Defence SA, $13,499.000

Membership:

Mr Cowdrey substituted for Mr Telfer.

Minister:

Hon. G.G. Brock, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr R. Price, Chief Executive, Veterans SA, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Ms C. Bohan, Director, Veterans SA, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Mr P. Murdock, Manager, Finance, Veterans SA, Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

The CHAIR: I am opening the Veterans SA portfolio. The minister appearing is the Minister for Veterans Affairs. Minister, do you wish to introduce your advisers and make a statement, if you wish?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Thank you, Mr Chairman. I am not going to make an opening statement, but I would like to introduce my advisers. On my right-hand side is Mr Richard Price, the Chief Executive of Defence SA. On my left is Chantelle Bohan, the Director of Veterans SA, and behind me is Peter Murdock, Manager, Finance, Defence SA. I am not going to make an opening statement.

The CHAIR: Does the lead speaker wish to make an opening statement?

Mr PEDERICK: Just a very brief statement, thank you, Mr Chair. I would just like to acknowledge everything that veterans have done for this state and this country in their service. I certainly acknowledge their families as well and thank them all for their support for their veteran family members and thank them all for their service.

I will now go to questions. I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 166, program summary, income expenses and full-time equivalents. There are 4.4 FTEs in the budget for Veterans SA. Can the minister tell me what their job titles and their roles are?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I thank the member for his question. We have a Director of Veterans SA who is one FTE. I have put that in there because it adds up to 4.4. The Deputy Director of Veterans SA is one FTE; there is an administrative assistant, who is 0.8 FTE; an engagement and commemoration officer at 0.6; and a veterans liaison officer, who is one FTE. That brings the total base of 4.4 FTEs.

Can I also acknowledge the veterans. While I said I did not want to make an opening statement, I do want to reinforce what the shadow minister has indicated about the veterans across all regional South Australia and metropolitan Adelaide over many years. As the shadow minister did, I give credit to them and my utmost dedication to their families and all survivors. We are both going to be working very closely to get the best opportunities for all our veterans in South Australia in particular.

Mr PEDERICK: I go to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 157, program net cost of services summary. The 2022-23 budget is made up of $1.851 million as the net cost of services. Can the minister break down that cost for the committee?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Out of the total expenses of $1.851 million (I think that was the figure the member indicated), there was $985,000 in grants and subsidies and $281,000 for supplies and services. Employee benefit expenses is $610,000. That gives the $1.851 million.

Mr PEDERICK: I go to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 157, key agency outputs, dot point 9:

engaging across the community of veterans and their families to educate, inform and facilitate connections with the right services, programs, ideas and networks at the time when they need them most.

What engagement and processes are in place to fulfil this key priority?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: You can see, from page 157 and the key agency outputs, that the key priorities are for Defence SA and not Veterans SA. I ask the member to ask the Minister for Defence, the Deputy Premier, when she is before the estimates committee.

Mr PEDERICK: This is asking about engagement across the community of veterans and their families, connecting them with the right services and programs. I am just wondering about what engagement, but you are saying that is more for Defence; is that what you are saying?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I thank the member for his question. In addition to having regular meetings with the various agencies, organisations and committee forums I am going to have, one of the things we want to do is conduct regular community or outreach engagement opportunities, with a focus on the regions in particular, in this instance, and also for metropolitan Adelaide.

Consistent feedback received by Veterans SA was that regional veterans felt their needs were not being met and that they were isolated from support services and programs. As a result, Veterans SA has undertaken regional outreach commencing in 2021-22. In September 2021, Veterans SA provided a grants program to selected ex-service organisations to attend the Yorke Peninsula field days at Paskeville (I am not sure if the member was there). The field days provided the regional veteran community with the opportunity to engage in significant face-to-face interactions with Veterans SA and service providers.

