Veterans' Affairs: Ongoing initiatives
Veteran & Community Grants
Veteran & Community Grants provide funding to maintain and improve the independence and quality of life of veterans and war widows/widowers living in the community. The partnerships that develop between the veteran community and local community services through projects funded by Veteran & Community Grants improve veterans' access to services and provide a cost effective way to offer community organisations minimal funds for locally based services which benefit the veteran community. Approximately 50 per cent of the total funds available are directed to projects in rural and remote areas as part of the Australian Government's efforts to ensure that veterans and war widows in these areas do not miss out on services or assistance.
Rural and remote service delivery arrangements
In 2007-08, the Australian Government will continue funding for the Department of Veterans' Affairs programme of agency arrangements in rural and regional areas. During the year the Department will commence a review of options for the effective provision of information and community support to veterans in the short and longer term. Agency arrangements use other Australian Government, state and local organisations to deliver information and assistance to the veteran community in regional areas where the Department of Veterans' Affairs is unable to maintain a permanent full-time presence.