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However, my election as National President of the RSL is not about personal achievement but collective responsibility. The RSL's relevance depends on its ability to deliver for contemporary veterans while honouring our heritage. This requires honest assessment of what works, what doesn't, and what must change. The challenges are significant, but so is our collective capability to address them. I will bring focus, energy, and accountability to the role of National President. I have a vision for the RSL and what we can achieve together as the nation’s most enduring and trusted ex-service organisation. My key areas of focus: Positioning veterans’ issues as national security issues. The way Australia treats its veterans directly impacts Defence capability, recruitment, and retention. This is not about charity – it's about national preparedness and it’s about looking after our people. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has laid bare the challenges facing our community, and I will lead the RSL’s effort to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations, not selective adoption. Bridging the generational divide. Too many younger veterans have seen the RSL as irrelevant to their needs. We need to earn their trust through action, not rhetoric. That means cutting through bureaucratic barriers that drive veterans to despair and delivering on contemporary priorities: transition support, employment pathways, and mental health services, as well as continued research into the human impact of service to ensure that our contemporary veterans receive evidence-based services and support. Stronger policy and advocacy capability at the national level. My goal is to evolve the RSL National Office into the authoritative voice on veterans’ affairs and the defence and security of our nation. While respecting our federated structure, we must speak with one unified voice on all critical veteran matters. I will pursue independent funding sources to continue to build this capacity without compromising state autonomy.
But here’s my request. We need your expertise. I'm not asking you to join committees or attend meetings for the sake of it. I'm asking you to contribute your expertise where you can and where it matters: helping design better transition programs, mentoring younger veterans, providing input on policy positions, and holding the system accountable for delivering results. If your local sub-branch isn't meeting contemporary needs, help reshape it. If you see gaps in service provision, help us identify solutions. If you have concerns about how the RSL operates, provide constructive feedback directly. My commitment is straightforward: the RSL will be veteran-focused, not veteran-adjacent. We will measure success not just by membership numbers or ceremonial activities, but by tangible improvements in veteran outcomes. The first few weeks of my term have been highly productive. I attended the RSL Australia AGM and the farewell dinner, where I formally thanked former National President Greg Melick for his dedicated service. I also had the pleasure of meeting the RSL members participating in the Australian Masters Games (more details on that later in this newsletter). Beyond these key events, I've been laser-focused on strategic engagement, connecting with all our State Presidents and reaching out to key stakeholders. I have meetings planned with The Hon Matt Keogh MP, the Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, David Harris MP, the NSW Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, and the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission. There is much to do, and this is just the beginning. The work has begun.
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