The Minister for Veterans Affairs has announced that Mr Brendan Cox has been appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive for the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency.
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide identified that many veterans and families of veterans face significant challenges as they transition from the ADF, including mental health issues, elevated suicide risks and a strain on relationships.
Acknowledging this the Australian Government provided $78 million over four years from 2025-26 (and $7.5 million per year ongoing) to establish a new executive agency focused on veteran and family wellbeing.
The new Agency will be operational from 1 July 2026.
As a veteran, advocate and Winston Churchill Trust Fellow, Brendan is passionate about supporting Australians who serve our country and the families that support them. As a family man and father to three children, he believes that when a Defence Member joins the ADF the family also serves the country. He has sound knowledge and appreciation of what it is like to work across Defence, ex-service organisations as well as in the private sector. He is the former CEO of Legacy Brisbane and a current Director of the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, where he supports research into veteran health, mental health, and broader community conditions. Brendan is also a veteran, who served for 28 years, first enlisting in the Australian Army as a solider in 1988. His operational deployments have included:
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Bosnia (with British forces)
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East Timor
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Afghanistan
He was medically discharged from ADF service and understands the impacts of the journey and transition to civilian life.
In 2022 Brendan was awarded the prestigious Churchill Fellowship to create a model of care for families supporting a veteran suffering psychological and/or physical injury. He investigated and evaluated examples of international best practice in providing holistic support to Defence families supporting a veteran with physical and psychological injuries as a result of their Defence service. He strongly believes, and his research indicates, that adopting the 'no wrong door' approach and that working collaboratively will lead to the best outcomes for veterans and the families of veterans. He is committed to breaking new ground with the ESO network and will integrate the agency with Veteran and Family Hubs.
As Chief Executive, Brendan will be responsible for leading the charge to create a holistic model of care, where existing silos of support are connected into a system of care. A key focus of the Agency will be making it easier for veterans and families of veterans to connect to the information, community services and support they need. It will provide a clearer and more coordinated pathway, acting as a central point of access for wellbeing support, while also supporting those with more complex needs. Importantly, the Agency will also provide support and services to families of veterans.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Deputy Secretary Alison McLaren will serve as interim Chief Executive from 1 July until Mr Cox officially commences in his new role.
Brendan’s final report produced as part of his fellowship Brendan Cox - Churchill Trust
More information about the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency is available on the DVA website: New wellbeing agency to open 1 July 2026 | Department of Veterans' Affairs