Continuing the Mission: Progress on Strategic Goals
* 29 March 2022 *
A Message from Board Chair, Mike O’Meara OAM, and Vasey RSL Care CEO, Janna Voloshin:
We are pleased to provide an update on progress towards the strategic goals set out in our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, based on the content of our 2020 white paper: ‘Continuing the Mission: Understanding and responding to the changing needs of the veteran community’.
The Strategic Plan sets out our four overarching objectives to support the Victorian ex-service community, to:
1. Reduce homelessness
2. Provide aged care services
3. Offer long-term affordable accommodation
4. Build and provide support services to meet the needs of the younger generation
Current Priorities
The V Centre, expanding long-term accommodation to regional Victoria, and planning for new ex-service accommodation in the northern metro region, are all in progress.
The proposed V Centre has received strong support from the ex-service community who are keen to see a service for Victorians to help those struggling to make the transition to civilian life.
Last year, we reached out to you to help us better understand the accommodation needs of the veteran community: the response was terrific and with such a high level of engagement, we have confidence in the data gathered.
New V Centre Document
Data and insights from this research have been used to develop the new document, ‘The V Centre’.
This outlines
- the unmet needs we are aiming to address,
- the research undertaken,
- modelling for the V Centre,
- benchmarking the model using a Six P’s Framework,
- and an overview of the development journey we are on to turn this into a reality and help change lives for the better.
The V Centre: Flipbook Version The V Centre: PDF Version
Current Status
- We already have a site and buildings in the ideal location for this new program, adjacent to the Heidelberg Repatriation and its veteran-specific services.
- Detailed modelling is under way.
- We are engaging architects and builders to carry out the required conversion.
- We are meeting with service providers, government representatives, philanthropic organisations and potential partners as we determine how we will work together to ensure we provide full ‘wraparound’ services for the needs of the veterans.
There is still a lot to be done, but there is a great deal of good will around this enterprise and in supporting veterans, no matter what their needs or circumstances are.
We will continue to provide updates as progress continues towards opening the V Centre in mid-2023.
If your organisation or group would like a briefing or to find out how you can be involved in service provision for residents of the V Centre, please get in touch with us – ensuring we tie in with existing services and work together is of paramount importance to us and those we serve.
Mike O’Meara OAM, Board Chair Janna Voloshin, Chief Executive Officer