Wellbeing Support Service Feasibility Study is available to download.

The feasibility study highlighted the need for localised veteran support services to cater for a dispersed veteran community across Tasmania.

Community consultation was a critical component of the study and informed the decision making about the most effective model for the delivery of veteran and family wellbeing services in Tasmania.

For more information about the expansion of the network into Tasmania please go to the dedicated Tasmania page.

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ACT feasibility study

The ACT Government and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs undertook a joint feasibility study into how to best support the wellbeing of ACT veterans and families and will jointly consider a way forward.

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More information

For more information about the Veterans’ and Families’ Hub Program, please email veteransandfamilieshubs [at] dva.gov.au.  

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