The Top Ender Magazine June July 2022 Edition

Visit by Repatriation Commissioner
and Defence Engagement Adviser
To stay updated on the latest news and stories on DVA our
leaders and the veteran community subscribe to our official e-
newspaper Vetaffairs. You can do this be visiting our website
www.dva.gov.au.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) is
dedicated to establishing and maintaining
strong relationships with Defence, veterans,
current serving personnel and their families.
In February 2022, the Repatriation
Commissioner Mr Don Spinks and Veteran
Engagement Adviser Mr Glen Ferrarotto
spent time in Darwin engaging with the
community.
The Repatriation Commission is independent from DVA,
advocating on behalf of veterans and their families,
listening to their needs and experiences and feeding
these views back to DVA. The Repatriation
Commissioner has a rich understanding of veteran wellbeing
and the importance of supporting families.
They also met with staff members in your local Darwin
VAN (Veterans Access Network) office, discussing vital
topics with key stakeholders relevant to the Northern
Territory, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the
Bombing of Darwin, and met with senior Defence
personnel.
Having these discussions plays a huge role in keeping
veterans at the forefront of the work of the Repatriation
Commission and DVA.
We thank the Repatriation Commissioner and the
Defence Engagement Adviser for their visit.
We would like to thank the Australian Defence Force
and the Darwin veteran community who supported this
visit. The Repatriation Commissioner and Veteran
Engagement Advisor are grateful for the time and input
from everyone they spoke with.
Contact Department of Veterans’ Affairs, NT
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
Written by Louise Ruhl
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Anzac Portal
(https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/) acknowledges and
commemorates all those who have served Australia in
global wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
ANZAC Portal
The website helps visitors understand Australia’s military and service
history and hear firsthand from veterans. The Anzac Portal:
• Provides information about Australia’s involvement in wars,
conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
• Produces educational resources for primary and secondary
schools.
• Shares veteran interviews and stories through videos and
recounts of their experiences.
• Offers ideas and resources to help Australians commemorate in
their communities, including the popular Anzac Day Kitbag
(https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/anzac-day-kitbag). This
includes orders of services, speeches, music, and other
information to help people commemorate at home.
Education specialists and historians at DVA are continuously
developing a range of commemorative and education resources in
both digital and print form to recognise the service and sacrifice of
Australians. Free books and education resources aligned to the
Australian curriculum are available to download from the Anzac
Portal.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans and
their stories
First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for Australia for
over 65,000 years.They also have a proud history of military
service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) which continues to
this day. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have proudly
served in every major war and conflict, and taken part in
peacekeeping operations.
The Anzac Portal provides a wealth of educational resources for
students, parents and schools showcasing the experiences of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans.
Exploring their stories of service help all of us better understand the
experiences of our Indigenous veterans, such as Torres Strait
Islander Kapiu Masi Gagai, a skilled boatman and fearless soldier who
served in the Second World War. Or Leonard Waters, a Kamilaroi
(Gamilaraay) man from outback Queensland who became
Australia’s first Indigenous fighter pilot during the Second World
War.
Teaching resources
Teaching resources include three books designed for
students. There is a book for primary and one for
secondary, which help students to investigate wartime
experiences, providing the social and political context of
service including discrimination faced by First Nations
people. Each book contains sources and activity
worksheets and is available to be downloaded from
DVA’s Anzac portal. The newest education resource
shares stories of Indigenous Service from the First and
Second World Wars. This book, Stories of Indigenous
Service has just been sent to schools, ex-service
organisations, and community groups in hard copy in the
2022 Anzac Day resource pack.
New Veteran Wellbeing Grants Program
The Australian Government is investing $27 million to
help fund bigger, better and more innovative programs
to support the wellbeing of current and former
Australian Defence Force personnel and their families.
The new Veteran Wellbeing Grants program will
develop new ways to help the veteran community.
There will be scope in the new grants program to target
larger, longer-term projects with funding of up to $1.5
million. From 2022-23, funding will continue to be
available for smaller grassroots projects when the
Veteran Wellbeing Grants program will join with the
Veteran and Community Grants and Supporting
Younger Veterans programs.
The additional funding provided by the Australian
Government for the new Veteran Wellbeing Grants
program is expected to open for applications in the
coming months. Grants of between $150,000 and $1.5
million will be offered over one or two years, to support
innovative programs and projects. Eligibility for this
funding will not be limited to ex-service organisations,
but the key criteria will be funding for innovative
programs and projects that benefit veterans and their
families.
More information about the Veteran Wellbeing Grants
program will be released on the GrantsConnect website
(www.grants.gov.au) when applications open.
8:30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday
A/G Deputy Commissioner, NT
14 Winnellie Road, Winnellie 0820
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
22 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated JUNE/JULY 2022 23