Working together for veterans and their families

Veteran service organisations, government representatives and Defence stakeholders came together in Brisbane for the October 2026 Veteran & Family Wellbeing Network Forum, united by a shared commitment to improving support for veterans and their families. 

Organised by RSL Queensland with the support of Legacy Brisbane, the forum provided an opportunity for organisations from across the sector to exchange updates, strengthen relationships and explore how services can work together more effectively. The forum’s central message was clear: veterans and families should be at the heart of the support system, with organisations collaborating to provide the right assistance at the right time.

Anthony Birch – Legacy Brisbane, Peter Kennedy - VWF, Jeff McLean – Buddy Up Australia and Commandos Association, Natacha Cameron – RSL Queensland, Jessica Jones – Salvation Army, Tara Hatzimalis – Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Alana Scheiffers – Institute of Veterans’ Advocates, Megan Read – Veterans Queensland, Brendan Cox – Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency, Garth Callendar – Bravery Trust  

Presentations covered a variety of topics which included the Queensland State Government’s Veterans and Veterans' Families Strategy, and a collaborative model of care for ex-service organisations proposed by Legacy Brisbane, as a veteran community collaboration concept aiming to ensure no veteran or family members slips through the cracks. 

Brendan Cox, CEO of the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency, outlined how the new agency will work alongside Defence, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and ex-service organisations to support veterans and families during transition. 

The agency’s approach considers nine interconnected areas of wellbeing, including health, housing, employment, education, financial wellbeing, safety, family life, social connection, and meaning and spirituality. 

Its proposed case coordination capability is intended to connect veterans and families with appropriate services earlier, assisting them throughout transition until they are settled. Rather than duplicating existing services, the agency will help people navigate the support system and connect with suitable ex-service and community organisations. 

“No veteran or family should have to navigate transition or seek support alone. By working closely with Defence, government and the ex-service community, the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency can help connect people with the right support earlier, before challenges reach crisis point, while recognising and strengthening the trusted services that already exist across the sector." 

Other presentations included Alana Scheiffers, CEO of the Institute of Veterans’ Advocacy (IVA) speaking about the newly formed institute and its role in supporting those providing advocacy services to veterans, and a panel of sector representatives on the realities of being at the front line of support. The panel was chaired by Peter Kennedy, CEO of VWF (Veteran Wellbeing Foundation) alongside Garth Callender, CEO of Bravery Trust, Jessica Jones from the Salvation Army Veteran Support Team and RSL Queensland Wellbeing Manager, Natacha Cameron.