Allied health care is essential — and veterans, widows and families deserve certainty On 12 May 2026, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) announced a $5,000 annual monetary limit on allied health services for Veteran Card holders as part of the Federal Budget. The proposal Taking effect on 1 July 2027, the cap on allied […]
A cap on allied health is blunt and poor policy Read More »
Advocacy, Awareness, Important Updates
This week’s Federal Budget once again failed to commit any funding to supporting Australian veteran families, a community that hasn’t seen a substantive policy update since 1986. While the Government touts a record $53 billion Defence package, the limited funding flowing into the veteran portfolio is being funnelled into the most inefficient part of the
Building capability on broken foundations: where are veteran families in this budget? Read More »
Advocacy, Awareness, Important Updates, Resources
By Renee Wilson, CEO, Families of Veterans Guild Yesterday the Australian Government announced the biggest peacetime defence spend in our nation’s history. Nuclear submarines. Ghost Shark drones. Hypersonic missiles. A strategy built for what is looking to be the most challenging era since World War II for our nation. Buried deep in the document, there is a short section about people —
No deterrence without retention: National Defence Strategy Read More »
Advocacy, Awareness, Important Updates, Resources
By Renee Wilson, CEO, Families of Veterans Guild This blog post first appeared in The Canberra Times’ opinion column on 2 March. Read it on the Canberra Times’ website. Global tensions are escalating and Australia is ramping up its defence spending to record levels, the associated rhetoric from the Albanese Government is clear: people are our most
Why is veteran family policy stuck in the 1950s? Read More »
Advocacy, Awareness, Important Updates, Resources
Close but not quite A message from our CEO, Renee Wilson. On Thursday 04 September 2025 The Hon. Matt Keogh MP made this speech to the Parliament, addressing the progress made since the Royal Commission handed over its final report on 4 September 2024. Minister Keogh used the opportunity to address the Senate Inquiry into
Positive progress but defence and veteran families need more than words Read More »
Advocacy, Opinion Pieces
Our submission to the Mental Health Commission dedicated to veterans and their families In June 2025 the Mental Health Commission of NSW released a consultation paper to assist in the development of their new Strategy for mental health and wellbeing in NSW. With 26% of Australian veterans calling NSW home and an estimated 246,000
Enhancing mental health for NSW veterans and their families Read More »
Advocacy, Contribution, Important Updates