A safe place for Veterans: The Wodonga Veterans and Families Hub
On Wodonga’s High Street, there’s a place where veterans and their families know they can walk through the door and be met with understanding, respect, and practical support.
That place is the Wodonga Veterans and Families Hub, operated by RSL Victoria.
Vanessa Dodd has worked at the Hub since it opened its doors in 2022. As an experienced wellbeing coordinator, Vanessa knows that navigating the complex web of services available to veterans can feel overwhelming – particularly during times of crisis.
“It is so difficult for the everyday person to navigate the supports that are out there for veterans. My job is to help steer them through that process, and make it easier, so they can access the support that they need.”
Vannessa Dodd, RSL Victoria
The Wodonga Hub is designed for in-person, practical, localised care. Veterans can simply walk in off the street, speak face-to-face with Vanessa or another advocate, and leave with a plan of action – knowing that there’s somebody by their side.
“A large part of our work is integrating with the local community,” Vanessa explains. “The hospitals, doctors surgeries, financial counsellors… It’s about them knowing, ‘hey, we’re here’, so that they can refer into us when they have a veteran client that they need our support with – and vice-versa.”
“We’re on the main street in Wodonga, and people can just walk in when they need assistance. We’ve got compensation advocates here who help veterans lodge claims with Department of Veteran Affairs. And then there’s myself: I help with emergency housing, financial assistance with food vouchers, those sorts of things.”
Vannessa Dodd, RSL Victoria
Vanessa and the Hub team work with a diverse cast of veterans from all walks of life, and from all corners of the Wodonga community, the Indigo Valley, the Riverina and Murray regions.
And the practical assistance the Hub offers has changed lives. When Vanessa is asked to summarise the impact of the Wodonga Veterans and Families Hub, the following examples come to mind:
Housing and homelessness
- Securing stable housing for a terminally ill veteran.
- Helping an older veteran into private rental housing after four months of applications and inspections.
- Supporting a veteran and his carer to move into local ex-service accommodation.
Support and advocacy
- Assisting a newly widowed spouse to access compensation benefits and manage the complexities of death administration.
- Helping an elderly veteran living alone to receive a Personal Response System (PRS) device for emergencies.
- Guiding many veterans and spouses post-hospital discharge through the process of applying for in-home supports.
Welfare assistance
- Providing food and fuel vouchers during times of hardship.
- Connecting clients with emergency food relief and food share services.
- Assisting veterans with overdue utility bills – to keep the lights on and the heating running.
The Wodonga Veterans and Families Hub is here for all veterans and their families. Visit the Hub at 149 High Street, Wodonga, open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
➡️ Stay up to date with what’s happening at the Hub by joining the Wodonga Veterans and Families Hub group on Facebook.
➡️ Learn more about accessing wellbeing and support through our network.
