President’s Newsletter

RSL members, families, and friends,

My recent trip, representing RSL Australia at the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (RCEL) Conference in Canada, and meeting with members from three of our international sub-branches, was highly productive and provided valuable insights into how we can better engage with and support our veterans living outside of Australia.

Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (Ottawa) - Over 30 Countries attended the 35th Conference hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion. It was an important Conference.  Resolutions that concern the future of RCEL beyond 2027 were discussed and voted on.  Importantly, there were open discussions regarding the future structure, and helpful input from Member Organisations contributed to developing options in support of beneficiaries beyond 2027.  

RSL Washington D.C. Sub-Branch (USA) - I met with members of the RSL Washington Sub-Branch and HADS Washington. Our discussions focused on strengthening connections with Australian veterans in the US, improving liaison with the American Legion, and ensuring our members receive vital information. I also had the honour of visiting Arlington Cemetery, the final resting place of more than 400,000 service members killed in action, veterans and their families.

RSL Subic Bay and Angeles City Sub-Branches (Philippines) - My visit to the Philippines revealed the challenges Australian veterans face, particularly in accessing medical care. I’ve since engaged in discussions with the Repatriation Commissioner on these critical issues. I also met with the Defence Attaché and the Australian Ambassador at the Australian Embassy.

New RSL State Branch Presidents - I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome the League’s three new State Branch Presidents, Mike Gallagher (RSL Tasmania), Brad Flaherty (RSL South Australia) and Dr. Mark Schröffel (RSL Victoria). The National Office looks forward to working closely with them to support veterans and their families.

In this newsletter, you’ll find:

• Upcoming National Commemorations

• Progress outcomes from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

• An invitation to join ‘Team RSL’ at the Australian Masters Games

• A link to a new paper being reviewed by the RSL Defence and National Security Committee

• An update on the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Scoping Study

Sincerely,
Greg Melick
RSL Australia National President

Upcoming National Commemorations

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s final report recommendations provide an evidence-based blueprint for real and lasting reforms to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for serving ADF members, veterans, and their families.

The RSL will not allow this report to gather dust.

While the government has made progress on some measures, we still lack a clear pathway and timetable for implementing all recommendations.

To date, progress is underway on setting up an Ex-Service Organisation peak body, a Wellbeing Agency within DVA, and an Institute of Veterans’ Advocacy (which should lead to more regulation and better training for advocates), as well as the establishment of an independent Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission (DVSC). Transparency has also improved, with DVA now providing regular data on claims processing.

These are vital first steps, and more work is underway within DVA and Defence. The RSL is working closely with DVA on several initiatives. We are meeting with Tony Sheehan, Head of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Implementation Taskforce, in early August. We are also seeking meetings with the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Prime Minister, and the Defence Minister to gain a deeper understanding of the government’s plan for implementing the recommendations.

Australian Masters Games – Join Team RSL!

The 20th Australian Masters Games will be held in Canberra from 18 to 25 October 2025.

RSL Defence and National Security Committee

The RSL Defence and National Security Committee is currently reviewing a paper by independent consultant and former RAAF officer Peter Robinson.

MEAO Scoping Study

RSL Australia’s critical Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Scoping Study is progressing. Led by Gallipoli Medical Research (GMR) with the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and Griffith University, the project is now bringing together the volume of information and findings from Phases One and Three.

The four planned Veterans and Families Voice Workshops, conducted in Phase Two of the project, took place in Brisbane, Townsville, Sydney, and Perth, with GMR and Griffith University reporting positive involvement from veterans, current serving personnel, family members, and community participants who support veterans.

GMR reports that the data gathered from each workshop, conducted over five hours, is incredibly rich and detailed. The commitment from participants was strong, with many travelling long distances to attend.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants following up with comments even after the workshops had finished. Many expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to express their views. The valuable insights are now being analysed for inclusion in the final report due to be delivered in late September.

Upcoming Commemorations