Veterans’ hub proposal advances

THE Bendigo District RSL has been granted $50,000 by the federal government to develop a business case for a long-overdue local Veterans’ and Families’ Hub.

Led by the Bendigo District RSL, the case will be put together by a consortium that also includes the Returned and Services League (Victorian Branch), the Legacy Club of Bendigo, and the Bendigo Vietnam Veterans’ Association of Australia.

The funding has been billed as a significant move towards triggering the federal government’s $5m pledge to establish a hub in Bendigo, which would serve as a one-stop shop for the local veteran community to access a range of wellbeing supports and social connection.

Bendigo District RSL president Glenn Ludeman said Central Victoria is home to a large veteran population from different generations and the proposed hub aims to improve consistency of service to them, no matter where in the region they may be.

“As the largest RSL sub-branch in regional Victoria, Bendigo District RSL is ready to play a leadership role and work with the federal government and partners to ensure the support of veterans is evolving to contemporary needs,” he said.

“We look forward to the business case proceeding and further refining the proposal.”

Bendigo Legacy president Tim Evans added that there is an increasing need for locally delivered services to support both mental health and younger families, including education and wellbeing activities.

“A hub in Bendigo, servicing Central Victoria, will provide a one-stop-shop to deliver the many services needed by veterans and their families in a convenient and safe location providing support targeted to individual needs,” he said.

Likewise, RSL Victoria state vice-president of advocacy and veterans affairs Peter Swandale said a hub would implement “something truly life-changing for the local veteran community”.

“We would like to thank the federal government and the project partners for their support as we launch this first step in this proposal of reaching more veterans in Central Victoria than ever before,” he said.

The government has committed more than $50m since 2022 to expanding the existing national network of Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs.