Ex-Army personnel to be supported by Oasis Townsville

FOR years ex-ADF personnel and their families have dreamed of a one-stop shop for welfare support and employment transition services in Townsville. Now that is set to be a reality.

Three-star general Lieutenant General John Caligari AO, DSC (retired) along side Director of veterans off the streets Australia and committee member of Townsville RSL sub branch Floss Foster OAM have secured the Oasis Veterans Hub. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A 24/7 SERVICES hub for ex-Defence personnel and their families in Townsville should be opened early next year, with the State Government agreeing to a site.

The Oasis Townsville (TOT) will provide a one-stop shop for welfare support and employment transition services to ex-ADF personnel and their families.

TOT will be at the former Department of Primary Industries Biosecurity lab on the corner of Darter and Colvin streets, Oonoonba.

TOT leader retired Lieutenant General John Caligari said the project was almost 10 years in the making and was the brainchild of Veterans Off The Streets Australia managing director Floss Foster and Townsville leaders of prominent ex-service organisations (ESOs).

He said TOT would be manned around the clock to provide advice and support with matters affecting transitioning and adapting to life outside the ADF.

“Many services, especially those provided by ESOs, are currently dispersed across the city from Kelso right to the CBD,” he said.

“Individual organisations do some incredible work but it’s often hard for them to capture all the people they need to help.

“People who have mental health problems often only give it one shot to seek help and end up going to the wrong place so we need to have just one place for them to go where they’ll know they’ll be looked after.”

The building has been dormant since 2012 and it is understood it requires about $1 million in refurbishment.

Labor has committed to transferring and repurposing the site in the new year if re-elected.

Mr Caligari said he would seek the same support from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, Katter’s Australian Party and the LNP to ensure the project moved ahead.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke said ex-ADF personnel and their families faced unique challenges, including high unemployment, elevated risk of social isolation, drug addiction and suicide.

She said Labor’s commitment to the TOT site was part of its plan to tackle these issues in Townsville.

“The hub will complement existing services … and will help fill the identified gaps in the current service provision,” she said.

“The hub will also act as a co-ordination and referral service to existing programs and providers.

“It will also act as a social space for ex-ADF personnel and their families to interact with other veterans and also seek assistance to navigate the existing services available to them.”

Originally published as Ex-Army personnel to be supported by Oasis Townsville