Media releases

The Albanese Labor Government is making $3.5 million available to honour the service and sacrifice of Australia’s veterans through the first round of the 2025-26 Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program.

There is no greater responsibility for the Albanese Labor Government than keeping Australians safe and securing our nation’s future during a time of global uncertainty.

More than 150,000 Australians receiving support through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will soon have more money in their pockets with the latest round of indexation increasing payment rates this week.

Entries are now open for the 2025 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards, a national competition where students, teachers and schools are asked to connect with veterans or current serving personnel to learn about Australia’s military history, then present their learnings in an innovative and meaningful way.

Thirty-six organisations across Australia will share in more than $575,000 of funding under Batch 2 of the 2024-25 Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program.

Today the Albanese Government can reveal the permanent location of the new Northern Adelaide Veterans’ and Families Hub.

Ex-service organisations (ESOs) can now apply for a share in over $4.8 million through the Albanese Government’s Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Grants Program.

The Australian Government is continuing to support our valued defence and veteran families, with applications now open for a leadership development program designed for spouses.

Ministers responsible for veterans’ issues at the Federal, State and Territory levels met today to discuss key priorities and next steps following the Government’s response to Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

A brand new Legacy House in Brisbane’s south is one step closer, with construction now underway at the former Australian Red Cross Centre site in Greenslopes.

For more than a century Australians have worked tirelessly to commemorate the stories of those who have served our nation, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Today we remember those who lost their lives in the 1942 Bombing of Darwin and honour the service men and women who leapt to action to defend Australia’s north.

The Albanese Government is addressing veteran homelessness in Cairns with local organisation Access Community Housing receiving $1.65 million through the Veterans’ Acute Housing Program.

Once again Team Australia has done us proud on the world stage, inspiring the nation throughout the week long Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada.

Today, on National Servicemen’s Day, Australia honours the thousands of men who served as National Servicemen, or “Nashos”.

Today, Parliament has passed the most significant legislative reform of Australia’s veteran support system in a century.

Team Australia joined roughly 5,000 attendees at last night’s spectacular opening ceremony for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, which for the first time will incorporate winter sports including skiing, snowboarding, wheelchair curling and biathlon.

With, veterans three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population, this Program is intended to support veterans experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide made it abundantly clear that more needs to be done to support the mental health and wellbeing of Defence personnel, veterans and families.

Mr Matthew Anderson PSM has been reappointed as Director of the Australian War Memorial, continuing his work leading one of our nation’s most cherished and visited cultural institutions.

More than 10,000 Australian veterans will this year be more empowered when it comes to hearing health, with significant improvements to how the Albanese Government supports those with hearing impairment.

The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to deliver on our response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide through swift action on key recommendations.

Service, bravery, integrity, respect, and excellence. These are the ideals that the Australian Defence Force stands for, and reflect how we honour our current and former serving personnel. In this spirit, 55 organisations from around the country will share in more than $770,000 funding as part of the first round of the Albanese Government’s 2024-25 Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program.

Today the Albanese Government is releasing the Defence and Veteran Family Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030 (The Family Strategy). This delivers on Labor’s election commitment to identify ways to better support the families of our Defence personnel and veterans.

Federal, State and Territory Ministers responsible for veterans’ matters met today to discuss how they can best work together to implement the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Government’s response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

Registrations are now open for Australians who are looking to make the pilgrimage to attend the Anzac Day Dawn Services in Türkiye and France in 2025, on the 110th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.

Champions of veteran employment were celebrated last night at the 2024 Prime Minister’s National Veteran Employment Awards in Canberra.

The Albanese Labor Government is making it easier for veterans to pursue higher education through the Veteran Recognition of Prior Learning – Tertiary Support Grant Program.

When people think of those who pull on a uniform bearing Australia’s flag, they often think of those heading into war or conflict.

Australia’s service personnel are some of the most highly trained and skilled professionals in our nation. The attributes they possess – leadership, teamwork, agility, an ability to work under pressure – are skills every organisation is crying out for.

The physical and mental wellbeing of Australia’s veterans is a key priority for the Albanese Labor Government.

This Remembrance Day, Australians will come together to honour all those who have served and sacrificed for our nation in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Today I’m pleased to announce Australia’s top employers and employees in the veteran community, the 2024 finalists for the Prime Minister’s National Veteran Employment Awards.

Veterans’ Health Week is our annual reminder that while service takes a toll on veterans and families, there are so many innovative ways and support opportunities to maintain and improve mental health and keep connected

Today we mark another important milestone in the Australian War Memorial Development, switching on the largest Geothermal Heat Exchange System in the country. The Australian War Memorial is an iconic national institution, commemorating those who secured our nation.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has made it abundantly clear that for decades Australia’s Defence personnel, veterans and indeed their families have not been treated as they should have been.

Federal, State and Territory Ministers responsible for veterans’ matters met in Canberra today to enhance cooperation to better support veterans and their families in light of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

As we mark 25 years of Australian service in Timor-Leste, we remember Australia’s long and proud history of international peacekeeping.

Today, I will travel to Timor-Leste to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the deployment of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) in Dili.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Final Report has been delivered to the Government and tabled in Parliament today.

Primary and secondary students from all over the nation have had the opportunity to discover the stories of veterans in their local communities through the 2024 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards.

Today on Vietnam Veterans’ Day we pay tribute to the more than 60,000 Australian veterans who served in our uniform in Vietnam.

The Albanese Government is delivering on our commitment to honour the service and sacrifice of First World War veterans, with the opening of the second round of the Marking First World War Private Graves Grants Program.

More than $4.7 million in funding will be provided to 102 ex-service organisations (ESOs) across Australia to support veteran advocacy through the Albanese Government’s Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants program.

The rate of veteran suicide is a national tragedy. It’s why we called for a royal commission.

The Albanese Government is simplifying and harmonising Australia’s veterans’ rehabilitation and compensation system – with new legislation introduced today.

Veterans’ Health week is an annual reminder that while service does take its toll on veterans and veteran families there are a variety of ways they can improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Following a public call for expressions of interest, today I’m pleased to announce three new members have been appointed to the Australian War Memorial Council.

The Albanese Labor Government is working to improve access to Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) services and supports through the myGov app.