Veterans' Support Centre NQ Inc - Townsville

Veterans' Support Centre NQ Inc - Townsville For all Australian Veterans and Current serving Defence Force Personnel

We have done up a short document of a few pages that may be help

"THE GOLDEN PRINCIPLE" The Veteran Support Centre under the auspices of VVF (Vietnam Veterans Federation Townsville Inc) actively Pursues the Welfare of Vietnam Veterans and their families. It does not concern itself with Controversial, political and social issues not directly connected with that welfare. All of our Officers are T.I.P.trained by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. What that means is that they have the knowledge of how best to access the system, and what is required by the DVA, or other Departments, for any Pension Claims to have a successful outcome. Our Services are confidential. They are given with no charge: and to who ever comes to us, seeking our help. We hope you are that person. Our office staff have qualifications of the very highest levels, and have been doing advocacy work, professionally, (some) for many years. These qualifications are at the AAT Level, from Advocates of different levels, to Case Officers, Pensions Officers, Welfare officers and Trainee Officers. Our services are provided by former Defence Force personnel. who gladly volunteer their time and expertise for your help and benefit. If your case is very specialised and in need of other assistance, such as legal advice, we will also know what is appropriate, and see that your needs are met to your satisfaction. The VVF Townsville Inc (Veterans Support Centre) is the start up body for the Townsville Mens Shed, and is located in the same building. The aim of the Townsville Mens Shed is to provide a place for fellowship, support and also information about mens health issues. While the Shed is open to all blokes, it was opened with the needs of Veterans in mind and is welcoming to all Veterans, young and old. The Townsville Mens Shed has its own page and its hours are the same as that of the Veterans Support Centre. Come along, have a brew and a yarn and see whats on offer.

Another stunning morning walk at the Strand.
30/10/2025

Another stunning morning walk at the Strand.

A beautiful morning walk along the Strand with my best mate. We would love it if some of our wonderful Veteran family co...
28/10/2025

A beautiful morning walk along the Strand with my best mate. We would love it if some of our wonderful Veteran family could join us on Wednesday and Friday mornings for these walks as they are great for the soul. Plus Nero would like some new friends.

Went a bit further in this mornings Strand Walk. Made it all the way up to Kissing Point and Jezzine Barracks. It was a ...
16/10/2025

Went a bit further in this mornings Strand Walk. Made it all the way up to Kissing Point and Jezzine Barracks. It was a lovely sunny morning with a nice cool breeze.

16/10/2025

Nero smashing his pup cup on this mornings Strand Walk.

Its never too late to head down.
13/09/2025

Its never too late to head down.

A beautiful morning walk and coffee at the Strand and the The Beach Hotel. With Digger, Nero and Sundae.
11/09/2025

A beautiful morning walk and coffee at the Strand and the The Beach Hotel. With Digger, Nero and Sundae.

Pup cups are a big hit.
04/09/2025

Pup cups are a big hit.

04/09/2025

Don't forget our Strand walk and coffee tomorrow morning.

A beautiful morning walk this morning with James, Nicole Harvey, Nero, Sundae and Digger.
29/08/2025

A beautiful morning walk this morning with James, Nicole Harvey, Nero, Sundae and Digger.

02/02/2025

Due to current weather events unfortunately our office is closed today Monday 3rd Feb. We apologise for any inconvenience.

22/04/2024

When is a backlog not a backlog?

On 19 December 2023 :DVA Secretary Alison Frame said: ' In September 2022 there was a peak of more than 45,000 claims in the backlog, I am pleased to say as at November 2023, it's fallen to 12,554” The Minister for Veterans Affairs made as similar statement.

BUT WAS THIS STATEMENT CORRECT?

The ‘backlog of claims’ is important. It influences how long veterans’ disability claims take to process and finalise. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Su***de identifies the long delays in processing veterans’ disability claims as contributing to the risk of veteran su***de. But just what defines the backlog. Common sense would suggest that the backlog is the number of veterans’ disability claims submitted to DVA that have not yet been finalised. On November 30 2023 this number was 72,429. That number was made up of 62, 875 claims allocated to determining officers for consideration and 12,554 not yet allocated. DVA contends the backlog is just those 12,554 claims that have not yet been allocated to a determining office for processing. But claims have either been finalised or they have not. It is irrelevant whether or not they are waiting for action in determining officers’ in-trays. The time to process claims as at 30 November 2023 was, depending on the type of claim, a-bit-either-side of a year; a dangerously long time. Let’s have plain speaking rather than bureaucratic manipulation of the meaning of words. The backlog at 30 November 2023 was 72,429 not 12, 554 and the time of processing claims is still dangerously long. And the deceit goes on.

The DVA made the same tricky calculation for 31 December 2023. It states the backlog was reduced to 9,822 when the real figure was 75, 822 (worse than the previous month!). And again, on 12 February 2024, DVA made the following claim: ‘Work continues to progress on the implementation of the Royal Commission’s Interim Report recommendations. This includes eliminating the claims backlog by 31 March 2024, which is currently close to being cleared.’ But claims submitted but not yet finalised on 31 January showed just how false this claim is. There were 72,27claims allocated to determining officers but not yet finalised and 3,697 claims not yet allocated to officers. DVA is claiming that the backlog is only the 3,697 not yet allocated to determining officers. But the real, honestly calculated backlog is the total of these, 75,973. It is actually worse than last month. And, of course, the real test of the system is how long it takes from a claim being received by DVA till -it is finalised. That time still persists at the dangerous level of a-bit-either-side of a year.

22/04/2024

The Hearing Aid Controversy (and age is wearying us)

DVA provides hearing aids to eligible veterans. It provides the same basic hearing aid that is free for eligible Centrelink civilians. Many veterans over the years have found these hearing aids inadequate. There have been many complaints, from the hearing aid’s appearance to general inadequacy. But by far the most persistent complaint is their inability to handle background noise. This complaint stems from the basic hearing aid’s inability to fade out background conversations and music at restaurants, committee meetings, weddings and other gatherings. Audiologists point out that there are higher level hearing aids that better handle background noise. These higher level hearing aids can have a better appearance (often smaller and less obvious) as well as, in some cases, having additional features such as better handling windy conditions. Veterans, especially ESO officials who attend committee and other official events, have requested higher level hearing aids but have been refused. It seems only those with serious ear disease or injury are eligible. What is most galling is that even a recommendation from a highly qualified ear-noseand-throat specialist is not enough to sway DVA. Of course we realise that hearing aids, especially the higher level variety, cost a lot. But that cost fades into insignificance compared to the cost to the health of so many veterans’ including hearing difficulties, in fighting Australia’s wars. As part of compensation for hearing trauma caused in fighting Australia’s wars, veterans, at least those with operational service, should be automatically eligible for hearing aids one level up form the basic (often larger and uglier) pensioner model and eligible for still higher levels on the recommendation of an appropriate medical specialist.

Address

JC BUTLER BUILDING, 1 CHARTERS TOWERS Road
Townsville, QLD
4810

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 12pm
Tuesday 9am - 12pm
Wednesday 9am - 12pm
Thursday 9am - 12pm
Friday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+61747724655

Website

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