Long-awaited Women Veterans' Strategy a Welcome First Step

MEDIA RELEASE

RSL Australia, Women Veterans Australia (WVA), the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA) and Legacy Australia have welcomed Australia's first Women Veterans' Strategy as a good first step and called for the resources and transparency needed to deliver it.

The four national veterans’ service organisations thanked the women veterans whose experiences shaped the Strategy, and recognised WVA's persistent advocacy to see it released. Collectively, they are now calling on the Government to back it with resources and a clear commitment to transparency.

“This Strategy exists because women veterans spoke up and refused to be overlooked. But a strategy alone does not deliver change. It needs dedicated resources, clear accountability and independent oversight,” WVA Chair, Llani Kennealy said.

“Women veterans pushed hard for this, and the people who built it deserve real credit. It's a solid start. Now we need to make sure it doesn't end up as a glossy pamphlet on a shelf,” RSL Australia National President, Peter Tinley AM said.

“Women in the permanent force face a superannuation gap of $129,637. Targets and annual reporting will show whether that gap is closing,” DFWA National President, Del Gaudry CSC said.

“Recognising unpaid care is overdue and welcome. Families are often the first to notice when something is wrong, so support for women veterans must reach their families too,” Legacy Australia Chair Dr Mark Lax OAM CSM said.

The four national organisations are calling for:

• a funded implementation plan within six months, with clear targets

• annual public reporting and independent oversight

• action on sexual violence (Recommendation 25), medical discharge and homelessness

• a seat at the table through the Women Veterans Policy Forum

Mr Tinley acknowledged the RSL had more work to do to attract and retain women veterans.

“Women are nine per cent of our members, against about 13 per cent of veterans. We're working with WVA to fix that, and their expertise is shaping how we change,” Mr Tinley said.

The Strategy is part of the Government's response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Its release is timely, days after a recording device was found in a women's bathroom on HMAS Leeuwin, an incident now under military police investigation.