THE Veterans Wellbeing Foundation’s Beerwah hub has secured more than $646,000 in federal funding, providing greater financial certainty as demand for its veteran support services grows.
The volunteer-run hub, operating for about two years, has become a major support point for former Australian Defence Force personnel and their families, assisting an estimated 2500 veterans.
VWF chief executive Peter Kennedy said the three-year funding commitment would allow the organisation to focus on frontline support.
“We can now focus our work on helping veterans and their families, which is where our focus should be,” he said. Mr Kennedy said VWF supported about 1200 veterans in its first year and 1300 in its second, with people travelling from across the Sunshine Coast and as far as Gympie and the Gold Coast for assistance.
Support ranges from fuel cards and grocery vouchers to coordinated medical, mental health, housing, employment and advocacy services.
Mr Kennedy described the Beerwah operation as a “one-stop hub”, with GPs, allied health and mental health services nearby.
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said VWF played an important role helping veterans navigate complicated compensation, entitlement and wellbeing systems. “Our veterans have served our country, and when they need support they deserve to know there are people in their corner,” he said.
VWF will receive $646,835.84 over three years through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs BEST Program. The grant follows a separate $200,000 Veteran Wellbeing Grant, taking VWF’s recent federal funding to more than $846,000.