Free access to support for veterans
The Hon Matt Keogh MP
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
More fee-free, high-quality advice for veterans about how to access services and supports is being made available with almost $5 million in funding from the Albanese Labor Government.
The funding will support 98 ex-service organisations (ESOs) which perform a critical role in assisting veterans navigate the complex veteran support system.
Offering informed and accurate advice for no fee, this funding will support ESOs in providing free advocates to aid veterans and their families with navigating the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) claims system.
The funding is being delivered through the 2025-26 Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Grants Program.
This $4.818 million of funding assists ESOs with the necessary resources for staff salaries, administrative costs, office equipment, and travel capacity to offer localised advice and assistance through experienced wellbeing and compensation advocates.
The full list of recipients of the BEST Grants Program for this round is below.
For more information on the BEST grants, visit the DVA website at https://www.dva.gov.au/dvagrants.
Veteran advocates can be found on the department’s Advocacy Register, a national database that provides contact details for free advocacy services across Australia. The qualified advocates listed on the register have undertaken training through DVA’s Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP). The ATDP offers nationally consistent training in wellbeing support and claims assistance.
Media contact:
Stephanie Mathews (Minister Keogh’s Office): 0407 034 485
DVA Media: media.team@dva.gov.au
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
2025-26 Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Grants Program recipients
| Location | Organisation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association Ltd. | $5,699.48 |
| ACT | The Legacy Club of Canberra Inc | $1,834.75 |
| ACT | Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Federation ACT Inc. | $142,351.32 |
| ACT | Woden Valley Returned and Service League Sub Branch Inc. | $52,289.72 |
| NSW | Castle Hill and District Returned and Services League Sub Branch | $22,825.05 |
| NSW | Coffs Harbour Legacy Welfare Fund | $22,088.54 |
| NSW | Eurobodalla Vietnam Veterans Inc. | $4,562.03 |
| NSW | Illawarra Veterans Entitlement Service Inc. | $17,980.58 |
| NSW | Lachlan Legacy sponsored by Legacy Club Services | $5,086.97 |
| NSW | Armidale Legacy sponsored by Legacy Club Services | $6,834.97 |
| NSW | Tamworth Legacy sponsored by Legacy Club Services | $14,674.81 |
| NSW | Sydney Legacy sponsored by Legacy Club Services | $180,277.38 |
| NSW | Far North Coast Legacy sponsored by Legacy Club Services | $15,174.06 |
| NSW | Newcastle Legacy sponsored by Legacy Club Services | $41,015.16 |
| NSW | Molong Returned and Service League Sub Branch NSW | $13,662.60 |
| NSW | Mudgee and Districts Vietnam Veterans Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Association Inc. | $5,443.10 |
| NSW | Newcastle and Hunter Region Vietnam Veterans Inc. | $12,048.14 |
| NSW | RSL Lifecare Limited | $470,748.25 |
| NSW | RSLA City of Lismore | $8,365.76 |
| NSW | The Partners of Veterans Association of Australia (NSW Branch) Inc. | $5,816.40 |
| NSW | Toronto RSL Sub Branch sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia (NSW Branch) | $3,442.93 |
| NSW | Tamworth RSL Sub Branch sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia (NSW Branch) | $42,700.34 |
| NSW | The Returned and Services League of Australia (NSW Branch) Cardiff Sub Branch | $7,845.96 |
| NSW | The Returned and Services League of Australia (NSW Branch) | $22,520.08 |
| NSW | Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Returned and Services League Sub Branch Inc. | $57,953.12 |
| NSW | Veterans Centre Mid-North Coast Inc. | $31,805.79 |
| NSW | Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia St Marys Outpost Sub Branch Inc. | $446,326.00 |
| NSW | Vietnam Veterans' Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Association of Australia (NSW Branch) Inc. | $151,855.45 |
| NSW | Vietnam Veterans', Peacekeepers' and Peacemakers' Association of Australia, Central Coast Sub Branch Inc. | $55,244.17 |
| NT | Alice Springs Returned and Services League Sub Branch Inc. | $5,870.71 |
| NT | Veterans Australia NT Inc. | $6,230.74 |
| QLD | Bundaberg Legacy Inc. | $8,745.09 |
| QLD | Defence Veterans Drop-In Centre Inc. | $1,724.52 |
| QLD | National Servicemens Association of Australia (QLD) Inc. | $3,302.56 |
| QLD | Salute for Service Australia Ltd. | $37,300.00 |
