Veterans Affairs survey: Half of Australians say veterans need more support

Almost half of everyday Australians don’t feel veterans are properly supported, a survey has revealed.

Almost half of everyday Australians don’t feel veterans are properly supported, a survey has revealed.

Out of 1085 Aussies surveyed, 49 per cent say more could be done to help veterans with essential services, such as health care and financial assistance.

The same survey found seven out of 10 Australians planned to commemorate Anzac Day this year

RSL LifeCare executive general manager for veteran services Nicki Young said Anzac Day provided an opportunity to talk about how veterans can be supported all year round.

“The role of assistance and support for those that have offered up such sacrifice in serving their nation is tireless, and we should acknowledge this and continue to do whatever we can as a united team to deliver the care and compassion that our veterans deserve,” she said.

RSL LifeCare executive general manager for veteran services Nicki Young.

In response to the survey, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs told NewsLocal the wellbeing of more than 340,000 veterans and their families was one of their key priorities.

“In 2022-23 the department will administer $11.5 billion to deliver and provide access to a broad range of these services, including access to free mental health services to everyone who has served one day full time service and some reserve service in the ADF,” Department of Veterans’ Affairs secretary Liz Cosson said.

“The department also delivers support through Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling for veterans and families who need support.”

Mr McDermott, the village manager of RSL LifeCare’s Rowland Village at Galston, has deep family connections to Anzac Day with both his maternal and paternal grandfathers having served in wars.

Murray McDermott’s ties to Anzac Day run deep.

He also holds a special family memento extra close on Anzac Day.

“A piece that I hold close to me is a compass that was given to my father when he left for Vietnam. It was given to him by his father, who took the compass to Korea,” he said.

“My father tells the story that he hid the compass in Vietnam when his life was in peril, only to return 30 years later to retrieve it.”

Mr McDermott’s fathers compass that he dug up in Vietnam 30 years later.

Barbara Edwards, a former reservist for 37 years and morse-code operator, and her siblings, Louise and Andrew, have kept their fathers and grandfathers medals and remember their service on April 25.

“Anzac Day is important to me as it’s a time for us all to reflect on the sacrifices that those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen made for us,” Ms Edwards said.

The Edwards siblings, who lived together in a Picton Lifecare home, have kept their forefather’s medals. L to R: Barbara Edwards, Andrew Edwards, Louise McGilvray.

Max Streeter served six years in the Army (medical corps), seven years in the Army Reserve and 15 years with the Australia Federal Police before he was deployed to Cyprus in 1999-2000 and then to East Timor in 2001.

Former army reserve turned RSL LifeCare equine instructor, Max Streeter, sees Anzac Day as a unique military commemoration drawing upon his experience as an army reserve and that of his son who served for 15 years with the Royal Australian Navy.

“I like that as a nation we selected a day that was not a military victory, but a day that remembers the tragedy of war. In doing so, it does not celebrate war, but reminds us of how brutal it can be,” Mr Streeter said.