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The Families of Veterans Guild has announced its new national advocacy role representing Australia's war widows and veteran families.
The announcement took place earlier this week at the Guild’s inaugural Remembrance Lunch, supported by real estate and funds management company Centuria Capital Group (Centuria), at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Led by members of the war widow and veteran family community, the Guild is bringing together lived experience and tangible data points to deliver on two key focus areas:
The Guild will protect and advance the entitlements, recognition and legacy of Australia's war widows at a national level. This follows the Guild taking on national advocacy responsibility for Australian war widows on 1 July 2026, following the closure of Australian War Widows Incorporated.
It will also advocate for veteran families to have their own pathways to support, so partners, children, parents, siblings and carers are recognised in their own right rather than as extensions of the veteran.
The Guild is proud to work alongside organisations across the veteran community that advocate for veterans and their families, bringing a sustained focus to the needs of war widows and families.
Families of Veterans Guild CEO Renee Wilson said this new role carries forward the Guild’s founding purpose.
“Our Guild began in 1946 when war widows came together and decided that their community, those left behind by conflict, should no longer go unrepresented and unheard,” she said.
“Eighty years on, we are proud to be carrying that commitment forward nationally, for war widows and every family shaped by service.
“Families carry so much of the weight of service, yet they’re too often an afterthought in a system that relies on them. We want widows and families recognised in legislation, policy and service design from the start.”
The Guild announced its new advocacy role at its inaugural Remembrance Lunch, held the day before Remembrance Day with the support of Centuria, which honours the service and sacrifice of veterans alongside the war widows and families who support them and carry that service across generations.
“Remembrance Day asks us to honour those who served… We also honour the people who stand beside our veterans: the widows, partners, children, parents, siblings and other carers whose lives are shaped by service,” according to Tricia Hobson, Board Chair of the Families of Veterans Guild.
“We give our thanks to Centuria for supporting this inaugural Remembrance Lunch and standing alongside war widows and veteran families, and the Australian War Memorial for welcoming guests in such a significant national setting.”
The Families of Veterans Guild is a community of war widows and veteran families providing support, connection, recognition and advocacy for the families of current-serving, former-serving and deceased veterans.
The Guild's 2025 Veteran Families Survey found more than half of war widows struggle to access the healthcare they need, 52% of veteran families had experienced mental health challenges in the previous year, 33% had difficulty accessing mental healthcare, and only 36% agreed mental health services were tailored to veteran families. 70% of surveyed households also reported children experiencing a personal or emotional challenge.
“We’re proud to support the Families of Veterans Guild in recognising the contribution of veterans and the families who support them,” Centuria Head of Portfolio and Asset Management Victor Georos said.
“Centuria has a strong connection to Canberra through the properties we own and manage, and we believe being part of a community also means contributing to it. That commitment is reflected in our sustainability framework and ongoing work, particularly our focus on creating shared value with our stakeholders and supporting local communities,” he said.
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