A similar program was planned for the Riverland Field Days in Barmera, but these field days were cancelled due to COVID restrictions. As an alternative, Veterans SA hosted a two-day regional outreach program in the Riverland a few months later, bringing together ex-service organisations for a forum and expo-type event. Veterans SA is preparing a grant funding round for selected ex-service organisations to apply to participate in the Riverland Field Days in September 2022. Other regional engagement opportunities with key service providers are also being considered by the department.

Veterans SA is also developing a regional outreach program that will assist in the creation of networks of regional veterans across the state who meet regularly and includes local veterans alongside members of the wider community, council members in particular and local business owners. Once established, the networks would run independently and the agency's role would then be to connect additional networks as necessary, provide general advice, receive feedback and take action as required.

Veterans SA would also undertake regional outreach visits as required with a group of partners that is compiled based on the needs of the veterans in the local community, as reported by the network. The positive impact of such an initiative would result in a better supported local veteran community and connection to the wider community in regional areas. This network will also enable Veterans SA to collect relevant feedback and information around the needs of regional communities, as told by the community itself.

This outreach model will be based on the successful Wellbeing SA suicide prevention networks that have been operating for some time. My philosophy is that we need to get out there and talk to these people face to face. I did a video a couple of days ago, which is on the Veterans SA website.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: It is on MTV as well.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: It is on MTV, is it?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I did a video where I indicated that on 14 July I will be having a forum opportunity at the Torrens Parade Ground. I am encouraging members and their families to come and meet the minister. That will be the start of the direct communication with not only the older community of veterans but also the younger ones and their families in particular.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 157, key agency outputs, dot point 10:

working with other South Australian government agencies to provide support to ex-service organisations that support the community of veterans and their families

What interagency work goes on and what support is provided to ex-service organisations to support veterans and their families?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: The South Australian Australian Defence Force arrival survey is going to better assist our understanding of current issues of concern and requirements of our veterans and their families. I am sure everybody in this house is concerned about the requirements of our veterans and in particular their families. To help us gain a better understanding of the experience of defence families posted to South Australia, Veterans SA developed a short survey to help build a more accurate picture of the individuals and families who have recently arrived in South Australia as part of the Defence Force community.

Veterans SA is committed to working to ensure that the policies and the services in place to support ADF members and their families are reflective of the needs of the community. The online survey, conducted by Veterans SA in March 2022, sought to gain a clearer understanding of defence families' experiences when moving to South Australia in order to improve policies and services to better support them and their families.

All three ADF services, that is, the Air Force, the Army and the Navy, were represented in the survey, which was completed by current serving members and their partners in both metropolitan and regional areas. Of the respondents who had children, the majority were either early childhood or primary-school-age children. The vast majority of respondents indicated that South Australia was a desirable posting location, with many identifying the lifestyle, the weather and leisure options as major benefits of moving to the state.

Despite these strengths, the survey identified a number of areas for improvement. Housing experiences, limited children's education options and issues around employment opportunities for spouses were identified as concerns for defence families posted to South Australia. The department will continue to work across the state government to ensure veterans and their families are considered in new policy and program proposals or revisions.

I am committed to working collaboratively with other state government agencies to ensure that policies and programs consider and work to improve the needs of veterans and their families. Currently, Veterans SA is working with the Office for Women on a range of strategies to address the issue of domestic, family and sexual violence within military and veteran communities.

Veterans SA is also working with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment to explore ways to increase access to work experience and employment within the public sector for veterans and will engage with the Department for Education to identify and support the development of strategies that improve the identification of military or veteran children within the education system and improve educational outcomes for this cohort.

If children are moving into another school—and some of these families move from more than one school a year—they are coming into foreign territory and they have to make new friends. Sometimes communities are not aware of the challenges and isolation these children experience and it is very hard for these children to integrate into the community.

Veterans SA remains committed to improving outcomes for veterans engaged in correctional services and continues to support the Department for Correctional Services in their efforts to address the needs of veterans within the system. Again, I have had discussions with people who have been involved with that process. We need to identify those things early so we can help people who have those challenges before it goes too far.

