Darwin Vietnam Vets Honoured

Member for Solomon, David Tollner today paid tribute to the efforts of Vietnam

veterans in establishing a new counselling service for veterans at the Darwin office of the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS).

"I am pleased to be a part of this special gifting ceremony for the veteran community, and particularly the Vietnam veterans in Darwin.
"VVCS Darwin like the other VVCS centres, provides a wide range of counselling and other services that meet the health and wellbeing needs of our veterans. It is also working with the Australian Defence Force, the allied health and GP community to improve the support available to our veterans and their families,” Mr Tollner said.

"VVCS is a professional and responsive service that is widely recognised and respected. The new name builds on the service created 25 years ago and ensures that any eligible current or former service member and their family will feel comfortable accessing it and getting the support they need when they need it most,” Mr Tollner said.

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Bruce Billson, said Vietnam veterans' commitment to looking out for each other saw them successfully lobby the Australian Government for counselling and support services, leading to the formation of the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service.

"The VVCS has evolved from where it started 25 years ago, and today's ceremony acknowledges the commitment of the Vietnam veteran community to establishing a service that now supports all veterans and their families,” Mr Billson said.

"The name change from the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service (VVCS) to VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service follows widespread consultations with the veteran community.”

2007-07-30