RSL LifeCare has been awarded more than $550,000 from the Commonwealth Government’s Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program cementing its place as the leading veteran advocate and support ex-service organisation (ESO) in Australia.
The annual BEST grants program provides funding to organisations focused on ensuring veterans and their families receive the necessary support when submitting claims or accessing benefits through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
The additional resources will allow RSL LifeCare teams to support an extra 8,000 veterans on the Central Coast through the claims process, relieving stress and ensuring veterans access the benefits and compensation they deserve.
This process can be complex and challenging for veterans and their families and has been a focus of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
RSL LifeCare will utilise this grant, together with its own internal funding, to enhance the support services across claims and advocacy, providing greater access to life-changing services for veterans and their families.
As RSL LifeCare continues to expand its Veteran and Family Hub network, more than 101,000 additional veterans will have greater access to claims and advocacy teams across the organisation.
These figures do not encompass the families of veterans, who are also the important beneficiaries of RSL LifeCare support services each and every day.
“We thank the Commonwealth Government for entrusting us with this year’s single largest funding boost for veteran support and advocacy services,” RSL LifeCare CEO Janet Muir said.
“The grant will be used to ensure veterans are seen, heard, and supported, no matter where they are.
“This grant will go a long way to assist our veteran community and give them the support they deserve post-transition from service.
“With the imminent release of the final report from the Royal Commission, RSL LifeCare continues to serve as a beacon of hope for veterans.”
Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh congratulated RSL LifeCare for earning the funding boost from the Commonwealth Government.
“The Building Excellence in Support and Training grants assist qualified registered advocates to help make it easier for veterans and families to get access to the services they need and deserve,” he said.
“I thank RSL LifeCare, and the many other ex-service organisations, on the important work they and their advocates do for the veteran community for no fee every day.”
RSL LifeCare currently operates four Veteran and Family Hubs in the Riverina, Shoalhaven, the Northern Beaches and in the Hunter region.
Last year, the Commonwealth Government also awarded RSL LifeCare funding to develop six new Hubs in Queanbeyan, the Central Coast, the Hunter region, Tweed/North Coast, the Hawkesbury and Southwestern Sydney areas to provide DVA claims and advocacy services, financial assistance, employment support, veteran wellbeing programs and accommodation support.
More information on the services and support provided by RSL LifeCare can be accessed here: https://rsllifecare.org.au/veteran-services/