A Missed Opportunity: Rethinking the Appointment of Repatriation Commissioners
The announcement of Mr. Kahlil Fegan DSC AM as the new Repatriation Commissioner has prompted concerns within the veteran community...
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Change of plans: Transition options available for ADF personnel in wake of COVID-19
Defence personnel wanting to remain in the ADF are encouraged to contact their service career manager or transition coach.
Change of plans: Transition options available for ADF personnel in wake of COVID-19
Change of plans: Transition options available for ADF personnel in wake of COVID-19
Defence personnel wanting to remain in the ADF are encouraged to contact their service career manager or transition coach.
Defence personnel wanting to remain in the ADF are encouraged to contact their service career manager or transition coach.
Independent news and opinion for
the Australian veteran community.
Veteran Affairs
@AVNHQ
- Aug 28
100 Years of Melbourne Legacy: Upholding a Century-Old Promise to Veterans' Families
Melbourne, Australia – As Melbourne Legacy embarks on its centenary celebration, Legacy Week 2023 stands as a testament to its enduring...
Eamon Hale
- Aug 11
Missteps and Missed Opportunities: The Need for Fresh Vision at RSL Victoria
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...
Mark Schroffel
- Jul 20
Moving Past Prejudices: An Appeal for Unity and Progress within the RSL
Being an active member of the Returned and Services League of Victoria (RSL Vic), I have witnessed firsthand the dedication, sacrifice,...
@AVNHQ
- Jul 14
Beyond the Battlefield: Understanding Australia's Role in Afghanistan
We are pleased to present a thoughtful response from one of our loyal readers, Laurence Quinn, a seasoned veteran with deep insights...
Eamon Hale
- Jul 12
A New Era for DVA Repatriation: The Appointment of Glen Ferrarotto Signals Generational Shift
For the first time a junior non-commissioned officer will be appointed as the new Department of Veterans Affairs (Interim) Repatriation...
Mark Schroffel
- Jul 10
Standing at the Crossroads: Research into the Challenges Faced by Australian Army Reserve Soldiers
Motivated by my own experiences as a veteran and sparked by a growing awareness that there was a more profound complexity to the issue, I...
Eamon Hale
- Jun 28
Echoes of Vietnam: Media Perception and Veteran Treatment in the Afghanistan War
The Vietnam War was finally won by the North Vietnamese in 1975, marked by the images streamed around the world of their tanks smashing...
Mark Schroffel
- Jun 2
Military Accountability Post-Afghanistan: Australia's War Crimes Controversy and its Repercussions
In the often-tumultuous theatre of war, clear lines of responsibility can blur, challenging the very core of ethical and legal norms....
Mark Schroffel
- May 26
General Campbell's Hypocrisy Questioned as Veterans Denounce Proposal to Revoke Medals
Senior Veterans are ardently urging the federal government to dismiss the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), General Angus Campbell's...
@AVNHQ
- Apr 14
ADF Members and Veterans in WA Urged to Share Experiences Ahead of Defence Suicide Hearings
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is calling for submissions from current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF)...
Mark Schroffel
- Apr 1
Yellow Pages on Steroids: A Review of RSL Austalia's Veterans' Catalogue App
RSL Australia recently launched the Veterans' Catalogue App, which is supposed to help veterans find support services. However, upon...
@AVNHQ
- Dec 14, 2022
ACU helping veterans and veteran families into university and new career opportunities
The Australian Catholic University has a dedicated team to support veterans into their degree programs. Special consideration and support...
Mark Schroffel
- Nov 21, 2022
Riverina veteran support organisation making a world of difference needs $1.5m to secure facility
The eighth public hearing of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide will be heard in Wagga Wagga between November 28 and...
@AVNHQ
- Nov 9, 2022
Dan Andrews promises cost of living relief for Victorian Veterans
As part of his election campaign, Dan Andrews' Labor Government promises to thank Victorian veterans and their families for their...
@AVNHQ
- Nov 9, 2022
RSL to host ESO forum to address Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has announced it will host a National Forum for Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs), the...
Mark Schroffel
- Nov 7, 2022
Independent veteran community round-tables to provide unfiltered insights for much-needed reform
Members of the veteran community are alert to the dangers in pushing for fast resolution of issues in relation to the findings of the...
@AVNHQ
- Oct 27, 2022
RSL NSW Bid to Support Expansion of Veteran Hubs across NSW
In response to the Federal Governments budget commitment to establishing eight additional Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across the...
@AVNHQ
- Oct 18, 2022
Government seeks public feedback for reform of veterans' legislation
Consultation on reforming veterans’ legislation now open with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) seeking submissions from the...
@AVNHQ
- Oct 6, 2022
Help available for Victorians impacted or making a submission to the Royal Commission
Melbourne Legacy in partnership with the Victorian State Government has established an easily accessible service to support to those in...
Mark Schroffel
- Sep 30, 2022
Canberra veterans' symposium a feat of grassroots leadership for wellbeing and advocacy
An important event is underway in Canberra today under the leadership of Ian Lindgren who has established a notable coterie of advocates...
@AVNHQ
- Sep 19, 2022
Veterans centre that “shouldn’t need to exist” marks its first year
A year after opening its doors to the nation, a veterans’ centre that admits it shouldn’t need to exist continues to be inundated with...
Andrew McDougall
- Sep 13, 2022
Friendly advice for those leaving the ADF and feeling unsure about what’s next
Andrew McDougall A friend recently announced on social media that he was being medically discharged. After 30 years, that was the end of...
Eamon Hale
- Sep 10, 2022
God save the King!
By Eamon Hale It was a momentous moment that most of us remember like it was yesterday. Standing in a Defence Force Recruiting Centre or...
