Victorian Veterans Council
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 Minister for Veterans Affairs on issues affecting the Victorian veteran community. In addition to advising the Minister, the Council distributes the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund and the 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.
Background to the Victorian Veterans Council
Veterans Council Annual Report 2011-12 (PDF 1.4 MB) or (Word 1.9 MB)
Victorian Veterans Sector Study Report
Veterans Council Grants Program
Find out more about Victoria's ex-service organisations (PDF 1.8 MB) or (Word 1 MB)
Background to the Victorian Veterans Council
The Victorian Government 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 helps 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 Minister for Veterans Affairs on issues affecting the ex-service community
- distribute the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund to ex-service organisations for welfare activities
- 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 Minister.
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 Veterans Unit from 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 Peter Colliver (Royal Australian Air Force Association - Victorian Division)
- Mr Michael Annet, CSC (RSL representative)
- Mr Robert Elworthy (Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Victorian Branch)
- Mr David Ford, CVO, AM, GM (Legacy representative)
- Ms Laureen Grimes
- Mr Stuart Dodds
- Mr Peter Tanner
- Mr Frank Kelloway
- Dr Ross Bastiaan, AM RFD
Read the biographies of the Victorian Veterans Council members (PDF 25 KB) or (Word 37 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.
Read the Victorian Veterans Sector Study Report (PDF 2.3 MB) 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.
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 Minister for Veterans Affairs.
ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund
The purpose of this annual fund is to provide practical assistance for veterans and their dependants who are in need. The Fund is distributed to organisations whose principal object is to provide welfare support to veterans or their dependants.