New Zealand veterans and their families are set to receive an additional $4.1 million over four years to support their well-being.
Veterans Minister Ron Mark has promised veterans will be contacted soon after they leave the Defence Force and connected to a health provider or support service if they need it. Photo: RNZ/Rebekah Parsons-King
Veterans Minister Ron Mark said the funding would go towards health and wellbeing assessments to ensure veterans have ongoing support after leaving the Defence Force.
The Minister also promised veterans would be contacted soon after they leave the Defence Force and connected to a health provider or support service if they need it.
He said veterans were proud people and often did not turn to Veterans' Affairs until it was too late.
"They are proud, independent, resilient, self-reliant people. We need to make sure that we have an ambulance at the top of the cliff for veterans, not waiting at the bottom when it's too late," he said.
"It is up to Veterans Affairs and it is up to government agencies to be proactive, to be forward-leaning, and to engage with veterans at the earliest stage.
"Contacting them and letting them know what they're entitled to, then keeping an eye on them and when they transition out of the Defence Force touching base with them again to make sure that they and their families know that VA is there for them."
The extra money comprises an extra $2.1m in operating funding, and a capital injection of $2m to upgrade the existing client management system.
"Younger veterans expect to be able to get assistance online," he said.
"Better IT systems will ensure routine transactions can be carried out electronically, while freeing up staff to spend more time on complex cases."
