veteran community - Families of Veterans Guild

Media release – The Families of Veterans Guild responds to ‘Scrap the Cap’ campaign success

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:50:47 +0000

The Families of Veterans Guild says today’s backdown on the proposed $5,000 veteran allied health threshold is a direct result of sustained community pressure, but the fight to protect veteran health care is not over.

Sydney, 17 September 2026 – The Federal Government has today abandoned its proposed $5,000 annual threshold on allied health services for Veteran Card holders, confirming the associated increase to allied health provider fees announced in the 2026–27 Budget will proceed without the threshold attached. The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs said the Government had been listening to concerns raised through consultation and was, “taking the proposed $5,000 threshold off the table.”

Alongside many other people and organisations in the veteran community, the Families of Veterans Guild (the Guild) has campaigned against the cap since it was first announced on 12 May 2026, warning it would leave the community’s most vulnerable people, including ageing war widows managing chronic conditions and families of veterans with complex health needs like children of deceased service members, worse off. Since then, the Guild has briefed and met with parliamentarians across the political divide, engaged directly with Senators Jacqui Lambie, David Pocock and David Shoebridge, stood alongside advocates including Phillip Thompson OAM MP, taken the issue to national media including Sky News and ABC Radio Sydney, and written to every member of the House of Representatives and the Senate calling for the cap to be scrapped.

“This is what happens when a community refuses to quietly accept bad policy,” said Renee Wilson, CEO of the Families of Veterans Guild. “Veterans, war widows and families told the Government very clearly that a spreadsheet limit on healthcare was no way to decide whether someone could keep seeing their physiotherapist or psychologist, and today the Government has listened. That is a win for every person who wrote a letter, made a call, or shared their story over the past four months.”

The Guild recognises that this outcome reflects the effort of the whole veteran community, including the Coalition of Veterans’ Voices, Senator Lambie’s cross-bench bill, and the many veterans, widows and families who added their voices to the campaign.

Today’s statement leaves open how the Government intends to protect system integrity and manage over-servicing without a numerical cap, and how the removal of the 12-session treatment cycle, which is still proceeding, will work in practice. The Guild will continue to engage with the DVA through the current consultation, closing 30 October 2026, to ensure whatever replaces the cap is simple, transparent, and does not shift new administrative burden onto unwell veterans, widows and families. Furthermore, war widows and the children of deceased veterans must not be overlooked in any future design.

“Scrapping the cap is the right call, and the Government deserves credit for listening,” Ms Wilson said. “But our community will keep watching closely as this policy is redesigned, because the same principle applies: veterans, war widows and veteran families should never have to fight this hard for care they have already earned.”

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Mindfulness course online for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:47:50 +0000

Six weeks of mindfulness: an online course for war widows, defence and veteran families

Give yourself an hour a week to slow down and learn how to be more present. This six-week wellbeing activity is a practical, evidence-based introduction to mindfulness you can join from home. With the first session on Tuesday 10 November 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can now join our mindfulness course online.

Mindfulness course

Join us online via Zoom for a six-week mindfulness course led by Lydia Vorona from Living Aware. Each one-hour session explores a different theme — from what mindfulness is and isn’t, to autopilot versus being present, the evidence-based benefits, stress physiology, and bringing mindfulness into daily life. Every week also includes two guided meditation practices and time for questions.

The course covers formal and informal practice, mindful breathing and body practices, mindful walking and eating, and the difference between responding and reacting. The content is drawn from the acclaimed eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. There is no cost to attend, and this is an adults-only activity.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I appreciate opportunities to learn new things, develop practical skills, and prioritise self-care and wellbeing in a supportive and welcoming environment.”

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Dates:

- Tuesday 10 November 2026
- Tuesday 17 November 2026
- Tuesday 24 November 2026
- Tuesday 1 December 2026
- Tuesday 8 December 2026
- Tuesday 15 December 2026

Time: 7pm – 8pm (AEDT).

Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Beachside lunch and boardgames for Sydney veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:47:40 +0000

A beachside games afternoon for war widows, defence and veteran families

A little friendly competition, a good lunch, and the beach as a backdrop. This wellbeing activity at Dolls Point brings families together for a casual afternoon of games and good food. On Friday 6 November 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our beachside lunch and boardgames for a relaxed day out by the water.

Beachside lunch and boardgames

Join us at Coffee in the Park in Dolls Point for a relaxed afternoon at the beach, with plenty of chances to have fun, connect, and enjoy some friendly competition. We’ll have a range of games to choose from, including UNO, card games, Guess the Brand, Categories, Quiddler, Imposter, and Pass the Pigs. Lunch is part of the day too, so there’s time to sit back, share a meal, and spend time together in a casual beachside setting.

Lunch and games are provided, and there is no cost to attend. Children are welcome with adult supervision. One thing to note: beach tables can’t be guaranteed and, where available, don’t have back support — so the group may need to sit on picnic blankets on the grass, or you’re welcome to bring your own chair.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I just wanted to express my gratitude for being able to connect with such a wonderful group. It was such a great opportunity to do an activity and get to know some of the other attendees at the same time.”

