VETAFFAIRS DVA’S FREE NEWSPAPER FOR AUSTRALIA’S VETERAN COMMUNITY
ISSN 0819-8934
Vol. 41 No. 2 AUGUST 2025
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Veteran voices heard on wellbeing agency and ESO peak body DVA is working with the veteran, defence and family community to co-design a new agency focused on veteran wellbeing and a national peak body for ESOs, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. A special DVA taskforce has engaged with more than 1,000 veterans, serving ADF personnel, family members, ex-service organisations (ESOs) and service providers in a consultation and co-design process. Teena Blewitt, head of the Taskforce on Wellbeing Agency and Peak Body, says that in “discovery sessions” for the wellbeing agency, her team heard many strong and consistent messages about what the agency should do and how it should do it. ‘Our veteran community told us the agency must bridge the trust divide that exists between veterans, families and the departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence,’ says Teena. ‘It needs a veteran-centric culture that prioritises the needs, preferences and experiences of veterans, ensuring that services are designed and delivered to maximise outcomes for veterans and families.’ That culture needed to be one rooted in empathy, collaboration and adaptability, with lived experience being the springboard to lived expertise at the heart of the organisation. ‘People expect the agency to say what it will do and do what it says,’ Teena adds. ‘They want families integrated into the wellbeing system, and for families to be defined broadly and inclusively. Importantly,
Senior DVA staff met with veteran representatives and advocates as part of the consultations at the Pro Patria Centre in Wagga Wagga, NSW.
people want an agency that is inde‘Like a wellbeing agency, a peak pendent, open and transparent.’ body must be trusted and independDelivering on the promise of open- ent,’ Teena explains. ‘Delivering ness and transparency is the driver outcomes for veterans and families behind a new program of commu- must be at the centre of what the nity engagement that the Taskforce peak body does.’ is undertaking. A peak body that delivers this for Teena will lead a roadshow of veterans, families and organisations information sessions around the that support the sector will also procountry, feeding back to the veteran, vide DVA with a streamlined way to defence and family community communicate more broadly with the messages the Taskforce heard the sector, an expanded diversity of through the wellbeing agency con- relationships to reflect the commusultation and co-design process. nity, and stronger collaboration. These engagements will test poten‘Another message from our contial models that could be presented sultations is clear – we need better, to government. joined up relationships between vet‘We invite all veterans, serving ADF eran organisations and government personnel, family members, ESOs to deliver improved services,’ says and service providers to come to a Teena. ‘It’s what we want, it’s what session and hear about the direction the ESOs want, and it’s what veterthe wellbeing agency is taking, and ans and families expect. provide feedback on the models we ‘This process has only been possihave developed,’ she says. ble thanks to the people who have generously given their time and knowledge, and shared their experiPeak body takes shape Stakeholder contributions to ences with us.’ The community consultation and the peak body consultation and co-design process have been co-design phase involved more than 80 workshops, and the Taskforce equally generous. received more than 70 submissions Veterans and families are seekand 150 survey responses. ing a higher quality of service from For more information on the organisations, easier systems to navigate, and a collective voice to Taskforce, the findings of the conadvocate for veterans and families. sultation and co-design process, ESOs want the peak body to deliver how to continue to engage with the a unified voice to government, bal- Taskforce and when the roadshow anced and diverse representation might be coming an area near you, in consultative activities, and more visit the DVA website (search for effective collaboration and building ‘Taskforce on Wellbeing Agency and Peak Body’). of capacity among themselves.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs respects and gives thanks to all who have served in our Defence Force, and the families who support them.
Korean War 75th anniversary
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CONTENTS NEWS............................................... 2–5 HEALTH AND WELLBEING............... 6–10 DEFENCE NEWS.................................. 11 OPEN ARMS.................................. 12–13 TRANSITION................................. 14–18 FEATURES.................................... 19–20 FAMILIES............................................ 21 WIDOWS’ NEWS........................... 22–23 ESO NEWS.......................................... 24 BOOKSHELF....................................... 25 COMMEMORATIONS..................... 26–29 AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL............ 30 NOTICEBOARD.............................. 31–32