Trial program to help city’s veterans post service

Townsville veterans are taking part in a pilot program to help them find their place in the civilian world after military service.

TOWNSVILLE veterans are taking part in a community connections pilot program to help them find their place in the civilian world.

The city was chosen for the four-week initial program because of its large veteran community and if successful the Mates4Mates program will be rolled across the country.

Mates4Mates provide a way forward for current and ex-serving Defence Force members and their families experiencing service-related physical injuries, mental health issues and isolation.

The pilot community connections program aims to support veterans impacted by service to connect with their local communities through shared interests and activities, such as the sport of archery.

Mates4Mates North Queensland regional manager Marcia Morgan said the pilot program was partnering with Townsville Target Archers in Rosslea.

Mates4Mates North Queensland regional manager Marcia Morgan and senior liaison officer Deidre Simpson at Townsville Target Archers. Picture: Evan Morgan

“It was a vitally important program for veterans to get out into the community and mix with the community,” they said.

“The community connections program is designed specially to look at how transitioning veterans can create new communities outside of their defence community and introduce them to a sport that they can then carry on with into the future.

“It gets them to interact with people in the community and some veterans are stuck and lost at

home so this is an opportunity to get them out into the community as well and out of their houses.

“It is an opportunity for veterans that aren’t able to leave their houses at them moment to interact with the community in a safe environment.”

Researchers from James Cook University will also be conducting an evaluation project throughout this pilot program to provide further support to the veteran community.

Registering with Mates4Mates and the Townsville Family Recovery Centre gives veterans access to a wide range of services such as social connection activities, psychology appointments, physical rehabilitation and wellbeing sessions, yoga classes and online services.

For more information about Mates4Mates call 1800462837 or visit mates4mates.org

Originally published as Trial program to help city’s veterans post service