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HOW IT ALL BEGAN - A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE P.V.A.
The Partners of Veterans Association was established as the result of common needs. A number of organised but unaffiliated groups from Wauchope, Sydney, Central Coast, Maitland and Tamworth took the first steps towards unity in 1999.
Through the generosity and tireless work by members of the Central Coast group, a conference was arranged and twenty-eight ladies from these groups attended.
It was at this conference on 31st August, 1999, that a steering committee was elected to oversee the incorporation of the combined groups and unite them under the banner of the Partners of Veterans Association of New South Wales.
The first official meeting of the Association was held at Broke in N.S.W. and it was at this meeting that membership applications were received from the founding members.
A constitution was written, and the association became incorporated in the year 2000 with 130 members.
At the inaugural A.G.M. of the Partners of Veterans Association of N.S.W. Inc., the members present voted that Mrs. Lynne Cosgrove be invited to become our Patron. Mrs. Cosgrove readily accepted and has been a wonderful advocate for the Association in her many travels around the nation.
Since that time the Association has grown many fold to include members from each State and Territory of Australia and has seen the N.S.W. Association build the foundations which have led to the formation of The P.V.A. state branches in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria, as well as the incorporation of the National Association; thereby furthering the goal of becoming a united, nation-wide organisation.
AIMS
The P.V.A. intends to fill the identified, large gap of need overlooked by other ex-service organisations and government departments, as determined by the association's own, detailed research.
The P.V.A. has created a network of Sub-branch Support Groups and members throughout the nation. This network is a huge resource of shared knowledge and experience. The Association aims to expand and maintain this network.
The Health and Education Sub-committees have been developed with the aim of educating and informing members about their own physical and emotional health and wellbeing; and that of their children and veteran.
The Association endeavours to inform members of their rights, entitlements and avenues of support available throughout the Veteran and wider community, through its Information Sub-committee.
To educate the general and Veteran community of problems faced by veterans' families.
To raise these issues with all levels of government with the aim of improving conditions for members and enhancing their quality of life.
The P.V.A. aims to retain and present its own united voice, independent of existing Veteran organisations but working in conjunction with those groups, for the betterment of its members and the Veteran community in general.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE P.V.A.?
Membership of the P.V.A. is open to:- Any person whose current or former partner served in a theatre of war, campaign or was in peacekeeping/peacemaking duties or any other service that the National Management Committee deem as extremely hazardous military service as a member of the Australian Navy, Army or Air Force or as a member of one of the Australian Allied Forces. Widows/ers and War Widows/ers naturally meet the above membership criteria.
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History of the Achievements of the P.V.A.
The following is a list of achievements that have been gained through representation by the National Association over the past 10 years to the Government of the day. It does not include the grass route achievements of our state branches in NSW/ACT, QLD, WA, SA and VIC/Tasmania that are part of the day to day welfare and support of partners and families at a state and local level.
PVA have earned recognition and acceptance within the Ex-Service Community. Our representatives now represent Partners and families on all State Government Committees and at the National level have representation on the ESO Round Table, Emerging Issues Forum, Mental Health Forum and Aged Care Forum. There is also a Partners/Families Representative on the National Advisory Council for the Veteran and Veterans Family Counselling Service (VVCS).
PVA consulted with DVA regarding Strongyloides (a round worm prevalent in jungle conditions) with the result being the production and dispersal of a brochure highlighting awareness on this parasite.
PVA have advocated on behalf of members directly with Family and Community Services and Centrelink to clarify and rectify problems members were encountering with Carer’s Allowance Application Forms. This resulted in Centrelink accepting Vietnam service as an "acute event" for payment of 3 months arrears of the allowance.
PVA were instrumental in having the age limit made open ended for children of Vietnam Veterans to receive counselling from the Veterans and Veterans Family Counselling Service (VVCS). Prior to PVA bringing this to the attention of government, only children up to the age of 36 years were eligible for counselling.
PVA lobbied hard with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs for the Bereavement Payment to be calculated at the rate the veteran was in receipt of at the time of his/her death. Prior to this the bereavement Payment paid to the War Widow or Widower was at the 100% Disability Rate instead of the higher rate of disability the veteran was receiving at the time of death. This anomaly has now been rectified.
PVA were one of the associations who advocated that the Funeral Benefit paid to eligible recipients under the Veterans Entitlement Act (VEA) was totally inadequate, resulting in this Funeral Benefit being increased from $572 to $1000 and again in the 2007 budget the Funeral Benefit was doubled to $2000. This will remain a priority.
PVA supported and fought for Indexation of the Income Support Supplement (ISS) paid to eligible War Widows/ers. Prior to this the ISS had been frozen since 1984.
For 6 years the PVA persistently pursued the government to have the age limit for eligibility of War Widows to apply for the Income Support Supplement (ISS) removed.
Prior to the Federal Election in November 2007 only those War Widows over 58 years of age were able to apply for ISS unless they had dependant children or were disabled themselves. PVA are extremely pleased that the current Labour Government rectified this in 2008.
PVA brought to the attention of the DVA the fact that many veterans' partners receiving Partner Service Pension were actually carers and received Carer Allowance. However these carers were denied the $1000 Bonus payment which was paid to carers in the General Community in the years 2004 and 2005. We were rewarded for our efforts in 2006 and 2007 when this bonus payment was actually extended to carers in receipt of Partner Service Pension as well as Carer Allowance.
The Federal Budget in 2009 finally ended the uncertainy of Carer Bonus Payments when the Government legislated that a $600 Bonus for those receiving Carer Allowance plus a $600 payment for those partners receiving Partners Service Pension would be paid each year.
PVA have been involved from as early as 2003 via our representative on the Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Study(COVVHS)
PVA compiled and distributed a Children's health questionnaire, the results of which highlighted the absolute need for more investigation into the health of our children.
The announcement in 2007 by the former Liberal government to undertake a study into the health of children of veterans will be closely monitored by the PVA via our Representative on the Consultative Forum.
Since our inception PVA have been investigating the deteriorating health of partners and/or carers of veterans with operational service via our national health committee. Initially Newcastle University was involved but currently work is being carried out at the University of New England. Research is ongoing and we will persist in our efforts to seek and find funding to continue this important and ground breaking research.
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