Veterans Advisory Council

2019 Veterans Advisory Council Members. From left to right: CMDR Andrew Burnett, Mr Chris Tilley, Mr Ray Kemp, Mr Leon Eddy, Dr Paula Dabovich, Mrs Helen Meyer, Ms Karen May, The Premier, The Hon Steven Marshall MP, AIRCDRE Margot Foster, BRIG Laurie Lewis AM (Ret’d) (Chair), Mr Mal Thiele, Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare, GPCAPT Brendan Rogers CSC CSM, COL Chris Burns CSC and Mr Rob Manton (Executive Officer). Absent: LCDR John Godwin RANR, MAJ Sally Heidenreich, LTCOL John Holloway, Mr Frank Lampard OAM, Mr James (Jim) O’Hanlon, Ms Cheryl Cates

The Veterans Advisory Council (VAC) was established in April 2008 to promote the well-being of South Australian Veterans and to provide advice to the state government about matters concerning the Veteran community.

The VAC is currently chaired by Colonel Susan Neuhaus CSC (Ret’d), and comprises 16 members of the veteran community. To learn more about the current members of the VAC, please click here.

Please click on the links below to view a summary of the key outcomes from recent VAC meetings.

13 February 2020

Welcoming new members Commander Alastair Cooper, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Gower, Ms Jo Hanrahan, Mr Nathan Klinge and Mrs Jan Milham. Briefing from The Princes Trust Australia. Other matters included Ex-Service Organisation Fire Relief Response, Australian Community Housing Association, Homeless Veteran Initiative, South Australia’s Ex-Service Commemorative Calendar 2020, Torrens Hub Master Plan, Upcoming Commemorative Services, Productivity Commission Inquiry into compensation and rehabilitation for veterans and Veterans’ Advocacy and Support Services Scoping Study.

5 December 2019

Briefings from the Partners of Veterans' Association, War Widows Guild, LTCOL John Holloway. Matters considered include Productivity Commission, Veterans' Information Day, Federal election commitment - employment support, Torrens Hub master plan, VAC composition 2020, Overwatch Australia, Working Age Veterans' Forum.

10 October 2019

Briefings from Associate Professor Harold Kudler MD and Mr David Wilton (Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation). Matters considered include correspondence received from the Federal Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel and Premier Marshall, Veterans Health Advisory Council update, Veteran Mental Health & Wellbeing STrategy and National Action Plan, VAC 2018-2019 Annual Report, Commonwealth, State and Territory Committee meeting 4 October 2019, Veterans' Ministerial Council meeting 23 August 2019, Torrens Hub master plan, Veterans Information Day 2019.

7 August 2019

The Council welcomes Mrs Cheryl Cates. Considerations include the final report of the Productivity Commission Inquiry into the Compensation and Rehabilitation for Veterans, Veterans Health Advisory Council update, South Australian ageing veterans, 80th Anniversary of Britain, France and Australia's declaration of war on Germany 3 September 2019, Defence Consultative Group update, Disrespectful behaviour at Adelaide Memorial Precinct, Veterans Employment Program website, Commonwealth, State and Territory Committee meeting outcomes, Veterans Ministerial Council meeting outcomes, Torrens Hub master plan, Veterans SA Strategic Plan, Headstone Project, Promotion of services available to veterans.