RSL Victoria welcomes 2024 budget investment in veterans and their families
Written by RSL Victoria
11 May 2023
The RSL in Victoria has welcomed the 2024 federal budget’s investment and support of veterans and their families and recommitment to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
The 2024 budget features a financial commitment of:
- $2 million over two years to continue DVA’s mental health literacy and suicide intervention training program
- $64.1 million in additional resourcing to the DVA to address the claims backlog
- $254.1 million investment to modernise and sustain the DVA’s ICT systems
- $500,000 over four years to expand eligibility for the Acute Support Package introduced in the October 2022 Budget facilitating the inclusion of grandcarers – grandparents who are also full-time carers of children of veterans.
RSL Victoria’s State President, Dr Robert Webster OAM said, “This budget commitment from the Federal Government demonstrates a welcome approach that seeks to address many of the frustrations that veterans and their families have with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ systems and processes. The budget also acknowledges and re-confirms this Government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
“We welcome the further acknowledgement of these issues and this ongoing investment in the needs of the veteran community. This budget shows that the Federal Government is listening to the voices of veterans and their families and the RSL will continue working to ensure they are heard.”
Read the budget overview here: https://budget.gov.au/content/overview/download/budget_overview.pdf
Author
RSL Victoria
First established in 1916, RSL Victoria’s primary objectives are to provide support to veterans and their families, acknowledge Australian Defence Force service and perpetuate its patriotic duty whilst encouraging conversation and mateship between those who have served and their communities. A crucial role of the RSL is also to appropriately commemorate those who have suffered and died in service of our nation or its allies.
