Page 68 - AAPT March 2019
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Veterans Informationeterans Information
        V                                                                       funding to also conduct some research
                                                                                on the barriers and enablers to younger
                                                                                veterans studying at the tertiary level,”
                                                                                Ms Flint said.
       The Hon Darren Chester MP            community  helps  veterans  wherever
       Minister for Veterans' Affairs       they can as veterans served to defend   Flinders University Vice-Chancellor
       Minister for Defence Personnel       Australia.                          Professor Colin Stirling says the initiative
       Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for   "It's  another  example  of  our   has the potential to make a difference
       the Centenary of ANZAC                                                   in the lives of many who have served
                                            community  helping  veterans  with  a   the nation.
       Enhanced  services  to  be           place to work on meaningful projects at   “This grant will help equip those who
       provided to veterans and             their own pace, in their own time and in   have bravely served our nation to pursue
       their families in QLD                the company of others."             new  careers,  by  supporting  younger
                                              The  V&CG  program  provides
       More assistance is available for veteran   seeding funds for projects that support   veterans to successfully transition from
                                                                                service  to  study,”  Professor  Stirling
       service organisations boosting support   a  healthy,  good-quality  lifestyle  for   says.
       for veterans and their families in the   members. For more information on the   Flinders University’s grant recipient
       electorate  of  Hinkler  in  Queensland,   grant  program,  visit  the  Community   Associate Professor Ben Wadham says
       Minister  for  Veterans' Affairs  Darren   Grants Hub at communitygrants.gov.au.  “Higher Education is a great pathway for
       Chester announced recently.          S uppor ting  y ounger              some veterans.”
          Mr Chester and Federal Member for   veterans in tertiary study           “Veterans often want to give back
       Hinkler Keith Pitt visited Toogoom and                                   to the community and our research at
       Hervey Bay in Queensland to see how   More than $157,000 of funding under   Flinders University can help facilitate
       additional  funding  provided  through   the latest round of Supporting Younger   this. Therapists with military experience
       the Building Excellence in Support and   Veterans Grants, has been awarded   in  particular  have  the  advantage  of
       Training (BEST) Grants would assist   to Flinders University, in concert with   having shared experience with veteran
       veterans.                            William  Kibby  VC  Men’s  Shed,  to   clients.”
          "Grants  programs  such  as  BEST   develop a program to support younger   Young veteran student Kane Hunt
       provide  vital  financial  assistance  to   veterans undertaking tertiary education.  is currently completing a psychological
       ex-service  organisations  to  provide   29th January Minister for Veterans’   science  degree  and  is  involved  in
       pension,  advocacy  and  welfare  to   Affairs  Darren  Chester  and  Federal   helping other younger veteran students.
       support veterans and their families," Mr   Member  for  Boothby  Nicolle  Flint   “The values that the army ingrained
       Chester said.                        announced that this grant will support   in  me  as  a  soldier  –  like  hard  work,
          "More  than  $49,000  in  Federal   younger veterans studying, which will   initiative  and  teamwork,  all  kicked  in
       Government funding to the Hervey Bay   lead  to  improved  pathways  as  they   when  I  started  studying  at  university
       RSL Sub-Branch will assist with salary   move into civilian life.        and gave me an advantage. I ultimately
       and office administration.             “The Government is putting veterans   want to work with veterans and help, in
          "Our  Government  is  committed   and  families  first  by  supporting  the   some way, those guys who are facing
       to  supporting  our  290,000  veterans   needs  of  younger  veterans  as  they   the same issues after leaving the forces
       and their families, and provides more   transition out of the Australian Defence   that I did,” Mr Hunt said.
       than $11.2 billion each year to deliver   Force (ADF) and establish themselves   The  program  will  also  explore
       essential services and programs."    into civilian life.                 collaboration  with  researchers  at  La
          Last  year  Hervey  Bay  RSL  Sub-  “This  program  assists  with  the   Trobe University who are undertaking
       Branch was aided with more than      establishment of a Veterans@Uni peer   similar work under this grants program.
       $79,000 in funding through the Veteran   group which will provide transition, study   “This program will provide knowledge
       and  Community  Grants  (V&CG)       and lifestyle support,” Mr Chester said.  and capability in the younger veteran
       program assisting in providing much-   “I offer my congratulations to Flinders   community and the tertiary institution,
       needed transport for veterans to attend   University who will use some of this   improving  access  to  tertiary  study
       social and commemorative events.                                         for  younger  veterans  involved  in  the
          Mr Chester and Mr Pitt were pleased                                   initial phase of the program and future
       to see first-hand the work of a variety                                  transitioning  younger  veterans,”  Mr
       of ex-service organisations supporting                                   Chester said.
       veterans in the Hervey Bay community.                                       The  next  Supporting  Younger
          "The Hervey Bay RSL Sub-branch                                        Veterans Grant round is expected to
       plays an important role in supporting                                    open for applications in July 2019 and
       our veteran community, and it's great                                    close in August 2019. Applications can
       to see they are supported with funding                                   be lodged online, through the Australian
       from our Government," Mr Pitt said.                                      Government’s Community Grants Hub.
          "It is important that the Australian                                     Assistance and further information

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