Family support

Families of ex-Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and veterans can require the same, if not more support as veterans. Listed below are some of the support services that provide assistance to families.

Each organisation may have different eligibility criteria for the services they can provide so contact them directly through the links below to clarify what you and your family are eligible for.

Health and wellbeing

RSL QLD

Provides a wide range of services and programs to support serving and ex-ADF personnel and veterans and their families.

Defence Member and Family Support

Partners of serving ADF personnel can access a range of services, including employment assistance funding, support during the ADF member’s deployments, help connecting with community support and resources, and resilience-building programs.

Open Arms

Provides confidential and specialised counselling and group therapy and education programs for ex-ADF personnel and veterans and their families.

Mates4Mates

Supports current and ex-ADF personnel and veterans (and their families) who are wounded, injured or ill as a result of their service.

Survive to Thrive Nation

Coaching current and former service personnel and their family’s independence with overcoming mental health adversities and successfully transitioning back to civilian life.

The Defence Special Needs Support Group

The Defence Special Needs Support Group Inc. is a non-profit benevolent volunteer organisation established to assist Navy, Army and Air Force families with a family member with special needs.

Kookaburra Kids Foundation

Supporting kids living in families affected by mental illness.

Defence Health

Provides Health Insurance for ADF personnel and their families.

Special needs support

Queensland Government is making it easier for people with disability, their family, friends and carers to connect with government services, regardless of the agency responsible for delivering those services. Visit the Queensland Government website for people with disability for more information.

Social

Young Veterans

Young Veterans was set up as a community hub, to provide an outlet and opportunity to gather and share a common bond.

Young Veterans connect members with services that they may not know about such as employment programs, housing assistance, help with Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) claims, allied health providers, financial help and access to mental health support.

There are numerous social programs available for families of veterans, search Engage for social services available in your area.

Education

DVA

Provide financial assistance, student support services and guidance and counselling services for 5 to 25 year old eligible students.

There are numerous programs available for families of veterans, search Engage for educational services available in your area.

Community support

The Queensland Government funds 124 neighbourhood and community centres which provide friendly, localised access to child, family and community services. There are centres in rural, remote and urban communities throughout Queensland.

Further information

There are many resources available for families of veterans; visit the Queensland Government website for general information useful to families.

For more organisations that offer veteran family support services search Engage.