RSL Queensland Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centre Brisbane turns one

The significant milestone recognised the many achievements of the Centre that have helped veterans and their families over the last 12 months. 

Located in Stafford – a stone’s throw away from Gallipoli Barracks – the Centre provides a multitude of services for veterans and their families including DVA advocacy assistance, employment support, physical rehabilitation, mental health services and social connection activities.  

The Centre staff celebrate one year of providing services to veterans and their families.

RSL Queensland Deputy CEO Veteran Services Troy Watson says the purpose-built Centre was designed to centralise holistic support services that assist the growing needs of the veteran community. 

“Queensland is home to the largest population of current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members, so it was vital that we established a space where veterans and their families could access tailored practical support, assistance and social connection,” Troy says.

Over the last year, the Centre has steadily grown its service offering and the number of ex-service organisations operating in the centre, which has resulted in more veterans and their families accessing its services each day.  

“The Brisbane-based Centre has become popular within the local veteran community. Over the last year, we’ve seen more than 1,228 veterans and their families walk through the doors to access services or engage in social activities,” Troy says. 

“It has been a privilege to work alongside Mates4Mates and see the Centre expand its services by engaging with and uplifting other ex-service organisations – witnessing this growth has been encouraging. 

A range of services can be accessed at the Centre, including physical rehabilitation

“Since opening, we have been proud to welcome representatives from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, local, state and federal Government, and Defence to share our range of services available to veterans and their families at the Centre.”  

In addition to this, the Centre also opened its doors for local community groups, ex-service organisations and Defence to host their own social events, information sessions and training days just to name a few.

Along with the expansion of services from both organisations, Mates4Mates CEO Emma Whitehead says the Centre has ensured more veterans and families can access more support, more often. 

“This year, the Centre has supported the health and wellbeing of all those who walked through its doors. While Mates4Mates has provided mental health and physical rehabilitation services, the social connection offered by the centre also played a vital role,” Emma says. 

“It has been so fulfilling to see many veterans and their family members take part in these events and come away visibly lifted. Improving overall physical, mental and social health and wellbeing is exactly what this Centre is all about.” 

Feedback from Centre clients has been extremely positive. 

“The Centre provides a very welcoming space with dedicated and caring staff members who provide a wide range of complimentary services for the care of veterans and their family,” one client shared. 

“It has so many things on offer between Mates4Mates activities and fitness sessions, the gym, access to specialities and other support networks such as Open Arms all in the same building,” another said. 

A gaming expo for veterans was recently held at the Centre

With an existing network of services already available across the state, Troy says RSL Queensland is looking forward to expanding RSL Queensland’s Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centres. 

“The Brisbane-based Centre is our flagship of the network, and I hope our Centres continue to be a welcoming place to connect and elevate the veteran community over the next year and beyond,” he says.  

“The support these Centres provide is important, and we want to ensure more communities across Queensland have direct access to these services and events as we open up more Centres in the future.” 

FAST FACTS

In its first 12 months, the VFWC Brisbane has: 

• welcomed more than 1,228 clients (of these, 22% were partners or family members of veterans) 
• delivered more than 2,345 physical rehabilitation sessions (including yoga, exercise physiology and personal training)  
• provided 1,518 occasions of mental health support services 
• cooked barbeques for 978 people
• welcomed 538 people for a chat over breakfasts, morning teas or lunches