Media releases

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh and Federal Member for Brand Madeleine King today have announced a $5.445 million grant for a new Veterans' and Families’ Hub in Rockingham.

Today we’re releasing the Defence Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Family and Domestic Violence 2023–2028.

The Albanese Government is further delivering on our commitment to empowering veterans in their transition to the civilian workforce and to pursue higher education. 

Today I’m proud to announce that almost $17 million will go towards improving veteran and families services, supports and coordination where they’re needed most.

So many Australians have a connection with the Anzac legend – a family story of a son lost, or a local hero who never returned home. 109 years since the Allied landings on the Gallipoli peninsula, Anzac Day remains core to our national identity.

Today Australians the world over will pause to honour the more than 103,000 service personnel who have lost their lives in service to our nation.

Tonight, I will travel to the United Kingdom to participate in Remembrance Day commemorations to honour the service and sacrifice of Australian and British personnel who have lost their lives in war, conflict and peacekeeping operations. 

The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring the veteran community is provided with the best possible services and supports.

The veteran community in Brisbane’s northern suburbs will now have access to co-ordinated services and supports, following the opening of the Lives Lived Well Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Caboolture.

Today marks the beginning of Veterans’ Health Week 2023, an opportunity for the veteran community to renew their focus on improving, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Federal, State and Territory Ministers responsible for veterans’ matters met in Perth today, committing to strengthening national collaboration on the services and supports available for veterans and their families.

The veteran community in Sydney’s west is on track to receive additional supports, as the Australian Government moves one step closer to delivering a unique Veterans’ and Families’ Hub network, spanning across the Hawkesbury and down to South Western Sydney.

The Albanese Government is improving incentives to get more Australians into work.

Team Australia celebrated their Invictus Games success at a spectacular Closing Ceremony in Dusseldorf, Germany last night. 

“Lest we forget” are the words we say as a nation to remember the sacrifice of those who have served in our nation’s uniform.  Local war memorials, historical sites and museums are the physical embodiment of making sure Australians all over don’t forget. 

Mr Kahlil Fegan DSC AM has been appointed as Australia’s new Repatriation Commissioner.

The Parliament has today passed new laws that will support the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to complete its important work ahead of its reporting date of 17 June 2024.

The nation’s top veteran and partner employers, employees and entrepreneurs have been celebrated tonight at the annual Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards.

The Invictus Games 2023 kicked off overnight in Dusseldorf, Germany with an impressive Opening Ceremony, celebrating the power of sport, the resilience of veterans and the unconquered Invictus spirit.

Today, we commemorate the Battle for Australia, remembering the brave Australians who defended our nation by land, sea and air during the Second World War.  

More than 5.5 million Australians will receive an increase to their income support payments and pensions when indexation takes effect in two weeks’ time on 20 September. 

Australia’s wartime history is filled with stories of ordinary Australians who served our nation in extraordinary ways.

Today the Australian Government has released the nation’s first Veteran Transition Strategy to better support veterans’ and their families transition to civilian life. 

The Australian Government has awarded RSL LifeCare Veteran Services $50,000 in grant funding to support the development of a business case to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub to be located in Maitland.

To mark the 50th anniversary year of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, schools across the country have honoured the service of Vietnam veterans’ in the 2023 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards.

Today our nation will pause to mark Vietnam Veterans’ Day, the key commemoration in this 50th anniversary year of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

On this day in 1945, the Second World War came to an end, with Japan giving its unconditional surrender to the Allies, some three months after the end of the War in Europe. 

The Australian Government has awarded RSL LifeCare Veteran Services $50,000 in grant funding to support the development of a business case to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Queanbeyan region.

The establishment of a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Tweed/North Coast region of NSW is one step closer, as the process to select an organisation to establish and manage the hub reaches another milestone.

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

Veterans Health week is an important opportunity for Australians to reflect on the service and sacrifices of veterans and veteran families, and acknowledge that sometimes, this service can take its toll on their health and wellbeing.

Today we recognise those who served in the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV), the first Australians to respond to a request for assistance from the former Republic of Vietnam.

Following a successful grant application, the Australian Government has today announced that RSL Victoria has been awarded a $50,000 grant to develop a business case to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Surf Coast / Geelong region.

Tomorrow we mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, and commemorate the sacrifice of the Australians who served.

Today I will travel to the Republic of Korea to participate in the 70th anniversary commemorations of the Korean War Armistice.

Today we pay tribute to the pilots, observers, naval airmen and support staff who served in the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV) unit.

Today the Albanese Government has launched its $24 million Veteran Employment Program, an initiative aimed to boost veteran employment opportunities, as well as help businesses benefit from the diverse skill sets that veterans bring.

Today we mark 50 years since the withdrawal of the last Australian troops from Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Following a successful grant application, the Australian Government has today announced that RSL WA has been awarded a $50,000 grant to develop a business case to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub at a location in the Brand electorate.

Following a successful grant application, the Australian Government has today announced that RSL Queensland has been awarded a $50,000 grant to develop a business case to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Ipswich.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh today announced that RSL Tasmania has been awarded $5 million by the Australian Government to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub network across Tasmania.

50 years on from the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the advocacy of Vietnam veterans lives on.

Following a successful grant application, the Australian Government has today announced that Lives Lived Well has been invited to develop a business case to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Northern Adelaide.

With so many organisations around the country doing fantastic work to support the wellbeing of veterans and families, the Australian Government is delivering a $20 million targeted funding program to improve veteran and families services, supports and coordination at local and regional levels.

Support services for veterans and families in the Top End have been boosted today with the opening of a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Stuart Park, adding to veteran services already being delivered by Mates4Mates in Palmerston.

Today marks 58 years since HMAS Sydney’s (III) first journey to Vietnam, the first of many voyages to transport thousands of troops, cargo and equipment during the Vietnam War.

Ex-service and community organisations are set to benefit from more than $5.5 million in grant funding to help deliver wellbeing projects and commemorative activities for veterans, defence personnel and their families.

Veterans in Macquarie are set to benefit from a tripling of the Veterans’ Access Payment (VAP) announced in the Federal Budget.

Today we remember the bravery of all those involved in Operation Chastise, better known as the “Dambusters” Raid, 80 years ago in the Second World War.

The unique challenges Australian Defence Force (ADF) families experience are being recognised this week at events across Australia, as part of National Families Week.