Veterans’ Review Board members appointed

The Independent Veterans’ Review Board is a specialist tribunal that assesses decisions about veterans’ entitlements and compensation. 

This month, a number of new and reappointed members have been appointed to the board which plays a critical part in Australia’s veteran support system with responsibility for reviewing decisions made by the repatriation and military rehabilitation and compensation commissions at the request of veterans and their families. 

16 new members have been appointed to the Veterans Review Board (VRB) for the next five years; 

• Mr James McCusker, part-time Senior Member; 
• Lieutenant Colonel Gerard O’Shea, part-time Senior Member;
• Mr Raymond Smith, part-time Senior Member; 
• Brigadier William Date ADC, part-time Services Member;
• Rear Admiral Mark Hill AM CSC RAN, part-time Services Member;
• Ms Katie Jugowitz, part-time Services Member;
• Lieutenant Commander Mark Karlovic, part-time Services Member;
• Mr John Kirton, part-time Services Member;
• Wing Commander Jodi Mather, part-time Services Member;
• Mr Scott Warr, part-time Services Member;
• Dr Rondhir Jithoo, part-time Member;
• Mr Troy Newman, part-time Member;
• Dr Roland Oak JP, part-time Member;
• Air Vice Marshall Mark Skidmore, part-time Member; 
• Captain Luke Thatcher, part-time Member; 
• Mr Ross Glover, part-time Member.

13 members have been reappointed for three year terms to support and mentor the new appointees; 

• Major Robert Douglass, full-time Senior Member;
• Colonel Evan Carlin, part-time Senior Member;
• Ms Mary Desses, part-time Senior Member;
• Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kelly, part-time Senior Member;
• Associate Professor David Letts AM SCM, part-time Senior Member;
• Ms Amanda MacDonald, part-time Senior Member;
• Commander Neville Wyatt, part-time Senior Member;
• Brigadier Mark Bornholt (Retd) AM, part-time Services Member;
• Colonel Catherine Carrigan, part-time Services Member;
• Captain Steven Coghlan, part-time Services Member;
• Major General Francis Roberts AO, part-time Services Member;
• Commander Sophia White, part-time Services Member;
• Group Captain Louise Hunt, part-time Member.

Biographies of the appointees will be made available on the VRB website.

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