Big V: Mark Schroffel is the new head of RSL Victoria. He doesn’t just want welfare, he wants wellbeing

Mark Schroffel has earned his stripes in Australia’s army. Now at the helm of RSL Victoria, he wants veterans to not just survive, but thrive.

Mark Schroffel, no stranger to corporate speak himself, could probably be described as a change agent. Picture: Supplied

Mark Schroffel, no stranger to corporate speak himself, could probably be described as a change agent.

Certainly there is generational change afoot as the 56-year-old steps up to become the new president of RSL Victoria.

Schroffel is the first post-Vietnam leader of the veterans’ organisation which has 194,000 members at last count and 262 RSL sub-branches spread across the state.

Yes, he knows it’s a lot, and the burden of responsibility doesn’t sit lightly.

“I have to say that I’m a little nervous about it. It’s a big task. There are a lot of expectations about the role and what we gotta do.’’

The former Army captain takes on the presidency on Saturday, promising a new approach, both in the administration and its aims.

Schroffel had signalled he was seeking more emphasis on welfare but when quizzed, he offers a subtle change.

“I’d rather call it wellbeing. Welfare implies that we’re here for charity but veterans don’t want to be a charity case, but we’re a support network. I think it’s probably a better term for it – we are there to support one another.’’

Mark Schroffel (right) in Malaysia in 1988. Picture: Supplied

Schroffel comes into the role after 10 years in the army backed up with three decades of “civilian” experience, mostly as a consultant. He believes his military strengths converted and evolved into expertise in business strategy and corporate governance.

And that strategy is now being aimed at the state RSL.

“We need to make sure that our organisation is fit for purpose.’’

He believes it’s common misunderstanding that the RSL is just a membership organisation.

“It’s actually a charity which is supported by members and our charter is actually about helping all veterans and their families.’’

Another sign of that generational change and potential modernisation is that the new executive includes 38-year-old veteran Eamon Hale who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since 2023, Schroffel has been president of the Bentleigh RSL where the sub-branch on Centre Rd offers veterans’ services, a friendship program, dining, even a sit-down exercise class for older members.

While acknowledging he is different to his Anzac House predecessor, the Vietnam veteran Rob Webster, Schroffel is full of praise for his eight years as president and 35 years on the RSL state executive.

“He has a lot of knowledge. He’s very well respected. And he’s done a fantastic job.’’

Schroffel comes into the role after 10 years in the army backed up with three decades of “civilian” experience, mostly as a consultant. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mark Schroffel grew up in Noosaville before it became the highly developed tourist mecca it is now.

The son of a post-war German migrant, he says his family’s military history is “complicated”. His grandfather was in the German army and was wounded in 1942, while his mother’s side has various family members who served in the ADF.

As a boy, Schroffel caught the bus to rural Cooroy in the Sunshine Coast hinterland to attend Noosa District State High and then, straight after Year 12, he enlisted.

“It was always my ambition to join the army. I wanted to go to Duntroon (officer training) but I was a little too young so I joined as a solder at the age of 17 and had to get my parents to agree to sign me up to go.’’

“It wasn’t hard for them. They knew that’s what I wanted to do.’’

Recruit training was at Kapooka near Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales. Then followed a distinguished military career in various roles and locations, including a stint with the Defence Signals Directorate in Canberra.

He did make his way to Duntroon where he met Angelica, his wife of 36 years.

His ADF highlight was the overseas posting with Royal Australian Corps of Signals, helping peacekeeping operations with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia in the early 1990s.

“Cambodia was the first largest deployment of Australian troops since Vietnam when we went.

“For us, it was a big deal, but I think we’ve been forgotten about for sure.

“But one of the themes I want to promote is unity.

“We’re all veterans. And my experience with older veterans and all the rest is that as soon as you get around the table, all of the ‘era’ stuff just drops away.

“We’ve all had a common experience of some kind. And we can all respect each other.’’

The impact of poker machines in RSLs clubs has divided opinion in veteran circles, either a vital revenue stream or an instrument of harm and despair. Picture: Mark Stewart

Moving to Melbourne in 2007, Schroffel surprised himself with the success of his consultancy career (he is co-founder of Schroffel Renwick Beeson), but had a thirst for learning that resulted in a psychology degree, an MBA and even a Graduate Certificate in change management.

But it was his PhD that would help him gain a better understanding of veterans’ needs.

The title of his 2023 study said it all: Standing at the Crossroads: A Study into How Australian Army Reserve Soldiers Re-Establish Their Civilian Identities After Overseas Operational Duty.

“This is why the RSL exists.

“How veterans adjust to civilian life is an experience I have lived and subsequently spent a lot of time working on.’’

He appeared at the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, describing the final report “heartbreaking’’.

“This is our day-to-day, we are a charity increasingly dealing directly with mental health and physical wellbeing.”

He refers to the “social impact” at the core of the modern RSL.

Schroffel can’t comment on whether the Welcome to Country would remain a part of the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Shrine, deferring to the event’s organising committee. Picture: Mark Stewart

The impact of poker machines in RSLs clubs has divided opinion in veteran circles, either a vital revenue stream or an instrument of harm and despair.

Schroffel, a non-gambler, acknowledges that gambling is dangerous and can wreck lives.

“What I will say is that it’s an it’s a nuanced thing.

“Prohibition doesn’t work.

“We have a cultural issue in Australia around gambling.

“But people have come to me and said, ‘I like to play the poker machines. I spend $20 a week and I get to sit down, find a bit of peace and quiet, I’ve still got people around me and it’s just a little pastime. Please don’t take it away’.

“If you take gaming out really well-run RSLs, with a membership base where the staff know the people coming through the door and where do everything is fully compliant and we take care of our patrons as best we can.

“If you want to do more harm to the Australian community, I’d take gaming out of places like the RSL.

“If you want to protect the Australian community, I’ll take gaming out of the commercial venues and stick them into RSLs and community-based organisations like ours.’’

Schroffel says the RSL can provide a place for people to connect and be part of a community. Picture: Mark Stewart

Schroffel says the RSL can provide a place for people to connect and be part of a community.

He said it was inevitable that changes around pokies would come.

“We want to reduce our reliance on it. In fact, I’d like to eliminate it in the long term.

“But we’ve got to do it responsibly. If we just did something irresponsible, we could actually cause more damage and harm than good.’’

Schroffel can’t comment on whether the Welcome to Country would remain a part of the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Shrine, deferring to the event’s organising committee.

But he does have a view on the disruption at this year’s commemorations.

“The protests were disgraceful and completely disrespectful.’’

More immediate in his inbox is a review, expected soon, conducted into the state RSL’s operations.

The findings and recommendations from that audit will inform Schroffel’s blueprint for the RSL in the years, or decades, ahead.

Change is gonna come.

Originally published as Big V: Mark Schroffel is the new head of RSL Victoria. He doesn’t just want welfare, he wants wellbeing