Joint Media Release - Minister Keogh and Member for Richmond - North Coast veterans gain a new home for support and connection
Minister Keogh
OFFICIAL
THE HON MATT KEOGH MP
Minister for VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL
THE HON JUSTINE ELLIOT MP
MEMBER FOR RICHMOND
MEDIA RELEASE
22 September 2026
North Coast veterans gain a new home for support and connection
Veterans and families of veterans on the New South Wales North Coast and the Southern Gold Coast have a new one-stop shop for support and wellbeing close to home, with the official opening of the North Coast Veterans' and Families' Hub.
Located at 145 Wharf Street, Tweed Heads, the North Coast Veterans’ and Families’ Hub will support more than 25,000 current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members and families who call the region home.
RSL LifeCare will operate the Hub following a $5.5 million grant from the Albanese government.
Designed with input from the veteran community, the North Coast Veterans’ and Families’ Hub brings together a range of offerings that support wellbeing with face-to-face connections.
These include traditional supports such as financial counselling, claims support and employment advice as well as peer support through group activities such as kayaking and cooking classes.
Facilities including a unique rooftop gathering space have been created to give the North Coast Hub a community feel where veterans and loved ones can get together, support one another and feel part of a strong family.
The opening is the latest milestone on the Albanese Government’s $50 million commitment to expand the national network of Hubs.
The official opening marks an important milestone for the growing network of Veterans' and Families' Hubs being established across Australia, helping ensure veterans and families of veterans can access support closer to where they live.
Quotes attributable to Matt Keogh, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs:
“Veterans and their families love the lifestyle benefits on offer at the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast, and now with the North Coast Hub opening they get to live where they love with the supports they need close to home
“The North Coast Hub can help with pragmatic issues getting a claim into DVA, but it’s also a place for the veteran community to connect with each other in a relaxed social setting.
“This is another important milestone in our more than $50 million commitment to expand the network Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs across the country.”
Quotes attributable to Justine Elliot MP, Member for Richmond:
“We have a large ex-service population in the region with more than 25,000 veterans and families, including many older veterans and war widows.
“Having tailored veteran support and services accessible locally is so important to improving the health, wellbeing, and economic outcomes of those who bravely served our nation.
“As your local Labor MP, I’m proud to have delivered on my election commitment that the Albanese Labor Government would invest more than $5 million to deliver the new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in the Tweed.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
DVA Media: [email protected]
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or openarms.gov.au. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or defence.gov.au/health/healthportal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608.