Crisis accommodation for veterans at a retreat in northern Victoria and a new veteran school visit program are among dozens of projects funded to support our veteran community and honour their incredible sacrifice.

Ahead of ANZAC Day, Minister for Veterans Shaun Leane today announced $1.1 million will be distributed to 50 projects across the state through three grant programs aimed at improving the lives of veterans and their families and ensuring their contributions are remembered for years to come.

The grants include $688,000 for 24 projects through the Veterans Capital Works Grant Program, which funds building improvements for not-for-profit and ex-service organisations delivering services to veterans and their families.

Through this program, Goorambat Veterans Retreat in Victoria’s north is receiving $50,000 to refurbish an old school building to create crisis accommodation for veterans and their families dealing with challenges such as financial hardship.

Eight projects will receive support through the Victoria Remembers Grant Program, which provides up to $30,000 to projects honouring veterans and educating Victorians about their contributions. Projects include an exhibition at the Shrine of Remembrance that will explore children’s experiences of war through the lens of popular culture.

The Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour grant program offers up to $50,000 to projects which restore or update war memorials, honour rolls and avenues of honour.

Amongst this year’s 18 recipients is the Oakleigh Carnegie RSL sub-branch, which will use funding to restore the Oakleigh Cenotaph, a focal point of local ANZAC and Remembrance Day services.

For more information about grant programs for the veteran community, visit vic.gov.au/grants-support-and-commemorate-veterans.

Victorians can reflect on the sacrifice of Australians who served in conflict or peacekeeping operations on ANZAC Day on Monday 25 April. In the CBD, Victorians can attend the annual dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance from 5.30am, which will be followed by the ANZAC Day march and a further commemorative service at the Shrine.

Victorians will also have the opportunity to watch the services at the Shrine online. RSL sub-branches across the state will also be providing opportunities for people to commemorate locally.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Veterans Shaun Leane

“We are ensuring veterans and their families have the assistance they need to build strong and successful lives after their service.”

“These grants support local communities to remember and honour the service of our veterans.”

“This ANZAC Day, I encourage all Victorians to reflect on the immense sacrifice of our veteran community.”