RSLQ 2021 Annual Report

51 RSL Queensland Annual Report | 2021 Annual Highlights Advocating for Veterans A s RSL Queensland continues to be guided by our Strategic Plan, our goals of relevance and influence specifically direct the work undertaken by one of our most significant portfolios, Veteran Affairs and Policy. Established in March 2021, the Veteran Affairs and Policy portfolio identifies needs and opportunities to further shape the services we offer, and sits beside the existing Service Delivery portfolio to enable the delivery of those services. A key function of the Veteran Affairs and Policy department is to be a point of contact and response to the membership and broader veteran community around the workings of legislation and policy as it relates to the Defence community, as well as progress on issues of importance. The team is supported in their endeavours by the newly formed Veteran Affairs and Policy Committee. Chaired by Wendy Taylor, the Committee first met in November, with their highly skilled members providing information and advice to the department, to guide staff on the best approach. An example of this support was the submission to the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide, with the Committee considering both the RSL Queensland and the Mates4Mates submissions, which were included as part of the RSL National submission. The Royal Commission is a lengthy procedure, and its progress is being tracked from an RSL perspective by our national body. We will continue to monitor this progress, as we view the Royal Commission as an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve in the ex-service sector. To ensure we can strengthen our services to veterans, we continue collaborating with our research partner, Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation (GMRF), to understand the veteran community’s evolving needs. In 2021 we launched Go Beyond, which is the culmination of study over our six-year partnership for the Veteran Mental Health Initiative, translated into an easily accessible online program to assist veterans with adjusting to civilian life after service, no matter their location post-service. Due to the success of Go Beyond and the new- found capability of translating research into digital products, we established a new arm of our relationship to sit alongside our existing investment in the health of veterans and their families. We commenced work on establishing a health translation partnership, which intends to provide us with research-informed, clinically developed programs targeted to the needs of our members and the wider Defence community. “We’re increasing our engagement with those currently serving so they have a clear understanding of who we are and what we do, in case they – or their families – need the services that are available to them, but also so that they understand the value of membership and the Sub Branch network.” TROY WATSON General Manager Veteran Affairs and Policy, RSL Queensland Continued on next page ADVOCATING FOR VETERANS