Minister for Veterans’ Affairs the Hon. Dan Tehan and
Treasurer the Hon. Scott Morrison today officially
launched the Turnbull Government’s $2.1 million pilot
support program for children of veterans with mental
health issues, run by the Australian Kookaburra Kids
Foundation.
The government funded program will give
children of veterans with mental health issues
assistance to build their coping skills and resilience.
The program will include recreational and educational
camps for children aged eight to 18 who have a veteran
parent with a mental health condition.
Mr Tehan said families played a critical role
supporting current and former Australian Defence Force
(ADF) members.
“When someone signs up to serve and defend our nation
their entire family is also asked to make sacrifices,”
Mr Tehan said.
“This program recognises that mental health issues
affect entire families and the Government will support
them.”
Mr Morrison said the program would allow children to
bond with peers who were facing similar challenges.
“Kookaburra Kids is a fantastic charity founded in my
electorate of Cook which has been successfully
supporting children living in families affected by
mental illness for well over a decade,” Mr Morrison
said.
“The Foundation will use its current model to deliver
activities specifically tailored to the unique needs of
veterans’ children. The first programs are scheduled to
start mid-2017 in New South Wales and ACT.”
Mr Tehan said the Kookaburra Kids program would build
on other important work the Government was doing to
support the broader veteran community.
“The Government provides free mental health treatment
to anyone who has ever served at least one day in the
full-time ADF for post-traumatic stress disorder,
depression, anxiety, and alcohol and substance abuse,”
Mr Tehan said.
“The 2016–17 MYEFO also provided $3.1 million to
further extend access to the Veterans and Veterans
Families Counselling Service.”
For anyone looking to get involved with Kookaburra
Kids, or if you would like to refer a child, please
visit
https://kookaburrakids.org.au/.
Treasurer’s Office: Kate Williams 0429 584 675, Sonia
Gentile 0455 050 007
Minister Tehan’s Office: Byron Vale, 0428 262 894
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Media: 02 6289 6203
