How social connection can support following transition
Transitioning from the Defence Force to civilian life can have a significant impact on a veteran’s mental health and wellbeing.
Improved support services for Sunshine Coast veterans
12 February 2024
Mates4Mates has officially moved into the RSL Queensland Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centre on the Sunshine Coast!
After five years of providing outreach services to the region’s Defence community, Mates4Mates now has a permanent home on the Sunshine Coast, located on Level 2, 21 Carnaby Street, Maroochydore.
With Mates4Mates opening to veterans and families on Monday, 12 February, this purpose-built space provides a safe and supportive environment for the veteran community to access social connection and mateship.
Laura Duckworth, Mates4Mates South East Queensland Regional Manager shared her excitement at the major long-term investment by RSL Queensland and Mates4Mates in the Defence and veteran community on the Sunshine Coast that this centre represents.
“The Sunshine Coast has one of the highest populations of ex-serving Defence Force personnel within Queensland, and after so many years of Mates4Mates outreach, we know there is a need for our services here,” Laura said.
“We are excited to be co-locating within the RSL Queensland Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centre on the Sunshine Coast to provide veterans and their family members access to with more services, more often.”
Initially, social connection activities will be available with clinical services to open to clients in the coming months, providing mental health and physical rehabilitation appointments.
The centre includes consultation rooms for mental health clinical services, a rehabilitation gym, a space for regular social connection activities run by our liaison officers, and a veteran’s lounge and kitchen.
Within the centre, Mates4Mates is co-located alongside RSL Queensland’s advocacy, emergency financial support and homelessness services and the RSL Queensland Sunshine Coast and Regional District Office.
For those who can’t make it to Maroochydore, Mates4Mates popular social connection activities will also be provided externally from the centre around the surrounding region, with telehealth services also available for clinical appointments.
Whether you need a coffee or a chat, access to support and rehabilitation services, or you want to meet like-minded veterans and family members who understand what you’re going through, drop in and say hi to the Mates4Mates Sunshine Coast team at the RSL Queensland Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centre.
Reach out the Sunshine Coast team on 1300 4 MATES (62 837) or sunshinecoast@mates4mates.org to find out more about our activities and services.
The Mates4Mates Sunshine Coast team are available from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. To access our activities and services within the centre, all current and ex-serving Defence Force members and their families will need to complete our new client form. Once you have joined, you are welcome to come and go as you need for appointments, programs, and social connection activities.
With Mates4Mates opening to veterans and families on Monday, 12 February, this purpose-built space provides a safe and supportive environment for the veteran community to access social connection and mateship.
Laura Duckworth, Mates4Mates South East Queensland Regional Manager shared her excitement at the major long-term investment by RSL Queensland and Mates4Mates in the Defence and veteran community on the Sunshine Coast that this centre represents.
“The Sunshine Coast has one of the highest populations of ex-serving Defence Force personnel within Queensland, and after so many years of Mates4Mates outreach, we know there is a need for our services here,” Laura said.
“We are excited to be co-locating within the RSL Queensland Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centre on the Sunshine Coast to provide veterans and their family members access to with more services, more often.”
Initially, social connection activities will be available with clinical services to open to clients in the coming months, providing mental health and physical rehabilitation appointments.
The centre includes consultation rooms for mental health clinical services, a rehabilitation gym, a space for regular social connection activities run by our liaison officers, and a veteran’s lounge and kitchen.
Within the centre, Mates4Mates is co-located alongside RSL Queensland’s advocacy, emergency financial support and homelessness services and the RSL Queensland Sunshine Coast and Regional District Office.
For those who can’t make it to Maroochydore, Mates4Mates popular social connection activities will also be provided externally from the centre around the surrounding region, with telehealth services also available for clinical appointments.
Whether you need a coffee or a chat, access to support and rehabilitation services, or you want to meet like-minded veterans and family members who understand what you’re going through, drop in and say hi to the Mates4Mates Sunshine Coast team at the RSL Queensland Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centre.
Reach out the Sunshine Coast team on 1300 4 MATES (62 837) or sunshinecoast@mates4mates.org to find out more about our activities and services.
The Mates4Mates Sunshine Coast team are available from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. To access our activities and services within the centre, all current and ex-serving Defence Force members and their families will need to complete our new client form. Once you have joined, you are welcome to come and go as you need for appointments, programs, and social connection activities.
