As a veteran, I’m often asked why younger servicemen and women aren’t joining their local RSL sub-branches.
Firstly, most people don’t realise there is a difference between the volunteer run sub-branches and the RSL clubs.
The RSL Clubs made $4.8B in poker machine profits in 2024, yet only 0.008% of that went to veteran services.
Until sub-branches distance themselves from the clubs, people will keep thinking they are one and the same.
Many also see the RSL as an old boys’ club tied to drinking and smoke-filled bars, not as a modern space that recognises service in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and peacekeeping.
For veterans juggling careers, families and transition challenges, formal meetings in clubs are meaningless.
What younger veterans want is practical support: housing, employment, mental health and family life.
That is why so many turn to Soldier On, Mates4Mates and Young Veterans, which provide activities, family-friendly events and genuine peer support.
Adding insult, the RSL recently chose July 11 as Middle East Area of Operations Day, the date Australia left Afghanistan, only for the country to be swiftly retaken by the Taliban.
For many, this is not a day of pride but of pain.
Only after outrage was the decision backtracked, a sign of how out of touch leadership can be with its own community.
The RSL has a proud history, but unless it modernises, empowers younger veterans and proves all service counts, it risks losing the very generation it was created to support.
Email, Sep 2
Evan Schrei, Niagara Park
There are also issues in some braches including some on the coast not willing to accept acknowledgement of country at branches and ceremonies and some blatant sexist opinions that’s are brushed off as “boys will be boys”
Veterans being let down by the government to then be let down by the RSL
How about changing ANZAC day from being a messy piss up to a more family friendly event.
there’s a pretty clear demographic within the RSL of white and over 60 and it’s not very welcoming of anyone outside of that.
I went to 1 meeting after leaving the Airforce and as a woman I felt immediately like a outsider and not very welcomed. I never went back.
the RSL sub branches constantly blame young people for not joining but they are not reflective of the modern Veteran community, their inability and unwillingness to adapt and change will be their demise.
RSL clubs have nothing to do with veterans and are just there to make money for themselves off the Anzac name and give nothing back to the community.
Old boys club perfectly summarizes the issue they have.
So RSL clubs gave $384,000 back to veterans? The Gosford RSL building was 50 million alone! I’m sure that staircase at the entrance represents more worth then they gave back to vets. what a disgrace.
The fact that you mentioned servicemen and WOMEN would be triggering enough for the RSL
Perhaps its to let it fade to black and let something new fill the void.