Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I rise today, we celebrate Veterans' Health Week. From 21 to 29 October, events are being held around Australia which help veterans and their families improve and maintain their health. This year I was grateful to have the opportunity to meet the Young Veterans Sunshine Coast group and their organisers, Jane McFadden and Tay Sukhanthapree. The group has 268 members so far and gets together once a fortnight for social activities like yoga and paddle boarding. This kind of companionship can be exceptionally valuable in helping veterans transition into civilian life and in reducing their chances of developing PTSD.

There is more to improving veterans' health than formal service provision. As the group says of themselves, 'It's not a sit-down counselling session, just a bunch of people catching up and talking in jargon we all understand and relate to whilst having a great social day.' Sadly, the weather on Sunday prevented the group from swimming with the whales off Mooloolaba as they'd planned, but it didn't dampen their enthusiasm to meet and celebrate. Some frames of tenpin bowling in Alexandra Headland were an excellent indoor alternative. In this Veterans' Health Week, on behalf of the House, I want to congratulate Jane and Tay on their simple but life-changing initiative and thank them for their continuing hard work.