News
Legion News
This website was first published on Anzac Day 2019. News from the Legion is updated on this page.
2020 AGM
The 2020 AGM will be held at 12pm on Saturday 12th September 2020 at Cootamundra Sub Branch, details to follow and subject to COVID19 restrictions being relaxed
Access to health services
April 2020
Since the first special COVID-19 edition of e-news, the Australian Government has provided additional funding to expand Medicare and DVA subsidised telehealth services for all Australians to ensure continued access to essential primary health services during the coronavirus pandemic. clients are able to access support in their own home using simple video conferencing apps like FaceTime or Skype, or by telephone where video conferencing is not available for a range of medical services including specialist consultations, GP consultations, mental health treatment, chronic disease management, and nurse practitioner services.
These consultations may be provided to clients in normal office hours and after hours, in their own home or in residential aged care facilities.
As of 1 April 2020, DVA clients are also able to receive telehealth consultations from allied health providers.
DVA clients are advised to contact their doctor or allied health provider regarding the arrangements they have in place to deliver telehealth consultations.
DVA’s funding arrangements for allied health services are significantly broader than the services funded under the Medicare Benefits Schedule, and DVA encourages veterans to continue to use these services under their current DVA arrangements.
These arrangements will be in place until 30 September 2020, when they will be reviewed in light of the need to continue the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 Pool Competition
Held: Saturday 23rd November 2019 at 11am – 2pm at the Amber Room at Star Bar, 600 George St Sydney
Our President, Warwick Adams, skillfully (or so he said) played his games so most of his opponents fouled on the black ball. Thus earning himself the honours of winning the inaugural pool competition. Some likened it to the way Bradbury won the first gold medal for Australia at the winter Olympics. Not to be outdone, his wife, Gayle, won the ladies final.
Anzac Day 2020 March in Sydney
Unfortunately, the 2020 march was cancelled due to the coronovirus outbreak
From the MINISTER and dva
News from the Department of Veteran's' Affairs:
May 2020
- Joint media release — Veterans’ contribution to Australia’s workforce recognised — 15/05/2020
- The capture of Wewak remembered 75 years on — 14/05/2020
- Statement — Vale Dr Patrick Simon AO — 14/05/2020
- Joint media release — New facility for the Oasis one step closer to completion — 14/05/2020
- Veterans' mental health and wellbeing at forefront of new Government strategy — 12/05/2020
- Thanking and remembering our nation's military nurses — 11/05/2020
- Veterans take home their assistance dogs — 10/05/2020
- Family violence support for veterans and their families — 08/05/2020
- 75 years since Victory in Europe declared — 07/05/2020
- Remembering the largest naval battle fought near Australia — 04/05/2020
- Letter to the Editor: Victory in Europe Day — 01/05/2020
April 2020
- Commemorating the Battle of the Atlantic — 30/04/2020
- OBOE operations remembered 75 years on — 30/04/2020
- Anzac Day 2020: commemorating the 105th anniversary of Gallipoli from home — 24/04/2020
- Kapyong Day commemorates a significant battle of the Korean War — 24/04/2020
- The Royal Australian Mint commemorates the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War — 23/04/2020
- Open Letter — A message for veterans and their families — 22/04/2020
- Honour the service and sacrifice at home for Anzac Day — 20/04/2020
- Statement - Findings from the Jesse Bird inquest — 07/04/2020
March 2020
- Mates4Mates delivers top end veteran support — 28/03/2020
- Western Australia Veterans' Wellbeing Centre on track — 27/03/2020
- 2020 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards focus on Second World War — 23/03/2020
- Veteran pensions set to increase — 20/03/2020
- 2020 Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards ceremony cancelled — 19/03/2020
- Anzac Day 2020 services — 18/03/2020
- Understanding and preventing veteran suicide — 16/03/2020
- Health and stimulus packages support veteran community — 16/03/2020
- International Women’s Day – celebrating those who served — 08/03/2020
- Supporting local communities to remember our service personnel — 06/03/2020
- Joint media release — Feasibility study to strengthen supports for Canberra’s veteran community — 05/03/2020
- Supporting Australian communities for Anzac Day 2020 — 05/03/2020
- Planning and arrangements for overseas Anzac Day services 2020 — 05/03/2020
FEBRUARY 2020
- Our nation remembers Rwanda peacekeepers
- Saluting their Service Grants applications close 31 March
- Australia remembers the bombing of Darwin
- Operation Hammersley remembered 50 years on
