Veteran voices heard on wellbeing agency and ESO peak body

DVA is working with the veteran, defence and family community to co-design a new agency focused on veteran wellbeing and a national peak body for ESOs, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

A special DVA taskforce has engaged with more than 1,000 veterans, serving ADF personnel, family members, ex-service organisations (ESOs) and service providers in a consultation and co-design process. 

Teena Blewitt, head of the Taskforce on Wellbeing Agency and Peak Body, says that in “discovery sessions” for the wellbeing agency, her team heard many strong and consistent messages about what the agency should do and how it should do it. 

‘Our veteran community told us the agency must bridge the trust divide that exists between veterans, families and the departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence,’ says Teena. ‘It needs a veteran-centric culture that prioritises the needs, preferences and experiences of veterans, ensuring that services are designed and delivered to maximise outcomes for veterans and families.’ 

That culture needed to be one rooted in empathy, collaboration and adaptability, with lived experience being the springboard to lived expertise at the heart of the organisation. 

‘People expect the agency to say what it will do and do what it says,’ Teena adds. ‘They want families integrated into the wellbeing system, and for families to be defined broadly and inclusively. Importantly, people want an agency that is independent, open and transparent.’ 

Delivering on the promise of openness and transparency is the driver behind a new program of community engagement that the Taskforce is undertaking. 

Teena will lead a roadshow of information sessions around the country, feeding back to the veteran, defence and family community the messages the Taskforce heard through the wellbeing agency consultation and co-design process. These engagements will test potential models that could be presented to government. 

‘We invite all veterans, serving ADF personnel, family members, ESOs and service providers to come to a session and hear about the direction the wellbeing agency is taking, and provide feedback on the models we have developed,’ she says. 

Peak body takes shape 

Stakeholder contributions to the peak body consultation and co-design process have been equally generous. 

Veterans and families are seeking a higher quality of service from organisations, easier systems to navigate, and a collective voice to advocate for veterans and families. ESOs want the peak body to deliver a unified voice to government, balanced and diverse representation in consultative activities, and more effective collaboration and building of capacity among themselves. 

‘Like a wellbeing agency, a peak body must be trusted and independent,’ Teena explains. ‘Delivering outcomes for veterans and families must be at the centre of what the peak body does.’ 

A peak body that delivers this for veterans, families and organisations that support the sector will also provide DVA with a streamlined way to communicate more broadly with the sector, an expanded diversity of relationships to reflect the community, and stronger collaboration. 

‘Another message from our consultations is clear – we need better, joined up relationships between veteran organisations and government to deliver improved services,’ says Teena. ‘It’s what we want, it’s what the ESOs want, and it’s what veterans and families expect. 

‘This process has only been possible thanks to the people who have generously given their time and knowledge, and shared their experiences with us.’ 

The community consultation and co-design phase involved more than 80 workshops, and the Taskforce received more than 70 submissions and 150 survey responses. 

For more information on the Taskforce, the findings of the consultation and co-design process, how to continue to engage with the Taskforce and when the roadshow might be coming an area near you, visit its web page. 

Image: Senior DVA staff met with veteran representatives and advocates as part of the consultations at the Pro Patria Centre in Wagga Wagga, NSW.