Mark Schroffel
- Aug 31, 2022
Retrospective legislation set to revoke access to administrative justice
Draft legislation prepared by the Department of Treasury is expected to be tabled in parliament in early September that is likely to...
@AVNHQ
- Aug 30, 2022
Groundbreaking MOU future-proofs community support for veterans and their families
RSL NSW, ClubsNSW, and the RSL & Services Clubs Association join forces to provide better support to veterans and their families.
Andrew McDougall
- Aug 23, 2022
The invisible costs of service life and why fixing DVA is not the only answer
Andrew McDougall writes about the hidden costs of service life and the need to better support the psychological transition to civilian life.
Mark Schroffel
- Aug 17, 2022
RSL’s inadequate consultation in deciding top job
This year, unlike any other year in its recent history, RSL member and community expectations on the performance of the RSL in the...
@AVNHQ
- Aug 7, 2022
Breaking new ground for $65m mental health care hospital for veterans and first responders
On the 4th of August, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC (Retd) and NSW Minister for Transport and Veterans David...
@AVNHQ
- Jul 15, 2022
Tony Ferris outlines his compelling vision for the RSL if elected National President
AVN's Eamon Hale speaks withTony Ferris about his vision for the RSL and how he plans to achieve it. This is essential viewing for anyone...
Eamon Hale
- Jul 4, 2022
Time marches on. And sometimes, it shuffles.
"All of us soldiers, all representing our mates, past and present who have served the nation, regardless the conflict or when it was."
Mark Schroffel
- Jun 26, 2022
RSL Australia is clearly trying, but fails to hit the mark
It’s time for the RSL to hold government accountable for its actions to veterans. If it chooses not to, someone else will.
@AVNHQ
- Jun 17, 2022
Bill Westhead calls for renewed leadership transparency within the RSL
17 June 2022 Re: Apathy and absence: RSL Australia plays politics at the expense of veteran advocacy Now that the dust has settled on the...
George Alban and Eamon Hale
- Jun 6, 2022
Apathy and absence: RSL Australia plays politics at the expense of veteran advocacy
By George Alban and Eamon Hale On 1 June 2022, RSL Australia’s entrenched failure to speak publicly on behalf of the veteran population...
Brian Briggs
- May 31, 2022
DVA’s provisional medical access scheme unfairly prioritises claimants and should be scrapped
Scrapping the injury trial that unfairly prioritises some claimants over others will help clear the claims backlog plaguing DVA
@AVNHQ
- May 31, 2022
G4VA strikes a chord for peer support and the life-changing experience of learning something new
Vietnam veteran, Jim Mavromatis, from Guitars for Vets Australia (G4VA) speaks to Angelica about his experiences in learning and playing...
@AVNHQ
- May 2, 2022
Victorian Government investing in jobs and new support services for veterans and their families
The Vic Govt is investing in supporting veterans and their families in its bid to make Victoria the desitination state for veterans.
@AVNHQ
- Apr 21, 2022
Veterans hold the lead in a powerful rehabilitation program
Military service is complex, challenging, and dangerous. But returning to civilian life also poses difficulties for the men and women who...
@AVNHQ
- Apr 19, 2022
Rescue dogs help ADF families in new wellbeing program
Australian charity, Happy Paws Happy Hearts Foundation has partnered with RSL Queensland to trial a new program for families of current...
@AVNHQ
- Apr 16, 2022
Grass-roots ESO members disillusioned with DVA and its opaque dealings with ESO leadership
Letter submitted by MAJ Rick Ryan (RTD) After watching the lackluster performance of Liz Cosson DVA on the 14th of April 2022, I am more...
@AVNHQ
- Apr 15, 2022
Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide extended to 17 June 2024
The Attorney General has granted an additional 12 months for the Royal Commission to prepare and deliver its final report, which is now...
@AVNHQ
- Apr 9, 2022
Independent tribunal to reconsider medallic recognition for Rifle Company Butterworth
The independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal will re-examine the issue of medallic recognition for Australians who served...
Mark Schroffel
- Apr 7, 2022
Australian Army Reservists with overseas experience needed for Swinburne employment transition study
Swinburne researchers are conducting a study into reservist's employment transitions after overseas duty.
Mark Schroffel
- Mar 28, 2022
A defiant Andrew Gee puts veterans ahead of self-interest
In a daring act of defiance, Andrew Gee, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, stood ready to resign over a budget...
@AVNHQ
- Mar 22, 2022
ADF support to South East Queensland flood response nears completion
ADF personnel assisting flood-affected communities in SE Qld have begun returning home
@AVNHQ
- Mar 22, 2022
Construction of new veteran family wellbeing centre commences in Brisbane
RSL Queensland, Mates4Mates and developer Rogerscorp have today officially commenced construction of the new Stafford Services Hub
@AVNHQ
- Mar 13, 2022
ANVAM's Rock4RnR a triumph of community engagement
Rock4RnR a celebration of community and art with veteran performers and artists giving their all to entertain and delight.
@AVNHQ
- Mar 9, 2022
Free legal service for anyone making a submission to Royal Commission into Defence & Veteran Suicide
This article kindly submitted by DAVLS Community Engagement Officer, Nicholas Warren The Defence and Veterans Legal Service (DAVLS) is a...
Eamon Hale
- Feb 25, 2022
Ruxton's legacy, a force to be reckoned with
Bruce Ruxton died in 2011, leaving a legacy of dogged advocacy and service to Australian veterans and their families...
@AVNHQ
- Feb 23, 2022
Rescue dogs at the heart of innovative wellbeing program for current and ex-serving ADF families
Australian charity, Happy Paws Happy Hearts Foundation has partnered with RSL Queensland to trial a new program for families
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