- Veterans to be counted on 2021 Census
- Community organisations supporting veteran health and wellbeing
- Honouring our National Servicemen
- Letter to the Editor: 50th anniversary of Operation Hammersley during the Vietnam War
- Sale RSL honours the service of Sister May Hennessy
- Supporting at risk veterans transitioning to civilian life
- RFI - Rehabilitation in the Home Program
- Statement
- Powerful new body to tackle ADF and veteran suicides
JANUARY 2020
- Disaster assistance- bushfire crisis
- Replacements for medals lost or destroyed in bushfires
- Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards Finalists
- Support available to veterans affected by bushfires
- Access to emergency medications for bushfire affected veterans
DECEMBER 2019
- 104 years on since our troops left Gallipoli
- Australia honours our Rwanda peacekeeping veterans
- Joint communiqué – Veterans Ministerial Council
- Australian War Memorial Director appointed
- 25th anniversary of Operation TAMAR, Rwanda
- Simpler access to medical treatment for veterans
- Open Arms community and peer program expands nationally
NOVEMBER 2019
- Joint media release — Australian War Memorial Development Project
- Veteran employment celebrated
- Commemorating the service and sacrifice of our fallen
- Local communities benefit from funding boost for commemorative grants
- Joint media release — Respect and recognition for Australian Veterans
- Communities salute service men and women
- Commemorative projects showcase community spirit
- Open tender for psychiatric assistance dogs for veterans
- Veterans to play key role in memorial development project
- Expanding access to low cost home insurance for veterans and members of the Australian Defence Force
- Release of reports from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
OCTOBER 2019
- Appointment to Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission
- Joint media release — Local support for veterans in Townsville
- Increased veteran satisfaction with DVA services
- Joint media release — Australia Zoo supports ex-service community on Sunshine Coast Veterans Day
- Letter to the Editor — Remembrance Day
- Veterans’ Health Week focused on mental wellbeing
- Anzac Day Schools' Awards winners showcase creativity
- Greater recognition for veterans and their families
- Council of the Australian War Memorial appointment
SEPTEMBER 2019
- Assistance dogs to support veterans with PTSD
- Government seeks input into mental health and wellbeing strategy and national action plan
- Veteran pensions set to increase
- Remembering the vital role of Australia’s peacekeepers
- Government taking action to support veteran employment
- Remembrance Day mail out encouraging younger Australians to learn about wartime history
- Funding for organisations to support our veteran community
- Commemorating Battle for Australia Day
- 80 years on from the Second World War Australia remembers
- The role of our merchant mariners remembered
AUGUST 2019
- Supporting veterans' families this Legacy Week
- Malaya and Borneo veterans commemorated
- Joint communiqué — Veterans Ministerial Council
- Younger Veterans' Mental Health Grants
- Vietnam Veterans' legacy remembered
- From coast to country: Mobile service centres take government services to the bush
- AWM Director thanked for outstanding achievements
- Victory in the Pacific Day - remembering the end of the second world war
- Honouring women’s contribution to our defence
- Support for military families in coping with trauma
- Leopold War Memorial receives Armistice grant
JULY 2019
- Women and Families United by Defence Service Council members announced
- Nation pauses to remember the Korean War Armistice
- Open Arms retains mental health accreditation
- Mental health and suicide prevention a welcome national priority
- Productivity Commission report into Compensation and Rehabilitation of Veterans released
- Minister welcomes support for veterans from Governor-General
- Making it easier for veterans to access support
- Veterans to benefit from more assistance
JUNE 2019
- Australia marks Reserve Forces Day
- Outgoing Repatriation Commissioner thanked for dedicated service
- 100 years since the signing of the Treaty of Versailles
- Veteran Treatment Cycle initiative
- No changes to Victoria Cross recipients’ travel entitlements
- Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit statement
- Veterans' Mental Health Summit to inform government's strategy
- Free annual health checks for personnel leaving defence force
- More than 75,000 veterans using DVA online services
- Assistance dogs-in-training to support our veterans
- Veterans’ Health Week to focus on mental health
- New National President for the RSL appointed
- Letter to the Editor: Veteran Mental Health Support
- Veterans gather to commemorate Battle of Binh Ba 50 years on
- Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings
From the Minister
From the Shadow Minister
Press releases from the Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs: