The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, today announced a major grant to a foundation which supports families of seriously wounded Australian Defence Force members.

Since 2001, more than 40 ADF personnel, who have been seriously wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, have been airlifted to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany for specialised treatment.

The families of some of these troops have stayed at Fisher House, which provides a ‘home away from home’ for relatives of patients at Landstuhl. Families do not pay to stay at Fisher House. The Fisher House Foundation is managed by volunteers and operates through a combination of community and government funding, with the bulk of funding coming from community donations.

“Fisher House has provided crucial support to the families of wounded Australian troops during times of medical crisis. In recent cases, Australian families have stayed at Fisher House for up to two weeks,” Mr Snowdon said.

“I visited Fisher House at Landstuhl last year and was impressed with the level of care and generosity of the staff, many of whom are volunteers. I believe it is only right that Australia, in turn, helps the Fisher House Foundation continue its great work into the future through a multi-year grant,” Mr Snowdon said. 

Australia will provide $225,000 to the Fisher House Foundation between now and 2015-16The Senior Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union, Major General Brian Dawson signed the grant agreement during a visit to Fisher House at Landstuhl yesterday.

“It was a pleasure for me to be able to personally thank staff at Fisher House for the care and support they have provided to Australian Defence families at their time of great need,” MAJGEN Dawson said. 

Media contacts:
Lidija Ivanovski (Minister Snowdon) 02 6277 7820 or 0407 108 935
Defence Media Operations: 02 6127 1999