Veterans Connect, a unique program that supports Veterans and their families, is celebrating its first anniversary on the Central Coast on February 27. With an office in Gosford, Veterans Connect has worked with some 60 former ADF members and families in the past year and this year is expanding into the Hunter Valley. Veterans Connect offers support to Veterans and their families, and can link them to other services, including GP’s, physiotherapists, psychologists and peer groups.
Veterans Connect, a unique program that supports Veterans and their families, is celebrating its first anniversary on the Central Coast on February 27.
With an office in Gosford, Veterans Connect has worked with some 60 former ADF members and families in the past year and this year is expanding into the Hunter Valley.
Veterans Connect offers support to Veterans and their families, and can link them to other services, including GPs, physiotherapists, psychologists and peer groups.
Veterans Connect is supported by the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network.
AJ is a Veteran who participated in the Veterans Connect program – this is his story:
Growing up, AJ never considered any other job but joining the army.
His father and mother died when he was a child and AJ then lived with an uncle, who had been a soldier. A second uncle, who supported him, was also ex-military.
“These were my only male figures when I was young so that had a big bearing on me,” AJ explains. “I hadn’t really thought about any kind of jobs, like being a plumber or builder.”
AJ signed up at 17 years and spent the next six years in the army’s field force in Queensland, which included parachuting and training in the bush. He was married and divorced in this time.
“I think she got tired of me going away with the army.”
After basic training, AJ was sent to Victoria to do a keyboard course and later a radio course to train as a signals operator before returning to his unit in Queensland.
He became a Radio Operator, which meant carrying the heavy radio, plus his pack, weapon and rations, while out in the field – a load equal to his own body weight.
“You carry the weight on your back, but it drags on your neck. And you are running 5km a day and then you parachute, and the weight is hanging from your harness as you come down.”
After six years in the field, AJ was reassigned to a static unit in Brisbane and was told the Army wanted him to use his keyboard training.
“I was just typing messages all day. I didn’t like that, I wanted to stay in the field force, but you have to go where they send you.”
After a difficult time over his next three years of service, AJ discharged from the army and returned to live with his uncle on the Central Coast.
“I was pretty cranky that I was out, but I thought I’ve got to get on with stuff and my uncle was there and he encouraged me to apply for jobs.”
Over the next two decades, AJ spent time working in a hardware store then in an aged care facility as a handyman.
Now in his early sixties, AJ is unemployed and suffering pain in his knees, back and shoulders – a lot of pain.
A Central Coast community centre put him in contact with Veterans Connect.
AJ did not know that he was a Veteran or had any entitlements. He thought entitlements were only for personnel who had served overseas.
Veterans Connect supported AJ to apply for a White Card, which is a Veteran service card that provides Veterans with free care for accepted service-related conditions as well as free mental health treatment for life.
He has also been connected to a pensions-advocate to look at whether his ailments are connected to his years of service.
AJ’s Care Coordinator at Veterans Connect says that many Veterans like AJ are modest and think that because they weren’t deployed overseas, they aren’t entitled to support, but ‘a Veteran is a Veteran’.
“His years of service were physically very demanding and this still may have contributed to his current health problems, particularly his poor mobility,” explained his Care Coordinator.
His Care Coordinator is also helping with a referral to the National Centre for Veterans Health Care. This centre specialises in tailored healthcare for Veterans, and could assist with pain management and access to treatments and allied health support.
“I am happy that I was linked to Veterans Connect,” said AJ, “And got me the white card. I’m hoping to sort out some of medical problems and my Care Coordinator is really supportive.”
PHOTO: Istock (Sanjagrujic).