Australian Veteran News

Providing unbiased news and viewpoints on topics that affect the veteran community in Australia.

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Announcing the Closure of Australian Veteran News: Reflecting on Our Journey

May 9, 2024 | australianveterannews.com | Mark Schroffel

Australian Veteran News (AVN) has reached a pivotal moment. After years of dedicated service and impactful advocacy for Australian veterans and their families, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations. Launched with the vision to serve as an independent voice, AVN set out to address critical issues facing our community, notably advocating for a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Albanese’s Legacy at Stake: An Unlikely Morrison 2.0 in Veterans’ Affairs

Apr 30, 2024 | australianveterannews.com | Mark Schroffel

As the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide concludes, the swift legislative responses by the Albanese government are being scrutinised. Historical patterns show a continuum of Australian governments pledging substantial support and transformative changes for veterans that seldom materialise. Commissioner Nick Kaldas’s pressing calls for immediate and substantial action echo loudly against a backdrop of previous administrative failures.
Before the Final Verdict: Government Races Against Royal Commission Recommendations in Veterans' Affairs Overhaul

Mar 20, 2024 | australianveterannews.com | Eamon Hale

Throughout the Royal Commission into Veteran and Defence Suicide, the Department of Veterans Affairs has faced heavy criticism. Described by two Secretaries and three Ministers as ‘Not fit for purpose’, DVA will likely face strong recommendations for a comprehensive revamp in the Royal Commissions Final Report, due in September 2024. Alongside this, the issues of a complex and combative mess of veterans compensation and entitlement acts have been laid bare.
DVA MATES Program Crisis: A Breach of Trust and the Case for Better Governance

Feb 4, 2024 | australianveterannews.com | Mark Schroffel

Documents disclosed to several news outlets, including Australian Veteran News, reveal serious concerns about the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). They suggest the DVA misled the Information Commissioner about improperly handling veterans’ medical and personal information within the Veterans’ Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services (MATES) program, a joint initiative with the University of South Australia (UniSA).
Strategic Win for RSL SA/NT: Recognition of ANZAC Day and $400k for Veteran Employment Program

Dec 13, 2023 | australianveterannews.com | Eamon Hale

In a significant victory for South Australian Veterans, RSL South Australia/Northern Territory has successfully advocated for the inclusion of “ANZAC Day” in the new Public Holidays Bill 2023. Alongside this achievement, the South Australian opposition has committed to increasing their contribution to the RSL SA Veteran Employment Program, with $400,000 over 4 years. The SA government has promised to at least match this commitment, securing the continuance of the program until 2028.
The RSL Dilemma: Advocacy or Abdication in Veteran Affairs?

Dec 3, 2023 | australianveterannews.com | Eamon Hale

Regular AVN correspondent Eamon Hale weighs in to our debate on the role of the RSL and need for a peak body for ESOs.Dear Mark, I read with interest your article regardingRSL's National Forum for Ex-Service Organisations: A Promising Formula for Collective Impact. Unfortunately, I’m not able to agree with your positive view of these forums and have been deeply troubled by the RSLs role within them. The strength of the RSL was historically that it was a membership-based service organisation.
RSL's National Forum for Ex-Service Organisations: A Promising Formula for Collective Impact

Nov 7, 2023 | australianveterannews.com | Mark Schroffel

The Returned and Services League (RSL) Australia has, over the past year, coordinated a series of National Forums for Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) with the intention of unifying the voices and efforts of various groups dedicated to veteran welfare.
Beyond the Inquiry: Why We Need a Successor to the Royal Commission

Aug 27, 2023 | australianveterannews.com | Mark Schroffel

When the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide embarked on its Melbourne hearings, it marked another step in Australia's ongoing effort to address a complex and deeply concerning issue. This inquiry, initiated in 2021, was no spontaneous governmental decision but a product of consistent lobbying by veterans and advocacy groups.
Missteps and Missed Opportunities: The Need for Fresh Vision at RSL Victoria

Aug 10, 2023 | australianveterannews.com | Eamon Hale

Is this the best we’ve got? Are these comments appropriate? “When I get a voice that is having trouble speaking English asking me for the ‘min-u-ets’ of the meeting… I was thinking about that”I don’t think so. I especially don’t think so when they come from the president of an organisation that has 200,000 members and is supposed to represent the almost 100,000 veterans in Victoria. My entire adult life, I’ve been told to call out bad behaviour.
Moving Past Prejudices: An Appeal for Unity and Progress within the RSL

Jul 19, 2023 | australianveterannews.com | Mark Schroffel

Being an active member of the Returned and Services League of Victoria (RSL Vic), I have witnessed firsthand the dedication, sacrifice, and service our volunteers embody. Just recently, this dedication was tested when our RSL Vic State President, Dr Robert Webster OAM, made a remark with a xenophobic undertone during the RSL Victoria's 108th Annual State Conference. He has since acknowledged his mistake and has openly apologised to delegates for the offensive comment.