NEWS HEADLINES

Veterans who served as firefighters at RAAF Base Point Cook between 1 January 1957 and 31 December 1986 are being urged to investigate their eligibility for the ADF Firefighters Scheme.

To date, some 268 of DVA’s clients have an accepted eligibility under the scheme, an initiative launched by the Australian Government in 2021.

On 11 February 2025 the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 5 August 2025.

Following passage of the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025, the first level of external merits review for all claim decisions made after 21 April will be to the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB), regardless of which Act a veteran has coverage under. The VRB is a non-adversarial, low-cost jurisdiction.

The Veteran Employment Program has opened registrations for its 2025 Veteran Employer Webinar Series, aimed at equipping employers with actionable strategies to recruit and retain veterans while fostering inclusive workplaces.

The Royal Australian Air Force will take to the skies on Sunday, 26 January 2025, to support Australia Day celebrations across the nation.

Twenty men and women have participated in Scootaville NSW 2024, a 15-day scooter journey in November designed to raise funds for Legacy and programs to support homeless veterans.

Dr Sean Carwardine, a historian specialising in Airfield Defence and Security Forces, is conducting research into the service of RAAF Airfield Defence Guards (ADGs) in Vietnam, particularly focusing on their attachments to Army units during 1967 and 1968.

Veterans often seek higher education during and after their transition to civilian life to enhance their career opportunities.

Many skills, abilities and experiences developed through military service are highly desirable and transferrable – however, these are not always readily recognised by education providers.

The recipients of the 2023-24 Veteran Wellbeing Grants were announced today, with 69 grants awarded. Ex-service and community organisations will receive a share of over $3.7 million in grant funding.

Registrations are now open for Australians who are looking to make the pilgrimage to attend the Anzac Day Dawn Services in Türkiye and France in 2025, on the 110th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.

DVA will continue to provide support to veterans and families during the holiday season. However, please be aware that some services will be impacted.