The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) designated the period of September 22 to 30 as Veterans’ Health Week.
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As a component of Veterans Health Week the Nambucca/Macleay Defence Families Information Service conducted an Information Day for serving and ex-ADF Members and their families at the Nambucca Heads RSL Club on September 26.
More than 50 people attended, they were provided with a broad range of information from guest speakers and 25 information stands from a cross section of service providers, community groups and support organisations.
Mr Richard Calloway, a practicing pensions advocate since 2008, was the first speaker of the day and was able to share with the gathering the benefit of his experience and insight regarding significant reforms being made to advocacy by the Department of Veterans Affairs. A new emphasis is being placed on the quantity and quality of appropriately trained advocates intended to deliver high performing advocacy to the veterans community.
The morning continued with an informative line-up of speakers from various organisations. Mr Paul Tracy from Mid Coast Communities provided detail on the sensitive subject of elder abuse while Legacy had a guest speaker from Sydney who enlighten those present on many types of support provided by Legacy that most were not aware of.
A number of those who attended the information day found the speaker from Legal Aid, Mr Victor McCormick to be the highlight, he drew the highest number of questions from the crowd.
Among the information stands set up in the Nambucca Heads RSL for the benefit of attendees were U3A, Nambucca Valley Care, RSL Life Care and the Mens Shed. I spoke to a number of attendees who found the day served as a great resource and were particularly complimentary about the Live Better Community Services stand as well as speaking to the folk from Lifetime Connect.
NSW Healths’s My Aged Care representative Mr Kim Smith said the day provided a unique and highly valuable opportunity for local veterans to interact with important service providers. Full marks to Wayne Mason, Wally Sweet, Spot Swales, Bob Crisp and the team at the Nambucca/Macleay Defence Families Information Service for putting together such a useful event in the Nambucca Valley.
The location of next year’s event has not been confirmed as yet however it appears that Kempsey and South West Rocks are both contenders.
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