Remembrance Day Feature – the Salvos team caring for our veterans
- simoneworthing
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
As Australia pauses to observe Remembrance Day, The Salvation Army’s Veteran Support Team continues its mission to care for those who have served our nation. Through housing support, advocacy and community partnerships, the team provides vital assistance to veterans and their families across Queensland and beyond. Salvos Online journalist SIMONE WORTHING sat down with Jonathan Dyer, the team’s Program Manager, to discuss this unique service, its challenges, and the heart behind the work.
Jonathan, can you tell us about the Veteran Support Team and how it began?
The Veteran Support Team is, we believe, the only veteran-specific specialist homelessness service in Australia. We started in 2017, initially funded through RSL Queensland. In 2023, the Queensland Government came on board to fund additional services, and earlier this year, our formal partnership with RSL Queensland ended. We have six caseworkers, a team leader, and me as Program Manager. It’s an incredibly valuable service, and we’re so grateful that the Salvos recognised its importance and helped us keep it going.
What does the team’s work look like across Queensland?
We’re a statewide, mobile  case management program. Our caseworkers are based mostly in southeast Queensland, but we have one in Townsville as well. We work with current and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force, as well as widows, partners, and dependants – including families escaping domestic and family violence where the veteran is the perpetrator – sadly, a growing issue. Our support is tailored to what each person needs. Sometimes that means lots of face-to-face work; other times, it’s all online or over the phone. We do whatever works best for the person.
You mentioned Townsville – what’s unique about the work there?
Townsville is what’s called a garrison town – it has two bases, Lavarack Barracks and an Air Force base – so there’s a significant veteran population. The 2021 Census also showed that one in six families in Townsville has someone who has served in the Defence Force, and for the rest of Australia, it’s one in 20. That’s a huge number. Even if people transition from the Defence Force, they tend to stay there. People like it there and employment opportunities are good.
Our caseworker there has been doing amazing work, including fostering relationships in the community. The Townsville RSL sub-branch recently held a sleepout and donated all the money raised – $810 – to our program. Every dollar makes a difference and this year, thanks to those funds, we have been able to increase both referral pathways and practical support for veterans and their families.
How do you support veterans who are moving or transitioning out of Defence?
A lot of people we work with just want a stable home so they can rebuild their community from there. Some don’t really mind where they live, and we can support them with that. About half of the people we work with end up in private rentals, which is pretty unique in the homelessness sector.
We help with everything from applications to references and liaising with property managers. And when someone moves interstate, we stay with them until they’re settled and have local supports in place. And they know they can call us at any point in time. It’s all about making sure that transition is as smooth as possible. As with everywhere in Australia, though, housing services are all stretched and affordable housing options are very few and far between, especially for those on low incomes.Â
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Are there plans to expand this work beyond Queensland?
We’d love to. What we bring to this space is quite unique. We engage with all of the veteran homelessness services across the country though, in various ways. Many of these are residential-based services, not community-based like ours, so we focus on providing support in the community of the person’s choice. The Salvation Army’s Homelessness Services are also a great resource for us across the country.
The Queensland Government is developing its first veteran strategy. Are you involved in that process?
Yes, and it’s really exciting. Our team has been involved in forums and consultations, and one of the focus areas is housing – which is often missing from veteran strategies. There’s also been increased collaboration across the sector. We’ve borrowed ideas from the US and Canada, where some communities have effectively ended veteran homelessness. So, we work with a variety of government, non-government, housing, veteran support and other organisations and in the past year and a half, our collaborative strategy has already helped house four people. It’s a start and there’s a long way to go, but we’re proud to lead that work.
On a personal level, what drives you in this work?
I’ve been with the Salvos for nine years, but I’ve worked in community services for over 20. My family has a long history of military service – my father, uncle and grandfather all served in the Australian Army. My grandfather fought at Kokoda in World War Two and suffered with malaria for the rest of his life. My father was a firefighter in the Australian Army and both he and my uncle served at Lavarack Barracks (Townsville) and dad at Gallipoli Barracks (Brisbane). That connection gave me some insight into Defence life, but it wasn’t until I started this work that I realised how complex the veteran experience really is.
When we began in 2017, there were just two of us. We quickly learned that the best approach is humility – asking questions and letting veterans be the experts in their own lives. We’re just there to support them wherever we can. It’s a privilege to do this work.
Finally, what gives you hope looking ahead?
Seeing collaboration grow across the sector and knowing that housing for veterans is now part of the conversation. There’s still a long way to go, but we’re proud to be part of a movement that’s making a real difference. And, of course, the people we serve – their resilience and determination – that’s what keeps us going every day.
