Welfare and assistance
The following organisations operate metropolitan and regional sub-branches. This group of organisations offer services to veterans and their families including advocacy, counselling, social activities, or community engagement. You may be able to find a branch or centre closer to you by visiting their websites to find the most up-to-date location information.
Bravery Trust
Bravery Trust provides emergency financial relief and financial counselling to ADF serving and ex-serving members who have an injury or illness as a result of their service.
Carry On (Victoria)
Carry On (Victoria) can provide subsidised housing support during personal or financial hardship and education grants. It also maintains a voice of advocacy.
Legacy
Legacy helps veterans’ families carry on with their lives after the loss or injury of their loved one. This includes ensuring a widow is not disadvantaged and alone, and that a family is not torn apart by the effects of post-traumatic stress or other physiological injuries.
Melbourne Legacy
Melbourne Legacy helps the families of those who served. Its services include relief from financial hardship and advice, referrals to support services such as counselling, as well as assistance with children’s education and development.
RSL Victoria
The RSL is an independent, apolitical organisation run by and for members to primarily assist current and former service men and women and their dependants when in need.
Soldier On Australia
Soldier On supports those who have served and continue to serve in the ADF as well as their families. It offers health and wellbeing services, employment support and transition, learning and education programs, and participation and social connection.
TPI Victoria
TPI Victoria Inc. (the Totally & Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen & Women's Association of Victoria Inc.) provides welfare, advocacy, benefits and concessions along with supporting its members, families and the broader veteran community.
Vasey RSL Care
Vasey RSL Care provides aged care services for veterans, families and supports younger veterans with short and longer term accommodation.
Veteran Central
Veteran Central is a place for Victorian veterans to interact with ex-service organisations and get the support they need to maintain their wellbeing.
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (Victorian branch)
The Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA) focuses on the welfare of veterans and their families. It advocates for Vietnam Veterans , and was instrumental in the establishment of the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service. It contributes to studies including the Vietnam Veterans'Health Study.
Wellbeing and community
The following organisations operate a range of different commemorative and collegiate activities including commemoration services, social activities, reunions and wellbeing activities. Visit their websites to find the most up-to-date information.
Air Force Association
The Air Force Association Victoria supports the welfare of its members through advice, liaison and representation. It seeks to foster a knowledge of the air force history, heritage and traditions.
Australian Veterans Alliance
The Australian Veterans Alliance advocates for the rights of veterans and their families. The Alliance is made up of many veterans and families who work on veteran-related issues.
Commando Welfare Trust
The Commando Welfare Trust was established to support soldiers and their families in a way that is complementary to existing Defence and non-Defence support mechanisms.
Defence Families Australia
Defence Families of Australia (DFA) is the official ADF families advisory body to the Minister for Defence Personnel and Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). It allows DFA independence and impartiality to act in the best interests of ADF families. All of the team are Defence partners of current serving members.
Defence Force Welfare Association
The Defence Force Welfare Association is an independent voice for ADF members, veterans, and their families. It advocates to government on matters affecting the welfare of this group of Australians.
Defence Reserves Association
The Defence Reserves Association (DRA) is a tri-service organisation that supports the Australian Defence Force (ADF), promotes the interests and safeguards the concerns of the Defence Reserve component of the ADF.
Ex-Prisoner of War & Relatives Association (Victoria) Inc
The Ex-Prisoners of War and Relatives Association (Victoria) Inc. provides support, companionship, succour, relief and welfare for wartime prisoners of war (POWs), ex-POWs, civilian internees, their wives, widows and families.
Korean Veterans Association of Australia Inc
The Korea Veterans Association of Australia protects the interests of its membership including dependents of deceased members who served in Korea until 1956, and Peace Keepers who served after the cease fire in 1953. It advises members generally on matters of rehabilitation, pensions and other available benefits. It also organises reunions, social events and ceremonies relevant to the association.
National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association (Victoria)
The National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Australia Inc. strives to keep alive the memories of those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Malayan Emergency and Indonesion Confrontation.
National Servicemen's Association of Australia (Victorian Branch)
The National Servicemen's Assoc of Australia (Nashos) objectives are to promote the health and welfare of National Servicemen. Its welfare programs include visits to sick members, information on health and welfare benefits, retirement homes and financial planning. It promotes a wide range of social activities and represents National Servicemen to government, the community and the media.
Naval Association of Australia
The Naval Association of Australia promotes mateship, community spirit and wellbeing. The association was developed as a self-help organisation with the main objective to unite former and serving Naval Personnel for the purpose of mutual benefit with the motto "Each for All — All for Each".
Partners of Veterans Association of Australia - Victorian Branch
The Partners of Veterans Association of Australia Inc. (P.V.A. Australia Inc.) believes that there is a great need for support for all partners/carers, widows/widowers and families of Australian veterans, both now and in the future. It also provides leadership and advocacy for health and welfare and promotes strategies and policy and program development.
Royal Australia Regiment Association
The Royal Australian Regiment Association functions as the peak representative body of its constituent members: the RAR State/Territory and Battalion Associations/Corporation. It was formed in 2009 to enhance and protect the legal rights and limited liability of its members.
Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia – Vic
The Vietnam Veterans' Federation of Australia and its branches throughout Australia, assist with claims in all military compensation schemes. They strive for the rights of veterans and their families. They also lobby government and ministers whenever changes to the laws that govern and recognise their service threatens to diminish just and fair compensation for those that are sent to fight Australias' wars.
Women Veterans Network Australia
The Women Veterans Network Australia aims to connect "all women of Defence past and present with resources, support and information to live an empowered and fulfilling life.”
Further support organisations
Austin Health – Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital (Ward 17 Intake)
The Psychological Trauma Recovery Service (PTRS) at Austin Health is a specialised, statewide service for people with trauma-related mental health conditions.They care for and treat people with mental health conditions that have arisen from, or been worsened by, the experience of trauma.
Australian National Veterans Arts Museum
ANVAM (Australian National Veterans Arts Museum) is dedicated to veteran health and wellbeing through the arts. It is a national cultural institution, veteran-led charity with the mission to promote the wellbeing of the veteran community through facilitated arts programs.
The Prince's Trust Australia Limited
The Prince’s Trust Australia Enterprise for Veterans, inspires veterans and their families with the confidence, skills and networks they need to safely explore self-employment and engage successfully in the rapidly changing world of work.
Apply for your organisation to be listed
If you would like to apply for your ex-service organisation to be included in this list, please email us.
Please note that your ex-service organisation needs to be accredited and registered as an Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) charity to receive accreditation.
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