RSL Tasmania

07/09/2026

We stand strong with RSL Australia, along side veteran service organisations in advocating for changes to proposed allied health arrangements. Some progress has been made but more is still needed to ensure all veterans receive the right care and support.

Access to the full media release by RSL Australia: https://www.rslaustralia.org/latest-news/allied-health-reform

06/09/2026

As a country, we must preserve the history of this latest generation of veterans. Future Australians deserve to understand why their country went to war, what our servicemen and women achieved, and the price they paid. Their experiences now form an important chapter in Australia’s military history.

In the lead up to the 25th Anniversary of Australian service in Afghanistan we will feature stories and tributes from this significant time in modern history.

📅 Sunday 11 October
🕚 11:00 am
📍 Hobart Cenotaph or Launceston Cenotaph

Lest We Forget.

02/09/2026

Legacy Week
For over 100 years Legacy has supported partners, children and families of those that have served, many who lost their lives in service of our country.

Legacy week provides a timely reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made and the effects on the families that were left behind. This week, Legacy will be out and about in the community raising awareness and vital funds to continue supporting veterans' families.

Great to see local Defence members out in force supporting Legacy.
Legacy Australia Hobart Legacy Launceston Legacy

31/08/2026

Our position on the $5,000 annual treatment cap for veterans remains unchanged and we stand in full support of RSL Australia who are calling for it to be withdrawn.

Public consultation is now open and closes on 30 October 2026. To provide feedback and ensure your voice is heard, submissions can be made here:

https://consultations.dva.gov.au/allied-health-consultations/consultation-on-changes-to-allied-health-arrangements-for-veteran-card-holders?page=1

31/08/2026

Last week, representatives from RSL Tasmania appeared before the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee in Launceston as part of its inquiry into the management of Defence estate assets.

As stated in our opening statement -
Our position can be summarised in one sentence: Estate should follow capability; capability should never be determined simply by what estate is cheapest to retain or dispose of.

If the outcome is fewer Defence properties in Tasmania but stronger training, stronger Reserve capability, better facilities, better recruitment pathways and improved readiness, RSL Tasmania can support that.

Access to the entire RSL Tasmania appearance can be be located here:

On 27 August 2026, representatives from RSL Tasmania appeared befor...

29/08/2026

Today we pause to remember Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald and Private Nathanael Galagher, both members of the 2nd Commando Regiment.

Fourteen years ago, they were serving as part of the Special Operations Task Group, when they were tragically killed in a helicopter crash.

Private Galagher enlisted in 2007 and was on his second deployment to Afghanistan. Always putting in 110%, with a ‘can-do’ attitude, wanting to get the job done and taking everything in his stride. An enthusiastic young soldier, Nathaneal was very well respected by his mates from the Regiment.

Lance Corporal McDonald enlisted in 1999, served in East Timor and was on his sixth deployment to Afghanistan. Described as quick witted and brought a positive energy to both his unit comrades and all those who served with him. A dedicated and enthusiastic professional soldier, always willing to come forward with ideas and solutions. Mervyn’s quiet nature and humility meant he always deflected credit back on to fellow members of his Company.

Lest We Forget.

📷: Private Nathanael Galagher and Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald (Supplied: Defence Department)

28/08/2026

Fourteen years ago today, three Australian soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Task Group were killed as the result of an insider attack at Patrol Base Wahab, Afghanistan.

An Afghan National Army soldier fired into a group of Australians relaxing and playing cards, wounding two and taking the lives of Sapper James Martin, Lance Corporal Stjepan "Milo" Milosevic and Private Robert Poate.

Sapper Martin, described as an intellectual soldier who was a quick learner and adapted well to the Army environment. Respected by his mates and was considered a loyal friend and comrade. A musically talented individual, James often played his bass guitar for his mates. He was also an avid follower of Aussie Rules.

Lance Corporal Milosevic, fondly known as Milo was a devoted family man and a much liked and respected member of the Regiment. His leadership and professional abilities stood out in the unit, on the rugby field and on operations.

