2025-2026 Federal Budget Delivers Funds for DVA Veteran Services

---- When did you last visit the Hut? Visit us most Fridays after 5 pm for our Happy Hours. ---- The Australian Government handed down the 2025-26 Federal Budget on 25 March 2025. 

The 2025–26 Budget builds on previous investments that have seen the demand for the Department’s services increase. 

$47.6 million in 2025–26 has been provided to increase resourcing in key service delivery areas of the Department. This includes funding for up to 120 service delivery staff in the following areas: 

1. the Veteran Access Network
2. Veteran Support Officers
3. Complex Case Management teams
4. Information Access teams, and 
5. mental health support teams. 

 A further $11.9 million in 2025-26 has been provided to support continued access to key health and support programs for veterans and families, including:  

1. extension of the Military and Veteran Psychiatry Training Program
2. extension of the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Pilot Program
3. supporting the delivery of the Veteran Employment Program
4. extension of the Veterans – volunteer training in suicide recognition and intervention program
5. supporting Invictus Australia 
6. supporting Kookaburra Kids. 

This additional funding builds on significant investments into the Department via the 2024–25 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) process, which included $34.9 million to provide DVA with additional resourcing as well as funding to support the Department’s implementation of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.  

To find out more about the 2025–26 Budget measures, please visit the 2025–26 Budget page on the DVA website.

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Veterans Health Week Crabbing Event

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Everyone is welcome ----For the third year in a row, Trevor and Charmane Klose have offered to hold a crabbing event at their premises at Port Parham for Veterans' Health Week on 18 October 24. 

 
Veterans' Health Week is held annually, usually in October, promoted and funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This year the theme is Keep Connected.

Anyone who has attended one of these events at Port Parham gets a chance to catch, cook and eat crabs as well as some other healthy foods.

They also have the opportunity to learn about such health topics as diet, exercise, mindfulness and the importance of Keeping Connected with their communities.

The details of this event are:

Location: 8 The Esplanade, Port Parham, SA (a private premises)

Date and Time: 18 October 24, 0900 - 1400 hours

RSVP: Places are limited, so an RSVP will be appreciated to Trevor Klose, 0418 632 508

Lunch: Will be provided and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available before 1400 hours. 

What to bring: Clothing for entry to the water including good shoes to protect your feet - the crabs nip! Some crabbing equipment will be available, but if you have some, please bring it and don't forget your hat, sunscreen lotion, sunglasses, and any other personal items you think you may need.

If you've never been crabbing before, don't worry, there will be some experts on hand to help you.

Leon, Robin (back), Trevor, and Heath

Here's the evidence: Some of the team with their catch that later turned into lunch and crab meat with sweet chilli sauce.