* 3 March 2025 *
The V Centre – First Anniversary
A year on from launching the V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program, 31 veterans have been supported with over 4,400 nights of safe accommodation: numerous lives have changed for the better.
Credit goes to everyone who has supported this Program: as well as our own staff, there have been many ex-service and mainstream service partners who have been involved, with expertise and services as well as passion for this Program. It is an honour to work among such a committed group.
We have gained a great deal of knowledge in these first 12 months and we continue to learn. It has not been an easy year: the journey these veterans are on is hard and their issues are complex. I’d like to commend them for their endurance throughout the highs and lows of this roller-coaster journey they are on.
We commissioned EY to carry out an analysis of the business case for this Program which predicts savings to Government of over $17 million in three years: this is a combination of savings from reductions in unemployment, homelessness services and government-funded housing subsidies, plus increased tax revenue and cost benefits from reduced police/judicial interaction and health care and in-patient services. Every life saved by the V Centre is a tragedy avoided and has innumerable other benefits.
Funding Update
We are delighted to report that our submission for $4.68 million funding for a Geelong-based Veteran Empowerment Program has been successful! To be located adjacent to the Bell Park ex-service accommodation, the program model will be based on the V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program, offering a supported environment and linking in to the V Centre for oversight and management. We will bring you more details on this once it is under way.
It is also a great pleasure to announce a successful submission for $1.2 million funding for staff who will provide a range of support services to veterans and their families.
Thank You
We would like to thank the Federal Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) for awarding both these grants under the Veterans’ Acute Housing Program, to support the development of innovative ways to address the changing needs of the veteran community.
We would also like to thank all those individuals and organisations who responded to our call outs, making donations and purchasing our Recipe Book ‘Serving History with Love’ in support of the V Centre veterans. Your support is sincerely appreciated.
Our advocacy work continues, with our bid for $11.6 million for three years funding for the V Centre for the 2025-26 budget submitted at the end of January.
Building for the Future: Progress Update
Work has now started on the 20 brand new ex-service accommodation units (Affordable Housing) adjacent to our Bundoora Aged Care Home.
Read more here.
We will bring you regular updates as this build progresses.
As mentioned in our last issue, plans for an upgrade to our Frankston South residential aged care and ex-service accommodation site are progressing well. This is an important investment for the organisation, upgrading and expanding the ex-service accommodation, adding retirement living and creating an attractive environment and a community space close to Overport Road. More detail will be available soon.
Reminder: New Aged Care Act – 1 July
The new Aged Care Act will come into effect on 1 July 2025 and will affect both Home Care and Residential Aged Care. Both teams are preparing for the change and will be keeping in touch with their communities during the changeover.
Read more here.
Strategic Plan 2025-30
Setting our goals for the next five years is a balancing act between doing as much as we can for this community, while not taking on so much that we let people down. I would like thank our Board of Directors for the confidence they have put in us to achieve our goals and improve the lives of those in our community. The new Strategic Plan will be available on our website later this month and I look forward to working on these priorities with this dedicated community.
Janna Voloshin
Chief Executive Officer
Senior Staff Moves
In late 2024, we said farewell to Annette Greenwood, General Manager – Quality and Risk (above with CEO Janna Voloshin).
Annette has provided 15 years of service to Vasey RSL Care: “Annette always put residents and clients first,” says CEO, Janna Voloshin. “She has been a committed advocate for their needs and made sure we never forgot our purpose. We wish her a long and very happy retirement and thank her for everything she has done to keep our community safe.”
Community Care Team
We have had a change of management with Richard Davey moving on to new challenges and we are very pleased to welcome Jannette Fleming as Executive General Manager – Community Services. Jannette (above middle) has many years’ experience in this area and she and her team will continue to support our Home Care and Veterans’ Home Care clients.
Vasey RSL Care Frankston South
Residential Manager Brian Searle has moved to a new organisation role and we have welcomed Sharmain Jansz (above right). Sharmain was previously working as Facility Care Coordinator at our Brighton Aged Care Home and we congratulate her on her new role.