Finally, Veterans SA is collaborating with the Department for Innovation and Skills to explore avenues to address the training and employment needs of military and veteran spouses in high-demand job sectors. I indicate that this has been happening for some time and that the Department of Veterans' Affairs wants to ensure that we commit to whatever was put in place by the previous government.

We will work very collaboratively and closely with the opposition and the shadow minister in particular, as well as other members in the house, to ensure we have the best opportunities and results for our veterans—the older veterans and in particular the younger ones.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 165, highlights 2021-22 and dot point 2, which talks about credentials and identity verifications. Has the veteran credential and identity verification initiative been implemented?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I am advised that the agency chaired the commonwealth and state veteran working group and presented a veteran credential and identity verification initiative for discussion at a Data and Digital Ministers' Meeting (DDMM).

In August 2021, the Data and Digital Ministers' Meeting agreed to a program of work consisting of national priority data-sharing projects. Veteran health was identified as a key priority and selected as one of the scoping projects. Veterans SA chaired the working group, as indicated, consisting of representatives from the commonwealth and all states and territories. This project aimed to identify legislative consent and privacy barriers and opportunities for sharing identifiable, non-identifiable and aggregate data on Australian veterans between commonwealth, state and territory agencies.

Early learnings from the working group deliberations identified that the complexities and the barriers surrounding cross-jurisdictional data sharing, including legislative and privacy barriers, limit the ability to derive meaningful outcomes from the likely data sources. A consent driven data-sharing model was developed and unanimously agreed by the commonwealth and the state working group. The model was presented to the DDMM by the South Australian Office for Data Analytics at a meeting in March 2022. However, no decisions regarding the progression of the proposal were made due to the commonwealth government entering caretaker mode shortly afterwards.

Again, I will be liaising with the new government and ministers to ensure that we get that opportunity. I keep saying this in this committee: I am happy to continue liaising and collaborating with the shadow minister and everyone in this house to get the best results for our veterans.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 165, highlights 2021-22, dot point 3. You mentioned the survey that you have done, but also in that dot point it talks about the Veteran and Defence Families Forum and the pilot Veterans Mentoring Program. Can you give me some more information about those programs—and I think you have already had a look at the survey—and what outcomes have come from those programs?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I thank the member for the question on the Veteran and Defence Families Forum. Veterans SA is taking a proactive approach to planning veteran support and service that is based on evidence and feedback from the community. The agency held a full day forum on 3 May 2022. They provided invited participants the opportunity to provide feedback on Veterans SA's aims and objectives for 2021-22 that will help to shape aims for outcomes for 2023-24.

The forum focused on former serving members under 50 years of age, current serving members and their families. The program included a panel session, with a Veterans SA team who responded to questions about the agency's 10-year strategic outlook, 2021 achievements and planned activities for 2022. Attendees also participated in an open discussion around topics and themes of importance to the defence and veterans' community.

Key themes raised by the group included wellbeing and mental resilience, support for spouses and children, veteran and partner employment, veteran and partner identity, and cultural proactive approaches to veteran and family support and veteran discount programs. The agency has released a preliminary summary of the key points for these issues as well as the actions for each as proposed by the group.

To gauge the thoughts of the broader contemporary veteran community, an online survey has been opened. Former serving members under 50 years of age, current serving members and their families were invited to provide input on the issues and proposed actions raised at the forum. The results from the survey will be considered, with the primary summary from the forum to inform the agency's future planning activities. Future forums and engagement activities will focus on other segments of the veteran community to ensure Veterans SA hears from these people as much as possible.

Another one was the pilot Veterans Mentoring Program, which was launched by Veterans SA in July 2021. Again, the previous government and the previous minister, the member for Dunstan, would have been part of that. The purpose of this program was to connect members of the veteran community with leaders and professionals across the South Australian community keen to mentor the veterans from a career or skills development perspective.