| QLD | The Legacy Club of Brisbane Ltd. | $84,001.91 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Beachmere Sub Branch Inc. | $697.15 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Bray Park, Strathpine Sub Branch Inc. | $19,672.99 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Bundaberg Sub Branch Inc. | $22,995.57 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Cairns Sub Branch Inc. | $6,385.05 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Centenary Suburbs Sub Branch Inc. | $3,962.73 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Crows Nest Sub Branch Inc. | $764.42 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Currumbin Palm Beach Sub Branch Inc. | $31,508.16 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Gaythorne Sub Branch Inc. | $50,221.91 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Gladstone Sub Branch Inc. | $33,290.92 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Gordonvale Sub Branch Inc. | $5,947.87 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Greenbank Sub Branch Inc. | $25,012.55 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Gympie Sub Branch Inc. | $55,002.56 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Hervey Bay Sub Branch Inc. | $95,246.64 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Kalbar Sub Branch sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Ipswich Railway Sub Branch Inc. | $477.00 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Ipswich Railway Sub Branch Inc. | $3,956.61 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Kenmore-Moggill Sub Branch Inc. | $348.57 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Kilcoy Sub Branch Inc. | $12,422.88 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Manly-Lota Sub Branch Inc. | $54,128.69 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Maroochydore Sub Branch Inc. | $98,915.48 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Murgon Sub Branch Inc. | $8,335.18 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Nanango Sub Branch Inc. | $6,940.89 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Pine Rivers District Sub Branch Inc. | $33,191.00 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Redlands Sub Branch Inc. | $50,063.06 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Samford Sub Branch Inc. | $22,000.00 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Thuringowa Sub Branch Inc. | $14,916.68 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Townsville Sub Branch Inc. | $116,301.00 |
| QLD | The Returned and Services League of Australia (QLD Branch) Redcliffe Sub Branch Inc. | $102,133.71 |
| QLD | Toowoomba Legacy Inc. | $6,617.11 |
| QLD | Totally and Permanently Disabled Ex-Servicepersons Association (Townsville) Inc. | $12,756.56 |
| QLD | Veterans' Advocacy Community of Practice Brisbane West Inc. | $128,985.75 |
| QLD | Veterans Care Association Inc. | $31,384.03 |
| QLD | Veterans of Australia Association Inc. | $49,036.40 |
| QLD | Veterans Support Centre North QLD Inc. | $56,383.85 |
| QLD | Vietnam Veterans' Federation of Australia QLD Branch Inc. | $144,211.40 |
| QLD | VWF | $90,328.44 |
| SA | ANZAC Remembrance Appeal-1965 Trust Fund Inc. | $23,546.00 |
| SA | Legacy Club of South Australia and Broken Hill Inc. | $6,653.70 |
| SA | Plympton Veterans Centre | $65,584.66 |
| SA | The Association of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Service Men and Women (SA Branch) Inc. | $22,587.00 |
| SA | The Returned and Services League (Salisbury) Sub Branch Inc. | $16,364.60 |
| TAS | Hobart Legacy Inc. | $9,063.14 |
| TAS | The Returned and Services League of Australia (TAS Branch) Inc. | $97,898.51 |
| VIC | Ballarat Returned and Services League Sub Branch Inc. | $2,409.44 |
| VIC | Goorambat Veterans' Retreat Inc. | $30,205.74 |
| VIC | Leongatha Returned and Services League Sub Branch Inc. | $8,140.07 |
| VIC | Melbourne Legacy | $6,605.17 |
| VIC | Mornington Peninsula Legacy Club Inc. | $8,789.80 |
| VIC | Shepparton Returned and Services League Sub Branch Inc. | $56,538.13 |
| VIC | Swan Hill and District Veterans Information Centre (SHADVIC) sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia (VIC Branch) Inc | $9,895.28 |
| VIC | Gippsland Veteran Welfare Centre sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia (VIC Branch) Inc. | $8,616.49 |
| VIC | Wimmera Veterans Centre sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia (VIC Branch) Inc. | $2,925.82 |
| VIC | Central Victorian Veterans Support Centre sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia (VIC Branch) Inc. | $70,670.53 |
| VIC | The Returned and Services League of Australia (VIC Branch) Inc. | $346,609.31 |
| VIC | Torquay Returned and Services League Sub Branch Inc. | $13,737.92 |
| WA | Air Force Association (WA Division) Inc. | $103,651.05 |
| WA | Combined Defence Force Support Association of WA (Incorporating Vlsvawa and HMAS Sydney Association) Inc. | $17,434.78 |
| WA | Live Play Work Incorporated | $30,100.89 |
| WA | The Australian Special Air Service Association (WA Branch) | $11,080.96 |
| WA | The Legacy Club of WA Inc. | $19,093.19 |
| WA | The Returned and Services League of Australia WA Branch Inc. | $402,369.97 |
| WA | City of Mandurah RSL Sub Branch sponsored by Returned and Services League of Australia WA Branch Inc. | $16,168.14 |
| WA | Western Australia Branch of the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia Inc. | $1,068.47 |
| NATIONAL | TOTAL | $4,818,000.01 |