New Package Approved for Australian Veterans Support

Members of the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) march during an Anzac Day parade in Brisbane, Australia on April 25, 2022. (Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Australian defence force families and veterans undergoing rehabilitation and full-time study will continue to receive higher welfare payments after the Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package Bill 2022 passed the Senate on Sept. 28.

The Scheme, which expired in July 2022, will now be extended until July 2023 and backdated for August and September.

Matt Keogh, minister for Veterans’ Affairs, previously said in Parliament on Aug. 3 that the centre-left Labor government was “committed to continuously improving and adapting to the needs of currently serving defence personnel, veterans and families.”

“For most veteran families, military service is a largely positive experience. However, some may need support to manage challenging life circumstances such as mental or physical health episodes or sudden, significant events such as loss of employment,” Keogh said.

“The Australian community has a clear expectation that veterans and their families will be well looked after. This is an important task and responsibility of government—a solemn commitment.”

Nationals Deputy Leader Perin Davey said political leaders were aware the government did not always have the best record for looking after veterans.

“We know we haven’t got the best record when it comes to supporting our veterans, and we know we need to do better,” Davey said.

Greens Senator David Shoebridge said the payments would enable veterans to get their life and career back on track.

“We’ve seen the scale of the injury suffered by veterans, too often psychological injuries, caused by some of the brutal conditions under which they served,” he said.

Typically the Scheme caps payments to 45 weeks but will continue at the full rate when a member is engaged in an approved rehabilitation program.

Additionally, full-time study will also be considered as part of a veteran’s rehabilitation to help secure better employment outcomes post-service.

The bill will also extend the eligibility of support packages to family members of working-age veterans and the requirement for veterans to have undertaken war-like service. It will also make veterans eligible for incapacity payments such as as compensation for service-related physical or mental health conditions.

ADF Families To Also Receive Aid

ADF families will also benefit from the support package with the initiative providing at-risk veteran families with access to services up to $12,500 over two years.

ADF families will be able to access services of up to $7,500 in the first year, and $5,000 in the second year, and families with children can access additional support services to the value of $10,000 a year for each child under school age and $5,000 a year for each primary school aged child until they reach high school.

According to Keogh, the federal government estimates that approximately 430 families and 450 widowed partners are expected to benefit from the package in the first year.

“Families make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of our Australian Defence Force members throughout their careers, their transition from service, and their lives beyond the military,” Keogh said.

He said the role of the family can be vital in the treatment and recovery of ill or injured veterans, but noted that the unique nature of military service also impacts families.

“We want to ensure supports are wrapped around families when they need it—and quickly,” said Keogh.

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