The RSL are fighting battles Australia wide. They’re not only fighting to be financially stable but to be relevant to the modern veteran at all.
Camberwell RSL, however, is trying to bring the modern veteran back in. Their initiatives include providing scholarships to university for veterans and even social events so veterans in their community can connect with one another.
President of the Camberwell RSL, Mr Peterson, a young veteran himself said, “We’re trying to create an environment where veterans of sort of, my age but, you know, every age feels like this is somewhere where they come and receive something.”
More and more veteran help organisations have sprung up to fill the void left by the RSL’s lack of support for the modern veteran. These organizations, run by veterans of modern wars, have left the RSL fighting for now incredibly limited funding from the government.
John Pesetto, the shadow attorney general and MP for the Camberwell area is aware of the issue faced by modern veterans in his community and doesn’t think enough is being done, “I think we need to do a lot more to recognise that service in this day and age and also to make sure that we’re offering better opportunities for jobs and education, which I’m convinced we’re not doing.”
The modern veteran is facing a range of issues today, from ex and current serving members with PTSD, high rates of homelessness and unemployment, to struggling to get universities to recognise their military qualifications.
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