THE region’s new Veterans and Families Hub has finally found a permanent home co-located with Mates4Mates in the old QT building at West Ipswich.
The new hub, operated by RSL Queensland, had been working from the Mates4Mates offices at the building while searching for a permanent home.
RSL Queensland purchased the Brisbane St site after the Federal Government awarded it a $5.4 million grant to lead the development of the Hub.
The hub will be co-designed with veterans and their families to ensure it provides support and social connection that lines up with their needs.
The centre will be home to RSL Queensland and Mates4Mates services including compensation and wellbeing services, clinical services and a gym, and it will also host social connection activities. Designs show several meeting rooms and spaces that would be available for other service providers to book.
The Ipswich Hub will provide tailored mental health and wellbeing services, in line with the Federal Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
It is envisaged the hub will also offer expanded physical rehabilitation support, including exercise physiology and physiotherapy, as well as programs fostering social connection, building on existing Mates4Mates services.
More than 10,000 veterans and families live in the Ipswich and surrounding area, in addition to 5000 ADF personnel stationed at RAAF Base Amberley.
The Ipswich Hub is part of the Federal Government’s $46.7 million commitment to establish eight new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across the country to ensure even more veterans and families can access support closer to home.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said the need for a hub in Ipswich was vital, the city being home to one of the biggest veteran communities in the country and the nation’s largest RAAF base.
“It’s exciting the Albanese Government will soon deliver a facility providing Ipswich veterans, both current and former serving, and their families the support they deserve,” Mr Keogh said.
“That could mean social connectivity, wellbeing support, physical rehabilitation or a combination of all three, all under one roof.”
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said he was happy to see significant progress on the hub with a permanent location selected.
“I’m especially glad to see the hub will be co-designed with local veterans and families,” Mr Neumann said.
“This will ensure the hub is fit-for-purpose and popular as not only a place to access support but also social connection,” Mr Neumann said.
“RSL Queensland and Mates4Mates have a strong track record, so I’m confident they will deliver an outstanding facility where veterans and defence personnel, and their families can access a range of health and wellbeing services.”