Private Poate, was known for having outstanding leadership potential and was working towards becoming a Corporal. Fondly remembered by his 'Brothers by Choice' in 6 RAR as a larrikin and an incredibly professional soldier. Robert was proud of his family, his military service, his Canberra origins and his red hair (which he vehemently defended as being ‘strawberry blonde’!).

Lest We Forget.

📷: (L to R) Sapper James Martin, Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic and Private Robert Poate (Supplied Australian Defence Force)

21/08/2026

MEDIA RELEASE: RSL Tasmania Secures $2.25 Million for Veteran Advocacy

RSL Tasmania is proud to announce that we have secured $2.25 million in Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) funding over three years, providing $750,000 per year through to 2028–29.

This is a significant investment in Tasmania’s veteran community and provides important certainty for the continued delivery of free compensation and wellbeing advocacy services to veterans and their families across the state.

The funding is particularly significant as the Commonwealth progresses reforms arising from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Su***de, including Recommendation 99, which calls for reform and greater professionalisation of veteran compensation advocacy.

It is also recognition of the professionalism, commitment and quality of the work being delivered every day by our advocacy teams through VeteranHub, powered by RSL Tasmania.

RSL Tasmania already provides full-time paid advocacy services in conjunction with dedicated volunteers across the state, ensuring veterans and their families can access professional support regardless of where they live.

Over the next six months, this funding will support us as we further increase the number of paid advocates working across Tasmania. That growth will take time. Becoming a full-time veteran advocate is not a simple role; it requires extensive training, supervision, experience and a strong understanding of an increasingly complex compensation system.

We will therefore grow our advocacy workforce carefully and responsibly, ensuring new advocates are properly trained and supported before additional resources are progressively rolled out across the state.

Importantly, we also want this increased capacity to support the broader veteran services sector in Tasmania. If you are a veteran services organisation (VSO) and would like VeteranHub to support your organisation in the advocacy space, please reach out to us. We are keen to work collaboratively with organisations across Tasmania so that veterans can access the right advocacy support, regardless of which organisation they first approach.

Our advocates help veterans and families navigate what can be a complicated system, understand their entitlements and access the support they have earned through service.

We would particularly like to thank the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) for its ongoing faith, support and investment in VeteranHub, delivered by RSL Tasmania, and in the services we provide to Tasmania’s veteran community.

$2.25 million over three years gives us greater certainty and capacity to continue supporting Tasmania’s veterans and their families when they need us most.

We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful for the confidence this funding demonstrates in the services RSL Tasmania is delivering.

Supporting veterans — that remains at the heart of what we do.

19/08/2026

Why We 1000% Supported the War Memorial Bill

RSL Tasmania has been very clear: we 1000% support stronger protections for Tasmania’s war memorials, and we have worked quietly in the background to advocate for this legislation.

These measures are not punitive. They are measures strongly supported by our members and Sub-Branches because a war memorial is not just another piece of public property.

These memorials carry the names of Tasmanian men and women who left their families, towns and communities to serve our nation. Many never came home.

When a memorial is deliberately desecrated or destroyed, the damage goes far beyond stone, bronze or concrete. It impacts families, veterans and entire communities.

That is why our members supported stronger protections.

But legislation alone is not enough.

We now need to foster a doubling down with a statewide education and awareness program, particularly for our children and young people.

We cannot expect the next generation to respect something if we have never taken the time to explain why it matters.

We should be working with schools, communities, veterans, historians, councils and RSL Sub-Branches to tell the stories behind our memorials — who those names belong to, where they came from, what they did and why their communities chose to remember them.

This is not about party politics or punishment for punishment’s sake.

It is about respect, remembrance, service, sacrifice, education and community.

Our Sub-Branches unanimously supported stronger protections at State Congress. Now we need to take the next step:

Protect our memorials, 1000% — but also educate our young people about why they matter.

Because ultimately, we are not just protecting stone and bronze.

We are protecting memory.

Lest We Forget.

18/08/2026

As the day draws to a close, we would like to thank all those that attended commemorative services and events in honour of Vietnam Veterans Day across Tasmania and the nation.
The Tasman Bridge will shine orange tonight in recognition of those that served.