Invictus Australia reception

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the lands on which we meet, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to their elders past and present.

I also extend a special welcome to the many serving and ex-serving veterans and their families who have joined us tonight in these hallowed halls.

Thank you for your service.

To the Duke of Sussex, thank you for your gracious words and welcome to our national War Memorial.

In November, I was fortunate enough to be in London where I was able to spend some time with Invites Games Foundation Chair Sir Charles Allen and CEO Rob Owen.

So it’s wonderful to be now welcome you this evening, your presence is a reminder that Invictus is a global community united by a single thread of service and sacrifice.

That said, we do things a little differently here in Australia.

Invictus’ efforts here aren’t solely focused on the Invictus Games, as important as they are.

It’s deeply involved with our veteran community right down to the grass roots level.

Integrating veterans with the local communities in which they live through one of the most powerful social connections in our society, local sporting clubs.

Giving veterans not only a healthy physical outlet, but an important sense of belonging through new friends and new connections, particularly those finding themselves in new surroundings. 

These are the building blocks of a successful transition out of uniform and into civilian life.

In my role as Minister I get regular feedback about the difference Invictus is making in building those foundations for so many veterans.

And I have seen it at work first hand in our Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs, located across the country.

For the uninitiated, these Hubs are a network of one-stop shops for veterans and families to access a whole range of support services, close to home, in a welcoming local community environment. 

Invictus has a presence in many Hubs along with other ex-service and health organisations, all working together to build that sense of connection and community, belonging and purpose, about which the Duke of Sussex spoke so eloquently.

Because we know sport, particularly at the grassroots level, can have a powerful impact on the wellbeing of so many of our veterans.

Indeed, last year I was pleased to be present at the announcement of the partnership between Invictus and the University of New South Wales to gather concrete evidence of the impact of sport on our veteran community.

That evidence-led, grassroots approach is part of the reason why Invictus has now impacted the lives of almost 30,000 veterans and families of veterans in this country.

It was heartening to hear the Duke of Sussex speak earlier of how Invictus Australia is setting the benchmark for the global community with this approach.

I want to acknowledge Invictus for how it’s approached its work and relationships overall. 

They don’t wait for support to come to them, they’re getting out there, working with philanthropic partners to make sure they have the backing to make sure they’re able to back their athletes. 

Corporate partnerships with the likes Optus, Boeing and the University of New South Wales are helping enable Invictus to do what it does at the grassroots level, alongside sporting bodies like Bowls Australia and Surf Life Saving.

Invictus is part of the broader veteran support system we’re actively strengthening to better support veterans and families of veterans - especially through transition.
The Royal Commission set clear expectations: do better. 

We’ve already implemented 32 of their 122 recommendations and are on track to deliver around two-thirds by year’s end.

We’re delivering practical reforms - improving access to mental health care, increasing funding for trusted ex-service organisations, and investing in early intervention so veterans get support before they hit crisis point.

We’re also fixing the veteran claims system, cutting complexity and delays so support is faster and less stressful to access.

From July, a new Veteran Wellbeing Agency will provide wrap around support - connecting veterans to services like Invictus throughout their lives.

And we’re being held to account, with an independent Defence and Veterans Service Commission overseeing delivery and driving real improvements in suicide prevention and wellbeing.

Thanks to everyone for coming along this evening.

The effort to care for our veterans and their families is a shared effort.

It is wonderful to see that reflected in the work Invictus, and the work you all, are doing.

ENDS