Following the announcement of the program in April 2021—again the member for Dunstan was the minister—Veterans SA was inundated with mentor registrations from professionals with a diverse range of experience who were keen to support the growth of those taking part in the program. The pilot program consisted of two separate programs with different objectives and outcomes that were established in response to the identified needs of the community.

The first program is the Female Veteran Mentoring Program, which was open to all those who identify as female who have had military experience and are currently living in South Australia. The second program is the Former Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO)—when I was in the Reserve—and Other Ranks Mentoring Program, which was targeted to support the professional development of participants who had left the Defence Force within the past three to eight years as a non-commissioned officer or other rank.

The program was facilitated by an external consultant, Christine Molitor, from Be Sustained. Eighteen pairs completed the six-month pilot program, and the feedback and outcomes (from both the veteran and mentor participants) were very positive. Some of the successes of the program included:

at least four of the participants have been successful in applying for and gaining meaningful employment, supported by coaching and connections provided by their mentor;

one of the mentees was successful in their application for a scholarship after encouragement and guidance from their mentor; and

one of the mentees gained the confidence to grasp an opportunity to appear in media following encouragement and support in the development of presentation skills from their mentor.

As we all understand in this house, coming from the Defence Force, where you are under strict guidelines, training and so on, and then moving into the real world raises a lot of concern. These successful programs, I think, highlight these great opportunities.

Veterans SA has received feedback from multiple participants that they have experienced a significant shift in confidence and expanded knowledge of what additional supports are out there as they continue their transition journey from defence. Additional benefits from the program included:

veterans making meaningful connections with professionals from the wider community;

mentors and the wider community gaining a better understanding of the value that veterans can contribute; and

mentees gaining a better understanding of their value and building confidence.

The program was officially closed at an event on 31 March 2022. In case the member is looking for this later on, the cost of the program in 2021 was $64,000. Based on the strong community support for the program, Veterans SA hopes to run an expanded future mentoring program in 2022-23 including partners of current and former serving ADF members, with streams focusing on career and skills development and mentoring for entrepreneurs. I have also indicated before about the Australian Defence Force Arrivals in South Australia survey.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 165, highlights 2021-22, dot point 4. Were all RSL sub-branches that made applications successful in accessing funds from the ANZAC Day Commemoration Fund?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I have been advised that the total budget allocation for grants in 2021-22 was $100,000. Applications for the 2021-22 round of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Fund were assessed by a subcommittee of the Veterans' Advisory Council, which again was instrumental and which was set up by the previous minister, the member for Dunstan. I have had some meetings with the Veterans' Advisory Council.

Grants totalling $81,788 were distributed during the 2021-22 financial year. I will just quickly mention some of the applicants. The Australian Foundation for Disability received $2,000. I had nothing to do with this, and I had no conflict of interest: the Port Pirie RSL received $3,085. Other applicants included the Largs Bay RSL, $1,800; Port Broughton RSL, $3,190; Enfield RSL, $4,300; the Merchant Navy Association of South Australia, $2,712; the Forest Range and Lenswood History Group, $1,670; Vietnam Veterans Federation SA branch, $3,094; Bute RSL, $6,374; the Gladstone Community Development and Tourism Association, $1,315; the RSL SA & NT, $2,690; Kangaroo Island Council, $4,532; and Aboriginal Veterans SA, $4,230.

Again, the grants were all well received by those groups. As a bit of background, grant applicants must meet the following criteria to be supported. They have to support educating South Australia about the state's involvement in our nation's military history, including peacekeeping and peacemaking. I think that something we need to keep pushing forward is our history and involvement in our nation's military history.

The criteria also include to honour and commemorate the service and sacrifice of South Australian veterans; to assist the education of South Australian veterans' dependents, in particular, and that is very important; and any other purpose of a like kind determined by the minister, as well as any other suggestions that may come from anybody in this house, including and particularly the shadow minister.

Mr PEDERICK: On Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 165, highlights 2021-22, dot point 5, in relation to the three grant streams has there been a good uptake of grants funds from those streams and can you identify services and programs funded?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Was that highlights 2021-22 or targets?

