Media releases

For the first time, Defence Ministers will join Defence personnel in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, as part of the Sydney WorldPride festival on Saturday 25 February 2023.

Today Australians pause to remember those who lost their lives, and those who served in the defence of Darwin during the Second World War.

Today the Albanese Government has taken the next step in responding to the recommendations of the Interim Report by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide by commencing public consultation on a Pathway to simplify veteran compensation and rehabilitation legislation.

Today, on National Servicemen’s Day, Australia acknowledges the contribution of thousands of our countrymen, also known as Nashos.

Today marks 56 years since the arrival of the Australian Naval Clearance Diving Team Three in South Vietnam, an elite group who put their lives at risk clearing underwater mines and obstacles during the Vietnam War. 

Defence personnel, veterans and families in Perth’s Southern Suburbs are set to receive better access to support through the establishment of a new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub, following consultation with the local community.

Today marks the 55th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, a key turning point of the Vietnam War. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the Tet Offensive played a significant role in changing public opinion about the war.

Ex-service organisations (ESOs) are encouraged to apply for a share of  $4.551 million funding through the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants program. 

The next Veterans’ and Families’ Hub is set to be established in Caboolture, Southeast Queensland, with health and wellbeing organisation Lives Lived Well announced today to lead the Hub’s development.

Support for the veteran community in North West Tasmania will soon be improved, with the Australian Government today announcing local veterans’ welfare group, the North West Tasmania Veteran Welfare Board, as the lead organisation to establish the new Burnie Veterans’ and Families’ Hub.

Community organisations across Australia will share in more than $1 million in grant funding to recognise veterans and preserve Australia’s military history in the latest round of the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program. 

Every time someone pulls on an Australian Defence Force (ADF) uniform they make a solemn vow.

Tomorrow marks 50 years since the 1973 proclamation of the end of Australian involvement in the Vietnam War. 

The Service of Vietnam War veterans will be commemorated in the 2023 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards, 50 years following the end of Australia’s involvement in the war.

The latest addition to the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs network has officially opened today in Wodonga, providing tailored services and support to the veteran community in regional Victoria. 

New South Wales’ first Veterans’ and Families’ Hub has officially opened today in Nowra.

Tomorrow we recognise more than 280,000 Australians who were called up to serve their country in National Service schemes between 1951 and 1972. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the men who served as ‘Nashos’ should be proud of their service.

From today, pensioners over Age Pension age and eligible Veterans will be able to earn more income from working without reducing their pension, just in time to take advantage of seasonal jobs.

Australia’s top veteran and partner employers, employees and entrepreneurs were celebrated last night at the 2022 Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards in Canberra.

The Australian Government is investing in a better future for veterans and their families, improving support for totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) Veterans.

A report released today into the rate of suicide among current and former serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel reaffirms that suicide prevention must be a matter of national priority.

Three Australian soldiers of the First World War have been formally identified more than 105 years since they were killed on the Western Front.

Tomorrow, on the 104th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War, Australians will pause to honour the more than 103,000 Australians who have lost their lives, and all those who have served our country in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Previously unrecognised Veterans of the First World War whose graves are unmarked will now be acknowledged, thanks to a grants program funded in the October 2022-23 Budget.

The Australian Government is investing in a better future for Defence personnel, veterans and families, responding to important recommendations put forward by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and delivering on commitments from the Federal Election.

The Albanese Government will recommend the Governor-General appoint the Hon Kim Beazley AC as a member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has released a digital kitbag to help families, schools and community groups conduct their own commemorative service on Remembrance Day.

Consultation on reforming veterans’ legislation has commenced today with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) seeking submissions from the community.

Mr Timothy Bayliss AM has today been appointed as the Director of War Graves for the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG).

Australians on a pension will today be waking up to see a boost in their bank accounts, thanks to the largest pension indexation increase in more than 12 years and the largest increase to allowances in three decades.

From this week, Veterans, war widows and widowers living in residential aged care will benefit from expanded access to clinically necessary allied health care services and rehabilitation aids and appliances, regardless of the level of care they are receiving.

Get out your kitchen utensils and put on your best apron as Veterans’ Health Week 2022 kicks off for 2022. 

The Albanese Government has this week passed two vital pieces of Legislation supporting Defence personnel, veterans and families.

The Australian War Memorial will lead the nation with a new green energy project, delivering the largest closed loop underground geothermal technology heating and cooling system in Australia as part of the current development and expansion.

The Australian Government has delivered on a $9 million commitment to enable Invictus Australia to deliver a key sports program and various international military games.

The Albanese Government has today responded to the 13 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s Interim Report.

Community organisations across the nation will receive funding from the Australian Government to deliver projects honouring our nation’s veterans and safeguard Australia’s military history.

The Hon Anthony (Tony) Abbott AC has today been reappointed as a member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial.

Schools around the nation have been praised for their creative projects honouring Australian peacekeepers as part of the annual Anzac Day Schools’ Awards.

Australia’s reputation as a global citizen will be commemorated tomorrow in Canberra with a service recognising the 75th anniversary of our involvement in peacekeeping operations to be broadcast live on the ABC.

Tomorrow, 80 years after the Battle for Australia, we recognise all those who defended our country during the Second World War, at home and in land, air and sea battles to our north.

A new report released today shines a light on the positive experience of former Defence Force members in rejoining civilian life and their positive impact on their communities.

Each year on 31 August we recognise the Australian defence personnel who served in the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation. 

Australia’s top veteran employers, employees and entrepreneurs are being celebrated today as finalists for the 2022 Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards are unveiled.

Veterans’ advocacy services today received a boost, with more than 119 ex-service organisations (ESOs) across Australia sharing in $4.45 million of funding under the Australian Government’s Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants program.

The Federal Labor Government has held the first of two Veterans Employment Round Tables, as precursor consultations to the Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit to better understand practical solutions to get more Aussie veterans and defence families into work.

Following the release of the Royal Commission’s Interim Report into Defence and Veterans Suicide, the Veterans Wellbeing Taskforce has been convened by new Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh.

Ex-service organisations and community groups can now apply for funding to help host events promoting healthy eating as part of this year’s Veterans’ Health Week.

Construction has commenced on a permanent home for the Darwin Veterans’ and Families’ Hub to help support the 10,000 veterans and families in the Northern Territory.

Tomorrow, on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, Australia pauses to recognise the men and women who served in the Vietnam War, 60 years after the first Australian defence personnel were sent to South Vietnam.