Andrew Russell Veteran Living

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:34): I rise to speak about the Andrew Russell Veteran Living (ARVL) housing program. The ARVL program, run by RSL Care SA, is named in honour of Sergeant Andrew Russell. Sergeant Russell was a South Australian born SAS soldier who was killed in Afghanistan in February 2022 when the long-range patrol vehicle he was travelling in struck a suspected anti-vehicle mine. Sergeant Russell's death was the first Australian military death in action since the Vietnam War.

The ARVL program aims to ensure that any veteran in SA who is homeless or at risk of homelessness can secure ongoing and stable housing. So far ARVL has provided over 20,000 nights of emergency accommodation places to South Australia's homeless veterans. In the past two years, 51 veterans have left the emergency accommodation program, of which 45 (88 per cent) secured long-term stable housing.

I will share some examples of ARVL's success. A veteran couple recently found themselves homeless, and they were forced to live in a caravan and a car. The husband, a Vietnam veteran who has health issues, and his wife, who is hearing-impaired and is also his carer, were forced into this situation during hot summer weather. ARVL intervened and housed the couple in its long-term accommodation program. The couple has expressed their profound appreciation for the opportunity, which changed their lives significantly.

Another example is of a young woman, a Navy veteran. After six years' service and multiple deployments, she struggled for several years with homelessness and mental health challenges. After a seven-month stay at ARVL, she said:

RSL Care gave me back my independence. I'd jumped from hospital to hospital, with very limited family support. Mental illness is difficult enough without the added burden of trying to find somewhere you can afford to live.

I consider myself extremely lucky. I was offered a lovely unit with ARVL, it was clean and private, yet I was surrounded by more help and care than I have ever experienced. I finally felt safe and began to live again.

Other ARVL residents said:

I am certain I wouldn't be alive now without ARVL as I was at my lowest, and recently attempted to end my life just prior to receiving the support. Thank you all so much.

They were there when I was at the bottom of the pit…and because of everyone that helped…I'm a lot better.

The blankets and suitcase mean so much to me and I want to thank you all, even those in the background, for most definitely giving me not only accommodation but hope.

I would like to thank RSL Care SA, which is a not-for-profit charitable care provider supporting the ex-service and wider community of South Australia for over 100 years. They fund the ARVL program from donations. They are making an important difference for our veterans and our community.

Some service members give their lives for our country. Veterans who return from service with enormous trauma may not give their lives, but too many have sacrificed the person they were before. They sacrifice their wellbeing and they sacrifice their future for our country. For them to return home only to find themselves without a home is a disgrace we cannot accept.

I commend the RSL Care SA board for their leadership, its CEO, Mr Nathan Klinge, who is with us here today, and the many dedicated staff and volunteers for their crucial work in helping some of our community's most vulnerable people, veterans who so greatly deserve the excellent support this program provides.