The South Australian Charter for Veterans was developed in 2012 with input from the South Australian veteran community and the Veterans’ Advisory Council.

The charter defines the veteran community in South Australia and is the foundation of all activities undertaken by the agency.

A ‘veteran’ is a person who is serving or has served in the Australian Defence Force as a regular/permanent or Reserve/part-time member.

The ‘veteran community’ is inclusive of veterans and their families with a direct link to a Service or a veteran.  This includes spouses, widows, widowers, former partners, carers, children, parents, siblings and relatives of serving or ex-serving members, and should include anyone with an evident link to, or interest in, matters associated with veterans’ welfare or wellbeing.

Principle 1

Government services should consider the cultural, economic, social, physical, emotional and pastoral needs of veterans.

Principle 2

Veterans should be involved in consultation about services that affect them and their community.

Principle 3

Services should aim to provide timely, responsive and appropriate assistance to veterans and take into account:

  1. the benefits of early intervention;
  2. the susceptibility to social exclusion experienced by veterans from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
  3. the barriers to access to services faced by veterans in rural and remote communities;
  4. the needs and role of carers; and
  5. diversity within the veteran community including, but not limited to, age, gender, nature of service and differing cultural backgrounds.

The core of the veteran culture lies in the bonds of mateship, promotion of service to community and each other, support for all those impacted by military service, remembrance of those who had one life that was given to others and our nation to preserve our way of life: for we are young and free.