Funding for veteran support centre

BALLARAT Veterans Assistance Centre will receive more than ten thousand dollars from the State Government’s ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund.

The organisation in Ballarat East provides support to local veterans and their families as they adjust to life after service.

The funding will be used across a range of initiatives to meet the individual needs of local veterans.

Centre President Steve Plowright said it is important to help veterans and their families navigate the transition period.

“The military is a culture, it has its own language and people come to be comfortable in that environment,” he said.

“We offer an environment where they can be amongst the people who speak the same language.

“Leaving the forces is often quite a culture shock.”

Minister for Veterans Natalie Suleyman and Member for Eureka Michael Settle visited the centre last week to celebrate the funding announcement.

As many as 5000 veterans live in the Ballarat region and Ms Suleyman said it is important to recognise the sacrifices made by servicepeople.

“Our veterans have served and sacrificed for our nation, and we owe our veterans and their families to support them in our community,” she said.

“We are very proud to support our veterans because it is the least we can do.”

Ms Settle said it is important to have a stand-alone support centre located away from gambling and alcohol.

“What I love about this centre is that it’s about helping veterans navigate all of the different services and providing that support in a really safe environment,” she said.

“It’s not surrounded by pokies and booze but a really wonderful environment to come for support.”

In total, the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund will support 18 organisations across the state alongside the Victoria Remembers Grants which were awarded to 27 projects.