Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Joondalup City RSL operates a Veterans Support Centre in Heathridge, providing advocacy and welfare services to all ex-service personnel, including non-RSL members. The centre advocates for veterans seeking support from organisations such as the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Defence Force Ombudsman. It provides referrals to emergency relief and mental health service providers and operates a telephone support service. The centre is staffed by volunteer welfare officers, who are required to have the necessary training, assessment and accreditation to ensure that they have the knowledge and competency required to assist clients with accessing their entitlements correctly.

At a recent community forum I was informed that the experienced accredited trainers and assessors are currently based in the eastern states, which poses difficulties for volunteer welfare officers seeking to upskill due to Western Australia's current hard border closure. Volunteers at the centre have suggested exploring alternative means of delivering the training, assessment and accreditation of welfare officers online or by providing exemptions for assessors from the eastern states to enter Western Australia for the purpose of training, assessing and certifying new volunteers.

I call upon the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to assist with facilitating access to the necessary training and accreditation resources for our volunteer welfare officers who are keen to continue. (Time expired)

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