APAC Insider- Business Awards 2025 | 25 Few would dispute that veterans and their families deserve all the support they can get, especially in a world where their service and subsequent needs are often overlooked. Ensuring this support can be accessed freely and without limitations is the Veterans’ Wellbeing Network Mid North Coast, a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation based in New South Wales. Recognised here as the Best Veteran Wellbeing & Support Network 2025 – Australia, we take a closer look at its work below. On a mission to engage transitioning personnel of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), veterans, and their families, the three-fold focus of the Veterans’ Wellbeing Network is wellbeing, advocacy, and compensation. The services provided within these areas are free and tailored, from career transition assistance and mental health resources through to compensation advocacy and community reintegration programmes. The impact these services have in the lives of veterans and their families is tremendous. “Our evolving mission empowers veterans to thrive beyond their service, ensuring they receive recognition, support, and opportunities to do so.” All programmes offered by the Veterans’ Wellbeing Network stem from the Wellbeing Model laid out by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and the Veteran-Centric Model devised by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Both cover key areas such as education and skills, housing, employment, and income and finance. By grounding its approach in these established systems, the Veterans’ Wellbeing Network makes sure it promotes wellbeing, resilience, and selfsufficiency for veterans and their families. Exploring the Network’s three primary focus areas mentioned above in more detail, its wellbeing provision is grounded in the recognition that modern military training, conflict, and disaster relief have all massively changed the way that wellbeing is approached in this community. Thanks to its military experienced wellbeing advocates and support officers, boasting a comprehensive understanding of the needs of veterans and their families, the support provided is holistic and grounded in both empathy and shared experiences. Regardless of whether a veteran’s service was in the Korean and Vietnam Wars or they are still serving today, the Network wellbeing team link the veteran and their family with governmental, private, and community service providers alike, offering support from military enlistment to their end of life. This includes everything from home and hospital visits to bereavement support, liaising with governments and the DVA, providing any wellbeing assistance when requested, and supporting in transitional management following discharge. The Network’s second focus area, advocacy, sees its people supporting veterans who are pursuing eligibilities based on their military service from the DVA. These advocates take on cases on behalf of both veterans and their families and current ADF personnel alike, preparing and presenting their findings to either the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB) or Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Usually, these cases involve claims for benefits or entitlements being rejected without their being a legitimate reason and a strong case for appeal. Advocacy support means representing the veterans and their families across the likes of government forums, committees, and workshops, not to mention giving them a voice within political circles. The passion across this area again stems from these advocates – just like the wellbeing support team above – being former service people, or family of service people, whose knowledge and experience of both military life and the appeals process is unrivalled. This makes what is a complex process as straightforward as possible. Finally, the Network specialises in compensation, specifically facilitating the submission of claims for disability payments, war widower pensions, service pensions, and applications for other benefits being provided by the DVA and other support agencies. All compensation and wellbeing advocates are also fully certified according to the ATDP (the DVA’s Advocacy Training and Development Program), enabling them to provide ethical assistance across every aspect of a compensation claim, as well as providing updates on progress when asked. This trio of focus areas point towards one belief: the belief that veteran advocacy is much more than just a service – it is a passion and a responsibility. By providing free Australian veteran advocacy services grounded in such vital areas as veteran wellbeing, compensation, career transition support, and more, the Veterans’ Wellbeing Network is doing its best to support a community whose role in the everyday freedoms of the Australian people is crucial. As a non-profit organisation, it can only do this through donations from the public and grants support from the DVA. Rightfully recognised as the Best Veteran Wellbeing & Support Network 2025 – Australia, the Veterans’ Wellbeing Network Mid North Coast is a lifeline for veterans and their families alike. More on its work and how to donate to this organisation can be found below. Contact: Geoff Harrison Incorporated Association: Veterans’ Wellbeing Network Mid North Coast Web Address: https://www.vcmnc.org.au/ Best Veteran Wellbeing & Support Network 2025 – Australia
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