Federal Labor pledges $5m for veterans wellbeing hub

The Australian Labor Party has committed to building a $5 million wellbeing hub for veterans if it wins the upcoming Federal election. Brand MHR Madeleine King and Opposition defence spokesman Brendan O’Connor announced the South West Veterans’ Hub on Tuesday morning at the Rockingham Navy Club. The veterans hub would be a one-stop shop where ADF members would have access to services and support all under one roof. It would offer support to servicemen, women and their families as they transition out of the ADF. More than 10,000 Australian Defence Force members and former veterans currently live in Perth’s southern suburbs. Ms King said the commitment would provide “wellbeing centres and family-friendly spaces for veterans and their families to connect with others”. ”(The hub will be) assisting veterans and personnel with mental health and wellbeing, employment services, homeless services, as well as many other things,” she said. The announcement comes 16 months after the Federal Government rolled out the State’s first veteran wellbeing centre at Anzac House in the Perth CBD. Mr O’Connor said it was important to invest in Australia’s veterans and defence personnel who risked their lives for the country. “This area has a huge defence presence and as a result it is ideal that we look at this location,” he said. “We know at the very worst, people in the veteran community have suicided. We’ve seen too often people self-harm when exiting the ADF.” Open Arms 1800 011 046; Safe Zone Support 1800 142 072