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The organisation has partnered with a veteran-owned technology provider to test a new program designed to boost access to support services.
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The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Australian technology company Servulink as part of the launch of a new 12-month pilot program.
The new digital “Catalogue of Services” initiative aims to provide veterans and their families with timely information about services in a given location through an app and web-based system.
The Servulink platform, which has been endorsed by the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence, is backed by hundreds of veteran support organisations and charities across the country.
“Servulink offers an online, agile, user-friendly solution that can be further developed and easily adjusted during the year-long pilot,” RSL Australia president Greg Melick said.
“The Australian veteran service and support environment is large, diverse and complex, comprising some 2,800 ex-service organisations, and approximately 4,000 registered charities nationwide. There is also a growing number of government and corporate entities focused on supporting and employing veterans.
“Identifying the relevant local support and services for particular needs can be challenging, often resulting in service delivery failure, confusion, frustration and negative mental health impacts – ironically among the very people that these services are designed to assist.”
Veteran and Servulink co-founder Matt Brennan said the catalogue would empower veterans and their families to discover and navigate the network of support and services available.
“The pilot project will integrate RSL sub-branches nationally, alongside the hundreds of high-value Australian veteran-and-family supporting organisations already part of Servulink’s existing national digital service catalogue,” Brennan said.
“The Servulink platform combines services and support available across a range of holistic wellbeing, personal, professional, community network and family needs. Providers are geographically located, along with their key contact and navigation details.”
Melick added that the current Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has illustrated the need for improved support services.
“This is an important need for all veterans and is particularly urgent for our younger veteran community,” he said.
“Servulink will facilitate access to services tailored to best meet individual and family needs in a simple and stress-free manner.
“The RSL Digital Catalogue of Services pilot will enable veterans to quickly find, navigate and access the right services and support at the right time for them, their families and their mates, anywhere in Australia – improving lives every day.”
Melick also welcomed recent collaborations between RSL and Legacy, Bravery Trust, Soldier On and War Widows.
“This is a real example of the Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) working together to support veterans and their families,” Melick said.
“Importantly, the platform has the flexibility to allow for other applications being developed by other ESOs and veterans through the pilot year of the project.
“The pilot provides a valuable opportunity to ease the existing complexities involved in navigating information within the sector; using technology to transform the national veteran support landscape.”
Support is available to anyone who needs it, including:
- Defence All-hours Support Line 1800 628 036: a confidential telephone service for ADF members and their families.
- Defence Member and Family
- Helpline 1800 624 608: staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers.
- Open Arms Veterans & Families Counselling 1800 011 046: provides free and confidential counselling and support for current and former serving ADF members and their families.
- The Defence Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 1300 687 327: a free, confidential and professional counselling service available to Defence Australian Public Service employees, Australian Signals Directorate employees, Australian Defence Force reservists, ADF cadets, officers and instructors of ADF cadets and their immediate families, and their supervisors/managers.
- Safe Zone Support 1800 142 072 (available 24/7): a free and anonymous counselling line for veterans and their families providing access to specialised counsellors, with an understanding of military culture and experience.
- Lifeline Australia (available 24/7) 13 11 14: a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
[Related: Bravery Trust, Coles partner to combat cost of living pressures for veterans ]
