Victorian Veterans Council
Background to the Victorian Veterans Council
Functions
Membership
Victorian Government Response to the Victorian Veterans Sector Study
Victorian Veterans Sector Study Report
Veterans Council Grants Program
The Victorian Veterans Council is an independent statutory body established in 2006 under the 
Veterans Act 2005. The Council plays an important role supporting Victoria’s veterans and reporting directly to the Premier on issues affecting the Victorian community. In addition to advising the Premier, the Council distributes the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund and the new Victorian Veterans Fund. It also advises the Minister for Consumer Affairs on specific matters relating to the regulation of patriotic funds.
The Veterans Act 2005 was developed following extensive consultation with the veteran community and replaces the Patriotic Funds Act 1958. The Victorian Veterans Council replaces the Patriotic Funds Council and is charged with a different range of responsibilities.
Background to the Victorian Veterans Council
The Victorian Government has established the Council in response to two significant changes in the community. The first change is that many veterans are getting older. The ageing of the veteran community has a number of important consequences. As people age, their need for care often increases. The total number of veterans is declining as the older generation passes away. Many of these veterans are survived by their widows who also need a higher level of care as they age. The second change is that there is increasing community interest in our military history and the service of our veterans, particularly amongst younger Victorians. The Victorian Veterans Council will help respond to these issues.
Functions
The Victorian Veterans Council has a number of functions, outlined in the Act. These are to:
- provide advice to the Premier on issues affecting the ex-service community
- distribute the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund to ex-service organisations for welfare activities (this role was previously carried out by the Patriotic Funds Council)
- distribute the Victorian Veterans Fund
- advise the Minister for Consumer Affairs on the regulation of patriotic funds.
Under the Act the Council is required to consult with ex-service organisations in developing advice for the Premier.
The Council promotes collaboration and coordination across the broad range of ex-service organisations in Victoria and assists and advises patriotic fund trustees on options for the use of patriotic funds.
Membership
The Victorian Veterans Council has 11 members, of whom at least 8 must be members of the ex-service community or members of ex-service organisations. The Chair and Deputy Chair must be veterans. There are legislated positions for two important and longstanding ex-service organisations: the State Branch of the Returned and Services League and Melbourne Legacy.
All members are appointed by the Governor in Council. The Department of Planning and Community Development provides secretariat support to the Victorian Veterans Council.
Members of the Victorian Veterans Council are:
- Major General Peter Haddad AO (Retd), Chair
- Mr George Logan, RFD, Deputy Chair
- Mr Peter Colliver (Royal Australian Air Force Association - Victorian Division)
- Brigadier John Deighton, AM MC (Retd) (RSL representative)
- Mr Robert Elworthy (Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Victorian Branch)
- Mr David Ford, CVO, AM, GM (Legacy representative)
- Ms Mary Kelly (Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council)
- Rear Admiral John Lord, AM, RAN (Retd)
- Mr Stephen Ryan
- Mr John Wells (Carry On Victoria)
Read the biographies of the Victorian Veterans Council members (PDF 151 kb) or (Word 233 kb).
Victorian Government Response to the Victorian Veterans Sector Study – June 2009
In June 2009, the Victorian Government released its response to the Victorian Veterans Sector Study, produced by the Victorian Veterans Council in June 2008.
The Government supports all 11 recommendations of the study and has committed $6.6million over four years from 2009-10 to implement a number of specific measures recommended in the study including additional funding to expand the supply of specialist housing to vulnerable veterans and additional funding over four years to the Shrine of Remembrance for educational and commemorative activities.
Read the
media release.Read the Victorian Government Response (PDF 190 kb) or (Word 247 kb).
Victorian Veterans Sector Study Report – June 2008
In 2008, the Victorian Veterans Council undertook the first in-depth study of Victoria’s veteran community to identify issues confronting the veterans sector and recommend strategies to address them. Following a series of consultations and a survey of 25 ex-service organisations (ESOs), the Council presented a report to the Premier and Minister for Veterans Affairs, John Brumby based on the Council’s findings.
The Victorian Sector Study Report contains 11 recommendations with plans for action involving both the State and Commonwealth Governments with ESOs.
Read the
media release.Read the Victorian Veterans Sector Study Report (PDF 2307 kb) or (Word 751 kb). Note: the PDF is a large file and may take a few moments to download.
Veterans Council Grants Program
Both the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund and the Victorian Veterans Fund are administered by the Victorian Veterans Council. The Council is responsible for:
- developing public guidelines about the use of this Fund and the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund
- determining what gets funded
- accounting publicly for the expenditure.
The 2009-10 Veterans Council Grants Program is currently open. Applications have closed for the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund and Round 1 of the Veterans Fund but Round 2 will be open until Monday 1 February.
Guidelines and application forms can be found here.
Victorian Veterans Fund
The Victorian Veterans Fund was established under the Veterans Act 2005. The Fund’s revenue comes from gaming activities on ANZAC Day.
The purpose of this annual Fund is to provide the veterans’ community with greater capacity to:
- honour and commemorate the service or sacrifice of veterans
- educate Victorians about our history of service in conflicts, including peacekeeping and peacemaking operations
- assist with the education of veterans’ dependants
The Veterans Act also allows the Council to determine other uses of the Fund, with the agreement of the Premier.
ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund
The purpose of this annual fund is to provide practical assistance for veterans and their dependents who are in need. The Fund is distributed to organisations whose principal object is to provide welfare support to veterans or their dependants.
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