RSL Queensland has been awarded a $50,000 grant to develop the business case to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Ipswich.
The expansion of this Hub network will see the more than 10,000 veterans and their families in the Ipswich Local Government Area access improved specialist services close to home.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh, was in Ipswich last week to announce the grant funding.
He said the money will help RSL Queensland undertake further consultation with key local veteran, family and service provider stakeholders.
“This will allow them to identify local needs and opportunities and maximise benefits for veterans and families across the Ipswich region,” he said.
RSL Queensland will take the next steps, in partnership with Mates4Mates and GO2 Health, to develop the business case for the establishment of the Hub.
This will likely see a “hub and spoke” model established in Ipswich that expands out to the broader region west of Brisbane.
This model follows feedback from community consultation that identified the need for services to be available and easily accessible for locals.
The multipurpose Hub is set to feature a range of culturally appropriate, coordinated services to assist with advocacy, case management, financial literacy, medical and allied health services and access to housing supports for veterans’ and families.
The intention is for this Hub, just like the Hubs currently operated by RSL Queensland and Mates4Mates across the country, to not only provide the services and supports the local veteran community needs but to also be sustainable into the future.
The expansion of the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs network in the Ipswich region is part of the Government’s $46.7 million commitment to deliver 10 new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across the country.
Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, said he had advocated for a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Ipswich because the local region had one of the largest defence and veteran populations in the country, and is home to RAAF Base Amberley, the biggest air force base in Australia.”
“RSL Queensland and Mates4Mates have a strong track record of supporting veterans and their families, so I’m pleased they will be consulting with local stakeholders to ensure the Ipswich Hub meets the needs of our ex-service community.”
