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The strategy will support members of Australia’s veteran community and their families to transition to civilian life, as part of a joint initiative between Defence, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation.
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The strategy details six priority areas to improve the transitioning process, including:
- Helping members of the Australian Defence Force and their families to prepare for a transition to civilian life.
- Ensuring that they are made aware of and able to access support that is appropriate to what they need.
- Engaging with families throughout the process.
- Enabling veterans and their families to gain access to employment, education, and skills opportunities.
- Ensuring financial literacy for veterans and their families.
- Making sure that veterans and their families feel supported and recognised.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh MP detailed how the Commonwealth has begun implementing policies to address these priority areas.
Among these are skills programs that translate military training into civilian qualifications, ensuring that veterans are recognised for their achievements throughout their service. Meanwhile, Minister Keogh announced that coaching to support families throughout the process is scheduled to be launched later in the year.
Transitioning ADF members will also be able to occupy a rent allowance property following amendments to Defence Housing rules, enabling them to get established in their community, with new allowances to attend civilian GP appointments also announced to facilitate the handover of medical care needs from Defence Health.
The strategy will support the creation of a more streamlined transition process that accommodates the unique needs of Australia’s veteran community, Minister Keogh explained.
“The Veteran Transition Strategy is a major step forward to establishing a more connected transition ecosystem, prioritising the individual needs of each veteran and their families,” Minister Keogh said.
“We understand that veterans’ experiences differ and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to transition.”
The strategy is expected to evolve to continuously meet the needs of Australia’s veteran community, including recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