Mr PEDERICK: Highlights 2021-22, dot point 5.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: First up, dot point 5 states 'Initiated three new grants totalling $70,000.' That is what was allocated. I can advise that the lead time was very short—only six weeks from the time it opened. I have been advised that it opened in February 2022, with applications closing in April 2022. We had a total of $29,800 that was approved in response to applications from the veteran community to the three competitive grant rounds.

I am also advised that there is a total of 11 applications across the three grants. A Veterans SA Commemorative Services Grant Fund to support ex-service organisations to host commemorative events got $6,800; Veterans SA Capacity Building Grant Fund, to support ex-service organisations to improve their governance and strengthen their capacity building skills, $13,000; and Veterans SA seed funding grant, to support eligible groups and organisations to help build community and capacity to deliver services for veterans and their families, was $10,000.

I have also been advised that the first and the second grant program will be run again. as they were very successful. Out of that $70,000 which was the total allocated, $29,800 was expended, approved through the various organisations.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 165, targets 2022-23, dot point 6. What programs are in place assisting the veteran community in regard to incarceration, employment and homelessness?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Again, I thank the member for his question. I have been advised that Veterans SA will continue to work collaboratively with all jurisdictions on matters of importance to the veteran community, including incarceration, employment and homelessness. These are three issues that I think sometimes we have not taken into account. They are something we need to identify because they can have long-lasting impacts not only on them but also on their families and their children.

On May 2020, the national cabinet established the National Federation Reform Council (NFRC). On 23 October 2020, the national cabinet established a NFRC task force, the Veterans' Wellbeing Taskforce. The task force is chaired by the commonwealth Minister for Veterans' Affairs. The task force consists of commonwealth, state and territory ministers responsible for veterans affairs.

I will meet my jurisdictional counterparts at least once a year and more frequently as needed and as determined by the chair. The task force will make decisions and agree on common principles, but there will be flexibility in implementation across jurisdictions to account for each jurisdiction's unique circumstances. The task force also meets as necessary with other ministers to enable collaborative work, noting that veterans' wellbeing issues cut across multiple portfolios. In this house, we all know that it is across multiple portfolios.

The task force makes decisions and agrees on common principles, but there is flexibility in implementation across jurisdictions to account for each jurisdiction's unique circumstances. The task force is supported by a biannual Commonwealth, State and Territory Committee (CSTC), comprising senior government officials. The CSTC committee is attended by the Veterans SA director, who meets with jurisdictional equivalents.

The Commonwealth, State and Territory Committee is a subordinate committee of the Veterans' Wellbeing Taskforce, which is intended to address issues of strategic and operational importance to the ex-service and defence communities across federal, state and territory jurisdictions, including acting as the main forum for dialogue between the commonwealth Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and the state and territory government agencies responsible for veterans matters.

This includes providing advice on how differing levels of government can better facilitate a common approach to veteran and ex-service issues, providing a mechanism to disseminate information about DVA and state and territory initiatives and also providing regular consultation and discussion about emerging issues affecting veterans and their families, such as veterans' homelessness, transition from ADF to civilian life, suicide prevention, incarceration and health and aging.

Let me reinforce my real concerns about some of the challenges involving some of these people who are coming from the ADF into civilian life and their families and so on. I am sure I am speaking for everybody in this house when I say that there is bipartisan support to ensure that we get these people to come forward. It is easy for us to say they have an issue, but they need to come forward and be able to identify their concern and ask for help.

I will try to work the best I can with the shadow minister and others in this house to ensure that we get these people to come forward to get the service and assistance they urgently need because they have put their lives on the line for us in this house, in this state and in this country.

The task force also includes enhancing state and territory governments' understanding of DVA's service delivery programs and, where appropriate, identifying opportunities where the state and territory governments may become involved. We will also identify recommended topics of discussion for the task force and also be a forum for continuing discussions on matters arising from the task force.

