Coffs Coast Veterans’ and Families’ Wellbeing Centre open for the community
A message from the Mid North Coast Veteran Wellbeing Network
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh officially opened the Coffs Coast Veterans’ and Families’ Wellbeing Centre at the end of January. The Coffs Coast Centre is one of 3 on the NSW Mid North Coast, creating a regional hub.
Uniquely, the regional network emerged organically. Volunteer wellbeing and compensation advocates had been providing services locally across the Mid North Coast – some for up to 30 years – as active members of 11 different ESOs. Acknowledging that each volunteer was focused solely on supporting the veteran community, their parent ESOs encouraged them to work together for the common good.
In 2019, through their advocates, the parent ESOs adopted the “hub-and-spoke” model. The ESOs entrust their advocates to coordinate wellbeing support in the 3 centres and (currently) 11 spokes through a memorandum of understanding.
In each centre, the building owner contributed significant funds to ensure the site was ready to maximise the impact of the services provided. As a result, the centres meet the comfort and security needs of contemporary veterans and veteran families.
Funded by a number of Australian Government grants, we created a bespoke wellbeing-focused client management system and virtual private network (VPN) backbone in 2023. The following year, the network added a video-conferencing facility and large touch-screen monitors, and opened the Taree Centre in an existing community centre. As is crucial in regional, rural and remote areas, the video-conferencing facility enables in-place, on-line contact with health and community service providers, distant families and friends, and advocacy support at spokes with only a Wellbeing Support Officer available.
Last year, a One-Off Veteran Wellbeing Grant furnished and fitted out the centres in the Wauchope RSL Sub-Branch and the Coffs Ex-Services Club’s new apartment and commercial development.
Our regional centres and spokes welcome all current and former ADF members, Reservists, and families, and the DVA grants have enabled a range of benefits for veterans and veteran families in the Mid North Coast region.
We are proud to provide coordinated wellbeing advice and support, on-line social connectedness, and connection to service providers and wellbeing programs no matter where they may be.