Event information

Location: Meet outside Coffee in the Park, 179 Russell Ave, Dolls Point NSW.
Date: Friday 6 November 2026.
Time: 12pm – 2pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is essential, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Trivia night for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:41:07 +0000

Online Trivia session for war widows, defence and veteran families

How’s your general knowledge? Join us online for a night of questions and a bit of friendly rivalry. This online wellbeing activity is a trivia night for all ages, played from the comfort of home. On Friday 20 November 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our trivia night for an easy, fun evening in.

You’re free to join in on your own, with a friend or with your family beside you and enjoy time with others with a chance to win a $20 Coles voucher!

Trivia night

Join us online via Zoom for a one-hour interactive trivia session hosted on Kahoot. The questions cover a mix of movies, animals, fun facts, and general knowledge, so everyone can get involved — no trivia experience needed. There’s a $20 Coles gift card up for grabs too, posted out to the winner on the night.

To join in, you’ll need to set up a free Kahoot account beforehand. We’ll share the instructions and game PIN at the start of the session. There is no cost to attend, and children are welcome to play with adult supervision. It’s a lighthearted way to spend an evening together and have a bit of fun as a family.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I enjoyed connecting and sharing conversations with others from around the country, spending quality time with my family, and participating in a different activity.”

Event information

Location: Online (Zoom link will be emailed to you).
Date: Friday 20 November 2026.
Time: 7pm – 8pm (AEST).
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Reflection on the month that was: the $5,000 allied health cap for veterans

Kelly Taylor — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 03:20:35 +0000

The proposed $5,000 cap on allied health services has dominated conversation across the veteran community this month. Below, our CEO Renee Wilson reflects on the debate, the advocates who have driven it, and why the Guild continues to call on the government to Scrap the Cap.

This month we saw a lot of debate around the unfair proposed $5,000 allied health cap. I want to, once again, recognise the ongoing, tireless work of the Coalition of Veterans Voices, as well as the support of cross-party advocates including Susan McDonald, Matt Canavan, Dr Anne Webster, Michael McCormack, Phil Thompson, Jacquie Lambie, Colin Boyce and David Shoebridge. Thanks to your work, the media cycle has continued to gather momentum around the cap, and our community’s voices have been heard.

A special thank you to Phil Thompson, Michael McCormack and Dr Anne Webster for recognising that war widows are part of this conversation in your statements and questions to parliament.

What has happened this month is a boiling over of the veteran community’s frustration: we’ve had enough of not being heard by our Minister and our government. In my 16+ years working in this space I have never seen our community come together in the way they have around this issue. We are roaring at the government with one unified message: No to this cap, plain and simple.

Alongside the rest of the community, the Families of Veterans Guild has been speaking up about this issue and persistently calling on the government to Scrap the Cap: for the veterans we love, and our war widows who are already struggling to access the critical healthcare they deserve.

We completely agree with David Shoebridge’s reflection on this policy: it is a savings measure, returning cash to the government to compensate for allied health care providers charging closer to the market rate for their services. This is a trade off no one in the sector agreed to and one that breaks Australia’s promise to look after veterans and families.

Recently, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of the nation’s gratitude for our Vietnam veterans: he reinforced that the government honours, respects and thanks them for their service.

The clearest way to bring that statement to life is to Scrap the Cap: show our veterans, their families and war widows that you honour, respect and thank them for what they have given to Australia. They have given their health and wellbeing so that the rest of us might prosper. Pay what it takes for their healthcare and Scrap the Cap.

Sign Phillip Thompson’s Scrap the Cap petition here: https://www.philthompson.com.au/scrap-the-cap/

Sign Jacqui Lambie’s Scrap the Cap petition here: https://lambienetwork.com.au/pages/scrap-the-cap

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Nature connection walk for Canberra veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 01:57:45 +0000

Reconnect in nature: wellbeing walk for war widows, defence and veteran families

Slow right down and reconnect — with nature, and with yourself. This wellbeing activity is a gentle, guided walk through the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, designed to help you feel present and at ease. On Friday 30 October 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our nature connection walk for a calm, mindful morning in the bush.

Nature connection walk

Join us at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary for a 90-minute guided nature connection walk — a gentle, sensory-based experience designed to help you reconnect with nature and yourself. Nature and forest therapy guide Sarah Murray-Boyd will lead you through techniques such as mindful breathing, sensory awareness, grounding, and silent observation to encourage relaxation, presence, and reflection.

There is no cost to attend. Because this is a quiet, mindful activity, it isn’t suited to young children, though infants and babies are welcome. After the walk, you’re warmly invited to keep the conversation going at Wildbark Café, where coffee is available to purchase at your own expense.

Previous attendees of wellbeing activities said “I enjoyed spending time outdoors, exploring somewhere new, getting fresh air and gentle exercise, and connecting with others who understand my lifestyle and experiences.”

Event information

Location: Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, 25 Rosenberg St, Throsby ACT 2914.
Date: Friday 30 October 2026.
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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