Central Coast Veteran and Family Hub opens doors at Wyong
The new Central Coast Veteran and Family Hub was officially opened on Friday, 13 September 2024. The purpose-built facility in Wyong offers a broad range of services designed to meet the unique needs of the Central Coast’s continually growing veteran community.
In partnership with RSL LifeCare, RSL NSW is committed to growing the network of Veteran and Family Hubs, which connect veterans, current serving Australian Defence Force members and their families to essential services, including health, housing, employment, financial support, advocacy, and social connection.
Central to this partnership is the ‘hub and spoke’ model – a community-centric approach connecting the network of RSL sub-Branches as the spokes to their local Hub. RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge said, “RSL NSW and RSL LifeCare have worked to ensure the ‘hub and spoke’ works, with 30,000 RSL NSW members ready and committed to ensuring that every veteran and their family are connected with the services they need under one roof.”
NSW Minister for Veterans, David Harris MP, and Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride MP, were among the distinguished guests at the opening ceremony, alongside RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge, and RSL LifeCare CEO Janet Muir.
Minister Harris emphasised the importance of local support for the veteran community, stating, “I am thrilled the new Veteran and Family Hub has opened on the Coast. The Central Coast is home to more than 7,600 veterans who, along with their families, will benefit from the wide range of support services now available at their local hub. It will also serve as a safe place for the veteran community to get-together to access the many services and activities, or simply to catch up.”
RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge echoed this sentiment, noting the success of the Hub model. “RSL NSW is committed to supporting the network of Veteran and Family Hubs across NSW because we know they work. RSL NSW has donated over $9.1 million to RSL LifeCare to ensure that veterans and their families can continue to access the free, vital support they need.”
The Hub is part of a broader Commonwealth Government initiative, which provided $1.7 million in funding to establish the facility. RSL NSW sub-Branches have also contributed significantly to ensure veterans on the Central Coast can access the care and support they deserve.
For more information about RSL LifeCare Veteran and Family Hubs and RSL LifeCare Veteran Services please visit: rsllifecare.org.au/veteran-services/
For more information about the Department of Veterans’ Affairs please visit: www.dva.gov.au/veterans-and-families-hubs
