New Hunter veterans hub opens in Maitland

newy.com.au – A new hub for veterans and their families has opened in Maitland, with the federal government saying it will expand wellbeing and support services for the Hunter’s 22,000 current and former serving veterans and their families.

The Hunter Veterans’ and Families’ Hub, at 48 Ken Tubman Drive, was officially opened on Tuesday, March 17. The facility is positioned to serve Australian Defence Force personnel based at Singleton Military Area, Bullecourt Barracks and RAAF Base Williamtown, as well as veterans and families across the wider region from Port Stephens to Singleton and inland to Muswellbrook.

The hub will provide service navigation, community engagement and claims advocacy support, along with space for veterans and families to meet, including a children’s play area and outdoor area. Open Arms will provide peer support through the site, while Invictus Australia has partnered with RSL LifeCare to deliver activities, with coffee catch-ups, yoga sessions and barbecues among the programs planned.

Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the new centre was designed to make support easier to access and to strengthen community connection. “The Hunter’s 22,000 veteran families can now look forward to a new era of holistic support that’s closer to home and easier to access,” he said.

Mr Keogh said the hub reflected the government’s response to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, with a stronger focus on wellbeing and helping veterans and families navigate support services. He said at Tuesday’s opening that families were often “the first responders to a veteran who is in crisis and needs support”.

Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson said the facility would provide a dedicated place for the region’s veteran community. “We have one of the largest veteran communities in NSW – and the new Hunter Veterans’ and Families’ Hub will provide a dedicated space where veterans and their families can connect, access support services and feel part of a community that understands their experiences,” she said.

RSL LifeCare received a $5.45 million grant to deliver the hub and has partnered with RSL NSW as part of a regional “hub and spoke” network. The funding forms part of the federal government’s $46.7 million commitment announced in 2022 to expand Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across Australia.