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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-10-15 Daily Xml
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Veterans Services

1382 The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (24 September 2019). I refer to the target for 2019-20 listed in the 2019-20 Budget (Paper No. 4, Vol. 1, p. 149): Continue to work with commonwealth and state government departments, agencies and ex-service organisations to deliver better outcomes for veterans and the veteran community in the areas of health, mental health, transition from military service and employment.

1. Which commonwealth and state government departments, agencies and ex-service organisations are likely to be engaged to improve the welfare of veterans?

2. What coordinating role will Veterans SA perform?

3. What type of programs is the state government likely to initiate?

4. When are these programs likely to be implemented or established?

5. What specific statistical measures and/or targets are likely to be established to measure the progress in delivering better welfare for South Australian veterans and ex-service personnel?

6. Where will these statistical measures be published and what process will be established to ensure that the veteran community can have confidence that the program or project is delivering tangible outcomes for veterans?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier): I have been advised:

1. Veterans' Affairs is an area that I have taken personal responsibility for to ensure a whole of government approach to addressing matters that affect this community. Matters of concern to the veterans cross multiple portfolios including Health and Wellbeing, Veterans' Affairs, industry and employment, SA Housing, defence, Corrections, defence industries and defence personnel.

2. At a federal level, Mr Rob Manton, Director, Veterans SA, represents South Australia at the commonwealth, state and territory committee chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

I attend the Commonwealth Veterans Ministerial Council. The council's purpose is to consider national and cross-jurisdictional issues affecting veterans, their families and the broader veteran community and take joint action in the resolution of issues where appropriate.

The council also provides a forum and process for national, state and territory and local community engagement on veterans' issues. The council is informed by the commonwealth, state and territory committee and the Department of Veterans' Affairs National Consultation Framework that includes the ex-service organisation round table, the Young Veterans' Forum and the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Mental Health. Veterans SA prepares the state's position papers on behalf of the South Australian government.

Veterans SA also operates the Partnerships Hub at The Jamie Larcombe Centre. Veterans SA is the conduit between the veteran community and will continue its role of coordinating across the many issues that affect the community.

3. This year a Veterans Information Day, that includes the Premier's town hall meeting, has been initiated by Veterans SA and will be held at the Torrens Training Depot on 1 November 2019. The day will include a veterans' employment in defence industry forum including a briefing from Prince's Trust on entrepreneurial opportunities for veterans, an update from the Centenary of Anzac Centre of Excellence on research into veterans' mental health issues, a briefing from the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, and a feedback session on the Partnerships Hub at The Jamie Larcombe Centre.

The federally funded wellbeing centre at the former Repat hospital will offer advocacy and support services for veterans.

The South Australian government is also examining the feasibility of developing a veterans' centre at the Torrens Parade Ground, the cultural home of serving and ex-serving personnel in South Australia, to better coordinate activities involving ex-service organisations and government and non-government organisations.

4. Some of these initiatives will be implemented within the current financial year. Others will be ongoing and will be informed by scoping work being undertaken in the current financial year.

5. KPI's and targets will be developed in consultation with key stakeholders including veterans, their families and carers, ex-service organisations, veterans' support organisations, government departments and agencies and non-government organisations in accordance with South Australia's Charter for Veterans.

6. These KPIs and targets will be published in the normal manner through budgetary papers, annual reports and in regular updates to the veteran community. As has been the practice, the Veterans' Advisory Council (VAC) and Veterans' Health Advisory Council monitor matters of importance to the veteran community and, when appropriate, raise issues with the relevant minister. Equally, a summary of the VAC's deliberations are published on the Veterans' SA website as part of the monthly Veterans' E-News messaging.

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