Veteran Support Group

Thanks to Zanda HealthHealth we have been tracking clients and record keeping with efficiency and speed. Over the last 4 months we have supported 215 veterans written more than 960 emails and phone calls to dva and clients to date.
To our clients Thankyou for being patient as the DVA processes keep changing and the wait times keep growing.
We have two active volunteer advocates in compensation . And we have new staff in reception and admin supporting the advocates.
We also have everyone training in wellbeing support with some new volunteers joining us, and we have a Justice of peace by appointment.
We would also like to thank Granville VVF for taking on our appeals.

2026 Lest we forget.

We honor all who have served Australia and New Zealand, acknowledging those killed, the survivors bearing physical and hidden wounds, and the tragic loss of life through su***de. We remember the enduring sacrifices of families and the mateship that defines the ANZAC spirit

The day honors not just those who died in battle, but those who returned with, or suffered from, hidden injuries, mental health struggles, and the "stinking hell holes" of war memories.

Tribute is paid to the lives lost to su***de within the veteran community—a tragic, ongoing consequence of service, with over 1,800 su***des of serving/ex-serving members recorded between 1997 and 2023.
We remember the partners, children, and families who supported sailors, soldiers, and airmen, often bearing the quiet burden of loss and long-term care.
Veteran Support Group from 1 Jan 2026 we have supported 215 veterans written more than 960 emails to date
We thank our supporters, our volunteers and our veteran clients and their medical teams
Check in with your veteran friends.
We are here for you.

Michael, continued service with Veteran Support Group speaking at Ashmore/ Benowa Probus morning tea.

Main Points:
VEA and DRCA close on 1 July 2026; all new claims go to MRCA
New "Medical Event On Duty" pathway (doesn't require proving causation)
No re-claiming for previously accepted conditions
Easier assessment hierarchy
Coverage for unintended treatment consequences
Better to***co use rules
Faster processing
Liability changes

📢 Important Update for Our Members and Supporters
The Veteran Support Group is excited to share that we’ll be using zandahealth to improve how we deliver communication and support to our community.
We’ve actually been using zandahealth for a few years and have been fortunate in their support. And as we continue to get more tech-savvy, we’re expanding how we use it — including for our newsletters, updates, and membership information from July onwards.
✨ This change will help us stay more connected and organised, making it easier to share important information with you.
Please note: future emails will come from
📩 .com
instead of our usual vvfqld.com accounts.
You may have already spoken with our friendly receptionist, Sophie, who loves a tech challenge and is helping us roll out these new updates!
🙏 A huge thank you to our members for your generosity through donations and continuing memberships. Your support makes everything we do possible and helps strengthen our veteran community.
💬
Please keep an eye on your inbox for our upcoming newsletters and updates from Zanda Health. If you don’t receive one, check your spam or promotions folder and mark the email as safe — or contact our team so we can help update your details.
Thank you for being part of the Veteran Support Group — we can’t wait to share more news with you soon!

Home - Vietnamveterans.net.au Veteran's Support Group Men's Shed Nerang Founded by the Vietnam Veterans Federation Brisbane/Gold Coast Regional Sub Branch Inc. 18 Leagues Club Drive, Nerang QLD 4211 Membership 30KVA Standby Generator. Sep 25, 202519th September saw the installation of the 30kva standby generator to service both....

To our esteemed members, clients and followers,

We appreciate your ongoing support and are delighted to have assisted you or your family in navigating DVA. We trust your experience has been seamless.

As valued past supporters, we cordially invite you to rejoin as members. Membership ensures continued access to advocacy services, resources and priority support for veterans.

To those we continue to support, thank you for your patience as we work diligently on your behalf.

Our Queensland Branch primarily focuses on Advocacy Services, while our Brisbane/Gold Coast Sub-Branch provides assistance in various other areas. Our Advocacy team strives to deliver results for all veterans, regardless of their service history. We are also expanding our well-being support services.

Our team is supported by volunteers and administrative staff. Membership subscriptions fund our Advocacy Service and administrative support. The more members we have, the greater our chances of securing funding grants to cover expenses. In 2025/26, we received $144,000.20 in government funding for Advocacy Services, but needed to raise an additional $63,000 to cover full costs. Every membership counts, and we appreciate those who include donations with their fees.

Membership Fees

Full year: $30 (1 July – 30 June)

Half year: $15 (1 January – 30 June)

Renewals are due on 1 July annually

Complete applications online: https://form.jotform.com/211619207920047

Pay directly via bank transfer: BSB 124065 Account No. 20454340 (use your surname as the reference)

Account Name: Vietnam Veterans Federation Qld Branch Inc.

Alternatively, email or post the form to [email protected] or drop it off at our office, and we will process the payment over the phone.

Office hours: 9:30am–2:30pm, Monday to Thursday

If you have any questions, please reply or call during office hours. Phone: (07) 5578 2233

Regards,
Veterans Support Group
PO Box 368, Nerang Business Centre, Nerang QLD 4211

The link is also available on our website: https://form.jotform.com/211619207920047

Veterans Support Group® - (Advocacy Services) Please click the link to complete this form.

Generally, DRCA initial liability (IL) claims under DVA take approximately 450 days to process from lodgement to decision, reflecting all claims on hand as of early 2026, including older complex cases, with allocation to an officer averaging around 45 days. In comparison, newer DRCA IL claims processed in the last 12 months have averaged about 138 days, indicating improvements for recent submissions. With DRCA conditions closing on 30 June, individuals with a DRCA condition that has significantly deteriorated may still have time to lodge for permanent impairment. Additionally, any conditions claimed under DRCA from now on will likely be assessed for permanent impairment under the updated MRCA from 1 July. The current DRCA PI claims being determined were lodged around July last year.

Please note office support and in person appointments for help with compensation claims will be limited to Tuesday and Thursday this week. Please email Michelle and Brad if you are their clients. All other inquiries please hold as we are also upgrading phone systems.
Emails will be answered Tuesday and Thursday this week via [email protected]
Thankyou

Might not be what you need but it’s found to suit many veterans and patients who are in chronic pain and or suffer from mental health conditions; please support our veterans who need this.

Sign the Petition Plants Not Pills - Reverse DVA’s Attack on Veterans’ Access to Medicinal Cannabis

Veterans Support Group, founded by the Vietnam Veterans Federation -
QLD Branch with our sub branch looking after our mens shed, bee hives, group gardening, wood work welding. Come seek help, a friendly face or come volunteeryour expertise
Visited us recently please leave us a review! Anything negative please message us all feedback is welcome

Veteran Support Group & Veterans Men's Shed Gold Coast & Brisbane · 4.8★(19) · Community center 18 Leagues Club Dr, Nerang QLD 4211, Australia

https://veteransupportgroup.org.au/extra-ordinary-general-meeting/

Extra-ordinary General meeting Fellow Members, We would like to inform you Peter Handy, after over 14 years of dedicated service to the Sub-branch and Queensland Branch has retired form the President’s role at the Queensland Branch…