August 31, 2022
Murgon RSL Sub-Branch has received a $15,180 Federal Government grant to help veterans get support.
“The Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) program provides funding and resources to ex-service organisation practitioners for compensation and welfare advocacy,” Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said.
“Murgon Sub-Branch RSL has successfully obtained this funding to support our veterans in making claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs. I congratulate them for their tireless work to ensure our veterans are supported through the arduous claims process.”
Mr O’Brien said the funding came just days after the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides Interim Report gave a scathing review of the DVA claim backlog, citing an “unacceptable” 42,000 claims still awaiting processing as of May 2022.
“The Commission heard the long wait to receive entitlements can seriously and detrimentally impact veterans’ mental health,” Mr O’Brien said.
“I fully endorse the Commission’s urgent recommendation that this backlog is dealt with as quickly as possible.
“For every unassessed claim, a veteran may not be getting the support they need and are entitled to.”
The Commission has recommended the DVA be given until March 31, 2024, to eliminate the claims backlog.
Murgon RSL Sub-Branch president Kevin Gill said the ex-service organisation was pleased to have successfully obtained the grant.
“We have a number of veterans who need to lodge their claims and, as is the story across the nation, we do not have enough people to help them,” he said.
“This grant will help advocates assist ex-service people to put accurate and well-prepared paperwork to the department.”
