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RSLWA Acknowledges Outstanding Efforts With Awards Night

The Returned & Services League of Australia WA State Branch (RSLWA) awarded eight Australia Day Council Achievement Medallions at it its annual Australia day Awards event at ANZAC House last night.

RSLWA hosts the awards ceremony to recognise the efforts of RSLWA members who have excelled in their dedication and commitment to the organisation.

The 2022 Australia Day Council Medallions recipients were:

  • Mark Weldon – City of Rockingham RSL Sub-Branch for his tireless efforts with the local Commemorative Services and rebuilding memorial walls.
  • Paul McGuinness – North Beach for his continued efforts to improve the Sub-Branches social and Commemorative events.
  • Clarence Cole – City of Cockburn RSL Sub-branch for ongoing support and dedicated work.
  • David Thomas – City of Claremont for building the Sub-Branch to a more viable entity
  • Mr Ron Gwynne (Posthumous) – City of Belmont for developing the Belmont RSL bowling green through which lasting relationships were fostered with the Belmont City Council.
  • North Beach RSL Sub-Branch for the continued support of community-based organisations and their members.
  • City Of Belmont RSL Sub-Branch – Belmont Keep Fit Group for promoting wellness and fitness for veterans and the community.
  • Mt Hawthorn Primary School for ongoing support and engagement with Mount Hawthorn RSL Sub-Branch.

The event included the Annual Cadet of the Year Awards 2021 recognising the commitment and excellence of our Australian Defence Force Cadets in Western Australia.

RSLWA CEO John McCourt said it was important to recognise the efforts of our Cadets, their mentors and their families in shaping the adults, and leaders of tomorrow.

“The ADF Cadets is a community-based youth development organisation focused on Defence customs, traditions and values, through which our young people learn leadership, team building and survival skills that will set them up for life,” he said.

The RSLWA Cadet Unit Efficiency Shield 2021 was awarded to:

  • Australian Navy Cadets – TS MORROW from Geraldton
  • Australian Army Cadets – 58 ACU Carine
  • Australian Air Force Cadets – 711 SQN from Geraldton
  • Cadets WA – Ellenbrook Police Rangers

The RSLWA Trustees Award for Cadet Individual Proficiency went to:

  • Australian Navy Cadets – Cadet Leading Seaman April GOMM of TS Marmion
  • Australian Army Cadets – CUO Dominic Adriano 50ACU Midland
  • Australian Air Force Cadets – CDT CPL Grace Harding of 701 SQN
  • Cadets WA – CDT Benjamin Fuller from Subiaco Police Rangers

The RSLWA “Spirit of ANZAC” Cadet of the Year Award winners were:

  • Australian Navy Cadets – CDT PO Edward Kammermann of TS Canning
  • Australian Army Cadets – CUO Jaxon Broad of HQ WA AAC BDE
  • Australian Air Force Cadets – CDT CPL Bethany Doyle of 710 SQN
  • Cadets Western Australia – CDT Thomas Offer of Christ Church Grammar School Surf Lifesaving.

“I congratulate all of tonight’s award recipients and thank them once again for the tremendous work they do within their Sub-Branches, Units and the broader community,” Mr McCourt said.

Media Release: Grants Open for our Veteran Community

The 2021-22 rounds of the Veteran and Community Grants and Supporting Younger Veterans Grants are now open for applications.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the grants deliver valuable funding to local community organisations providing activities and services that support the wellbeing of veterans and their families.

“Recent grant funding has gone to a wide variety of support programs including wellness weekends and care packages for Defence members, fishing and sporting activities and even off-road racing,” Minister Gee said.

“I recently had the opportunity to catch some waves with veterans from previous grant recipient, the Veteran Surf Project at Gerroa in New South Wales, and saw firsthand the truly remarkable positive impact it’s having for local veterans.

“Their program brings veterans together, gets them talking, gets them active and gives them something to look forward to each week. It can be literally life changing for some of those who participate.

“With this latest round of funding, I hope we can support many more groups like this.

“We want to see applications for practical projects and activities that support safe, accessible environments for veterans and their families to enable social connections and improve wellbeing.

“These grants will help improve and expand existing services, build capacity for future projects, and raise awareness of the issues facing local veterans.

“I meet regularly with many ex-service organisations and have enormous respect for the critical role they play in providing mateship, advocacy and support.”

Grants of up to $50,000 are available for local, community-based projects and activities. A small number of grants of up to $150,000 are also available for projects that deliver wellbeing support services and activities of broad scale benefit to the veteran community.

The Australian Government is investing $32 million this financial year alone in grant programs to help the many groups that provide complementary services to our veterans.

The 2021-22 grants rounds are now open online through the Community Grants Hub and close 20 January 2022. For information about how to apply for grants online, see the Community Grants Hub website: www.communitygrants.gov.au.    

Changes to Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA)

New legislation which came into effect on 1 January 2022 will provide an increase in social security payments for some veterans.

The changes made the Disability Compensation Payment (formerly known as Disability Pension) exempt from the income test under the Social Security Act 1991

Centrelink payments, such as the Age Pension, will increase as a result and removes the need for DFISA. In addition, Rent Assistance became available, or increased, for some veterans.

These changes were announced by email from the DVA Secretary in early December 2021, however, some letters were delayed which meant some veterans did not know why their DFISA payment had been reduced prior to 13 January.

Those who had previously received DFISA found that on the first payday of 2022, part of the DFISA payment was reduced. 

On payday 27 January, there will be no DFISA paid, however, social security payments from Centrelink will increase accordingly. 

The part payment on 13 January was made because the effective date of 1 January fell in the middle of the pay period. As Centrelink paydays differ for each person, payments did not align with DVA veteran paydays.

Veterans and their partners do not need to do anything, as the payments will be made automatically.  

Further information can be found on the DFISA page of the Department of Veterans Affairs website www.dva.gov.au under “What’s New”: https://www.dva.gov.au/financial-support/income-support/allowances/defence-force-income-support-allowance-dfisa 

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