Site selected for Ipswich Veterans' and Families' Hub

Veterans and their families in the Ipswich area will soon have access to tailored support closer to home, with a location selected for a new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub.

Operated by RSL Queensland, the new Hub will be co-located with Mates4Mates at 260 Brisbane St, West Ipswich.

The site is already well-known to the local veteran community and is easy to access with onsite parking and nearby bus and train routes, making it the ideal location.

The Hub will be co-designed with veterans and their families to ensure it provides support and social connection that lines up with the needs of the local veteran community.

More than 10,000 veterans and families live in the Ipswich and surrounding area, in addition to 5,000 ADF personnel stationed at RAAF Base Amberley.

RSL Queensland purchased the Brisbane Street site after the Albanese Government awarded it a $5.4 million grant to lead the development of the Hub.

RSL Queensland, in partnership with Mates4Mates, will deliver a multidisciplinary, holistic facility offering a “no wrong door” approach to support so veterans and families get access to the right care at the right time.

The Ipswich Hub will provide tailored mental health and wellbeing services in keeping with the Albanese Government’s urgent focus on responding to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

It is envisaged the Hub will also offer expanded physical rehabilitation support, including exercise physiology and physiotherapy, as well as programs fostering social connection, building on existing Mates4Mates services.

The Ipswich Hub is part of the Australian Government’s $46.7 million commitment to establish eight new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across the country to ensure even more veterans and families can access support closer to home.

For more information about Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs, visit the DVA website.

Quotes attributable to Matt Keogh, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel:

“The need for a Hub is huge, with Ipswich home to one of the biggest veteran communities in the country, not to mention the Amberley RAAF base.

“It’s exciting the Albanese Government will soon deliver a facility providing Ipswich veterans, both current and former serving, and their families the support they deserve.

“The Hub means they’ll get the right support, closer to home, when they need it delivered in a way that works with the local community.

“That could mean social connectivity, wellbeing support, physical rehabilitation or a combination of all three, all under one roof.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann:

“I’m proud that the Albanese Labor Government is backing our local veteran community in Ipswich and the western corridor, and delivering on my commitment to establish a much-needed Ipswich Veterans’ and Families’ Hub.

“It’s terrific to see this significant progress, with a permanent location selected for the new Hub. This is great news for our region.

“I’m especially glad to see the Hub will be co-designed with local veterans and families. This will ensure the Hub is fit-for-purpose and popular as not only a place to access support but also social connection.

“RSL Queensland and Mates4Mates have a strong track record, so I’m confident they will deliver an outstanding facility where veterans and defence personnel, and their families can access a range of health and wellbeing services.”

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608