Funding for vets ‘long time coming’
GOLD Coast Afghanistan veteran and mental health campaigner Andy Cullen says a funding boost for his comrades has been a long time coming.
The Budget will have a $350 million support package for former soldiers and their families including more than $220 million in spending on mental health, suicide prevention and programs to help personnel transition to civilian life.
“Any injection of funds is well overdue,” said the ambassador for the Mates4Mates charity supporting the Defence Force injured and their families.
“It’s a sign the Government is standing up and realising it is a big problem.”
Ex-servicemen and women will no longer have to prove their mental health condition is linked to their service before receiving treatment
Mr Cullen, a bomb disposal expert who unashamedly says he retired to the Gold Coast in 2012 a broken man, hoped the large funding boost would be spent effectively.
The Government will spend $10 million on suicide prevention programs.