Jess Teesdale (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week, Minister Keogh assisted in officially opening the Launceston VeteranHub. This was far more than just officially opening a building. It marked an important step for a space that's already supporting veterans and their families across northern Tasmania. For many veterans, navigating support services can be difficult. Whether it's accessing compensation, finding housing, seeking employment support, improving their wellbeing or simply needing someone who understands what they're going through, support should be easy to find and even easier to access, and that is exactly what this VeteranHub does. What struck me most about the project is that it was not simply built for veterans; it was predominantly built by veterans. Veterans and volunteers gave their time, rolled up their sleeves and got to work, choosing to do much of the work themselves so more funding could be better allocated to supporting veterans and their families rather than to contractors. They renovated rooms, painted walls and created beautiful artwork to design a space that already feels welcoming and safe. They saw a need in their community and they came together to meet it. We know that the strongest communities are built when people step forward to support one another, and veterans have once again stepped forward to support their communities. And now it's our turn to stand beside them. Tasmania has more veterans per capita than anywhere else in Australia, and supporting veterans is not simply important here; it's part of who we are.

I want to acknowledge RSL Tasmania; the Launceston RSL; and the staff, volunteers and advocates who helped make this hub a reality, because this hub is a reminder that service does not end when a uniform comes off. Sometimes it simply changes shape, and in Launceston veterans have once again stepped forward to serve their community.

For generations, Legacy has quietly done extraordinary work within our communities, supporting the families, partners, children and loved ones of veterans, making sure that people are not left to carry hardship alone. Their work is practical, but it's also deeply human. To every volunteer support worker, every single person who has ever been involved with Legacy, particularly at Launceston Legacy—Sonya, Terry and Brian—thank you so much for everything that you do to support our community. Thank you for standing beside families when they need it most, and thank you for continuing that tradition of service.