Page 5382 - Week 14 - Thursday, 30 November 2017
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To be clear, our work does not stop here. The government’s vision is to make the ACT public service a leader in the recruitment and retention of veterans. We want to model this behaviour to businesses and companies across the territory, as it is my firm belief that employing veterans, who are some of the most highly trained and skilled workers available, will be of great benefit to the territory. It is also an important way we can honour the service they have given to the country.
In the area of support for the social participation of veterans, the ACT government is working with veterans organisations to provide increased opportunities for veterans living in Canberra to get actively involved in the community. The Veterans Support Centre in Belconnen has close to 600 members and supports veterans of all ages. With the assistance of ACT government funding, donations of materials and labour by major industry and the assistance of the centre’s volunteer tradespeople, the centre has established a metal workshop and a wood workshop. Veterans, through the centre, are able to connect with peers and teach each other new skills. Veterans can discuss issues and open up with like-minded people who empathise with past experiences.
In 2016-17, the ACT government provided $10,000 grant funding to contribute to the establishment of a men’s shed for veterans on the south side of Canberra. This shed will provide support and opportunities for social inclusion for serving and ex-serving members of the ADF, their families, and like-minded individuals.
The government’s grant funding of projects for veterans continues this financial year. ArtSound will be funded to provide internet radios to three RSL Lifecare facilities, to promote socialisation, health and wellbeing for veterans and war widows residing in ACT aged care and retirement facilities. The Veterans Support Centre will receive a grant to help alleviate social isolation amongst members of the ACT veterans community, enabling senior members of the centre who are housebound to leave their homes and remain connected with the community.
The ACT government, with the advice of the Veterans Advisory Council, represents the interests of the local veterans community at the cross-jurisdictional and national level, through direct contact with the Australian government and with other state and territory governments.
I am also proud to represent the interests of the local veterans community at the Veterans Ministers Roundtable, which most recently met on 8 November 2017. The Veterans Ministers Roundtable provides an opportunity for state and territory veterans ministers to join together with the commonwealth government to take a coordinated approach to address veterans issues. This year there was a theme of “What makes a successful transition from the ADF to civilian life?” It covered important issues such as the facilitation of training into the civilian workforce, how to provide adequate health and mental health supports for those who require them, and ensuring that we have good quality data collection on which to base our policy decisions.
As a result of this meeting, I have written to all ministers across the ACT government to ask that they look across their portfolios to investigate where it would be appropriate to allow people to identify as current serving or ex-serving members of
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