Compensation and support

Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) program

The BEST program is designed to support ex-service organisations’ pension and welfare practitioners and advocates. It offers grants to help these organisations and practitioners to advise and assist the veteran and defence communities.

A BEST grant is intended to be a contribution towards an organisation’s costs in providing services to the veteran and defence communities. It is not to offset all costs, and grant recipients are expected to provide in-kind or other support to their pension, welfare and advocacy officers.

There is one BEST funding round each year. Funding is for the period of the financial year. Payment of grants is subject to previous funding being acquitted as required.

The Community Grants Hub administers the BEST program. DVA maintains the policy and approval processes.

Health and wellbeing

Grants-in-Aid program

The Grants-in-Aid program forms part of the Government’s commitment to support the role of national ex-service organisations, which provide coordinating and representational support within the veteran and defence communities.

The maximum annual grant to any national organisation is $10,000. Grants are subject to accountability requirements. Depending on the demand for funding and the prioritisation of all applications, part funding only may be offered.

There is one funding round per year.

The Community Grants Hub administers the Grants-in-Aid program. DVA maintains the policy and approval processes.

Long Tan Bursary Scheme

The Long Tan Bursary Scheme provides funding to children of Australians who served in the Vietnam War, to help them meet the cost of post-secondary education so that they can obtain the formal qualifications and skills they need to pursue their chosen careers.

In the 2018–19 Budget, the Australian Government announced that the eligibility criteria for the Long Tan Bursary have been extended to include grandchildren of Vietnam veterans. This change takes effect from 1 July 2019.

Each financial year, DVA offers 37 bursaries of up to $12,000 over three years. In 2018–19, 37 bursaries were offered and accepted.

The Long Tan Bursary Scheme is administered by the Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust on behalf of DVA.

Supporting Younger Veterans

The Supporting Younger Veterans grants program supports the needs of younger veterans as they leave the ADF and integrate back into civilian life, with all the challenges that accompany that unique transition. Younger veterans are considered to be those with service after 1999.

Under this program, applicants are required to be ex-service organisations (ESOs) that specifically provide support and services to veterans with military service post-1999 or are adapting their business model to focus on this cohort. Organisations that are not ESOs will be considered if they are in partnership with at least one ESO that directly provides support and services to veterans with military service post-1999.

There is one funding round per year.

The Community Grants Hub administers the Supporting Younger Veterans program. DVA maintains the policy and approval processes.

Veteran and Community Grants

Veteran and Community Grants are available to organisations for projects that benefit veterans; their partners, widows/widowers, carers and dependants; and other members of the ex-service community. Projects may also benefit the wider community.

The program supports activities and services that sustain and/or enhance health and wellbeing. It provides seeding funds for projects that support a healthy, good-quality lifestyle for members of the veteran community and help them to remain living independently in their own homes. It also provides funding for initiatives that reduce social isolation, support carers and improve access to community services.

The program is a rolling round and applications can be submitted at any time. However, grants are assessed in batches throughout the year.

The Community Grants Hub administers the Veteran and Community Grants program. DVA maintains the policy and approval processes.

The Centenary of Anzac Centre

In June 2016, the Australian Government committed to provide $6 million to Phoenix Australia to establish the Centenary of Anzac Centre to target early-intervention mental health treatment for veterans. The centre was launched in September 2017 in Melbourne. It is funded through a DVA grant that runs over three years to 30 June 2020 under the Support for Veterans and Their Families Program.

The Centenary of Anzac Centre is made up of two components:

• a treatment research centre investigating and testing new treatments for PTSD and other mental health conditions and translate the findings for policy and treatment delivery
• a practitioner support service providing expert advice and guidance to practitioners on the treatment and support of veterans with mental health problems.

The Centenary of Anzac Centre grant is administered through the Community Grants Hub.

Commemorations

Overseas Privately Constructed Memorial Program

The Overseas Privately Constructed Memorial Program assists Australian veterans and other individuals to restore and preserve military unit and battle memorials that were privately constructed overseas.

To be eligible, memorials must directly commemorate Australia’s military involvement in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Memorials must be pre-existing and on public display. Preference is given to memorials constructed by Australian veterans and Australian veteran associations.

Funding is available for restoration, not ongoing maintenance.

In 2018–19 a total of $48,830.38 (GST exclusive) was provided through the program. This comprised payments made on:

• three existing multi-year applications, totalling $40,000
• two new applications received during the year, totalling $8,830.

Saluting their Service Commemorative Grants Program

Saluting Their Service grants are provided to ex-service organisations, local government authorities, museums, schools and other community organisations for projects that commemorate the military service of Australians in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

Two categories of grants are available under the program:

• Community Commemorative Grants of up to $4,000 for projects of community significance
• Major Commemorative Grants for projects of national, state or territory significance.

In 2018–19, 28 Major Commemorative Grants were approved, totalling $386,327 (GST exclusive); and 175 Community Commemorative Grants were approved, totalling $422,925 (GST exclusive).

Armistice Centenary Grants Program

The Armistice Centenary Grants Program supported the Australian Government’s commitment to acknowledging and commemorating those who served Australia and its allies in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

The program provided funding for community-based projects and activities commemorating the end of the First World War, remembering the service of Australian men and women in all conflicts, and celebrating a just and secure peace.

In 2018–19, 779 projects were approved for funding, totalling $7,268,958.

Discretionary grants

The department funded a discretionary grant of $5,000 (GST exclusive), approved by the Minister.