I want to give a bit of clarification. I made a statement a minute ago about the VAC. Let me just say that the VAC was established in 2008 and the former minister appointed the current council. Those positions expire on 31 December this year. Again, the current council is doing a good job here and the former minister, the member for Dunstan, appointed members to that council. I have continued liaising with those people and also previous members of the VAC.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 165, targets 2022-23 and dot point 1. What is the status of the action plan to deliver the initiatives and recommendations from forums and surveys?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I thank the member for the question. You asked about an action plan to implement or address the initiatives and recommendations from the forums and surveys.

Mr PEDERICK: I was wondering where that is up to and what the status of it is.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Yes, I am just reading that out, if I can. I am advised that in June 2022, Veterans SA will conduct an agency planning day, which will include identifying priority strategies and initiatives for 2022-23 and also beyond, based on the direct feedback and community consultation garnered from the Veteran and Defence Families Forum and subsequent community survey and the SA ADF arrival survey, completed this year, which I mentioned a bit earlier.

Veterans SA will examine the key themes, highlighted and suggested actions from the community, and examine how these fit with the agency's overarching strategic outlook. This will inform the development of an agency action plan detailing the advocacy, strategies, programs and initiatives Veterans SA will undertake to address the short, medium and longer term veteran community needs.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer you to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 165, targets 2022-23 and dot point 2. What are the particular governance issues that need to be addressed by ex-service organisations, and what is the total amount of funding available for this?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Again, I thank the member for his question. I am advised that my agency will continue to administer a number of grant programs each year on behalf of the South Australian government. This funding supports projects and events that highlight the importance of the service and sacrifice of the veteran community and provides the wider community with an opportunity to acknowledge, show appreciation and honour those who have worn our nation's uniforms.

These grants enable ex-service organisations and associations to educate younger generations through holding commemorative events and restoration projects, ensuring that future generations are educated on our nation's military history. This history is the foundation of our country and I will do all I can to ensure that this is not forgotten, and I am sure I speak for everybody in this house here, not only today but in the past and future.

Grant funding also permits ex-service organisations, support groups and like-minded associations to continue to deliver important services for the veteran community, providing grants for capacity building purposes—for example, website building, first-aid courses and staff training—enabling these organisations to remain relevant and qualified to continue to remain veteran focused and deliver important support to the community into the future.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer you to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 165, targets 2022-23 and dot point 4. What involvement is proposed in regard to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Again, I thank the member for his question. On 19 April 2021, the former Prime Minister the Hon. Scott Morrison MP announced to the Australian government the establishment of a royal commission into defence and veteran suicide. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was officially established on 8 July 2021.

Under the Letters Patent, the royal commissioners are required to produce an interim report by 11 August 2022 and a final report by 17 June 2024. The final report was originally due on 15 June 2023; however, on 10 April 2022 the commission was extended for 12 months. I am sure the member is quite aware of this.

The royal commission is examining the systematic issues and contributing risk factors relevant to any common themes and past deaths by suicide of Australian Defence Force members and veterans and the experience of members and veterans who may continue to be at risk of suicide. This includes all aspects of service in the Australian Defence Force, the experience of those transitioning, the availability and quality of health and support services, pre-service and post-service issues for members and veterans, members' and veterans' social and family context, such as family breakdown, as well as housing and employment issues for members, veterans and their families.

Both the Veterans Advisory Council and Veterans SA were issued and responded to a notice to give responses to the royal commission. The content of these responses was confidential, and they were submitted in October 2021 and February 2022.

For the information of everyone here, the commission is expected to be in Adelaide to hold block hearings in early 2023. I encourage people to attend. I am sure the shadow minister and I will work very closely with that.

The CHAIR: The time allocated for the examination of this line is now expired. I declare the examination of the proposed payments for Veterans SA complete. The proposed payments for Defence SA are adjourned until Thursday 23 June. Thank you minister, members of the committee and advisers.

At 16:17 the committee adjourned to Wednesday 21 June 2022 at 09:00.