Dear friends and family, festive greetings. It was a busy year for us, thank you to all who supported this huge effort. The volume of participants was our largest ever, with over 150 participants across all programs, and the results were remarkable, best represented in the feedback included in each program report. With the 25th anniversary of Australian operations in Timor-Leste, we were part of major commemorations in Australia, New Zealand and Timor-Leste. In Timor-Leste we conducted two supersized Timor Awakening (TA) programs. In Australia, we conducted two programs and a retreat at St George’s on the Gold Coast. It was a pleasure to facilitate many family members across the suite of programs. 

VCA has taken part in a wide range of engagements in Australia, Timor-Leste, and New Zealand. This has included participation in a wide range of veteran community activities and advocacy/engagement with the highest level of military, government and ESO leadership. With the delivery of the Royal Commission into defence and Veteran suicide, VCA continues to be on the front-line of peer-lead, lived experience wellness program delivery. DVA is calling for wellness programs and we will continue to offer our support to the ESO community to share what we know and enable growth of similar programs.  We continue to lobby for funding of veteran wellness programs, and sustainable funding for VCA. 

Our Veterans English School in Timor-Leste has the highest enrollment ever, with approximately 150 students daily. We have funded a new bore, rainwater harvesting, and water storage that will be completed at the end of this month. New ablutions and additional accommodations will follow. In 2025 we are considering building of modest villa accommodation that we hope will facilitate short, medium and long term volunteers. Every time we visit we are delighted to see the incredible joy and energy in the students. Thank you all for your generosity and efforts in support of our school, and also for our collective support to our worthy partner charities: Pro Ema, AHHA, Sabeh, and Daitula Veterans Clinic Baucau. 

In 2024, we received exceptional support from the Timor-Leste Veterans Council (CCLN) and the ADF Cooperation Program (DCP), Timor-Leste. We had a great turnout of serving ADF participants on each program and increased in-kind, in-country support. Together with the Australian Embassy, DCP conducted outstanding commemorations for Anzac Day and the 20 September Peacekeeping anniversary. DVA attended in September and is seeking our support to increase commemoration and historical tourism in TL. 

In Western Australia, we are actively preparing for our first domestic program 12-16 June 2025, which will be run at the Veterans Training Centre, Jarrahdale. On August 25. We have added an additional Timor-Leste program in August with priority for the SASR community. We have six programs planned for 2025, with 3 programs in TL and 3 programs in Australia. We received a huge influx of nominations, and we have selected and panelled four of the programs. 

Congratulations, everyone, on an outstanding year. Through our efforts we have kept true to our core values of care, commitment, compassion and integrity. I hope everyone enjoys meaningful connection and love throughout the festive season. It's a good time of the year to reach out to friends, family or someone you know is alone and let the light of love shine in. 

Obrigado barak. "I love you". Boas festas. Hakoak boot. Maromak hela ho imi. 

Michael Stone

President VCA

May we contribute to peace on earth this Christmas

Being asked to offer a Christmas reflection as the Padre is a delight, causing me to reach into the most fundamental underpinnings of my faith. I certainly want to offer my love and blessings to all of you and your families so that you may enjoy Love, Joy and Peace at this time. I also want to reflect on matters today that might affect us as Veterans and how the essential works and words of Jesus might help us respond to life today.

For me, Christmas is about being grateful for how God entered history in the person of Jesus of Nazareth in the midst of people who longed for peace. Jesus came to and brought peace through love, integrity, and justice. This year in Australia, most could expect to have a peaceful and joyous Christmas, but for some it presents challenges when family members are estranged, isolated, or not present for family gatherings common at this time. Moreover, in Lebanon, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and in the Ukraine, there is no peace and unimaginable suffering continues.

I have spent much of my life as a peacemaker, deployed to various conflicts and counselling many who struggle at home. I know that it’s not only important that we pray for peace, but we must also actively do something practical about promoting peace and preventing discord, both at home and abroad.

In most of the overseas operations I was deployed in, I didn’t carry or use a weapon, but I became present to belligerents, listened, and engaged in dialogue. I also called out their bad behaviour, knowing how facing the truth can set us free. True peace can come when we unite and implore those in conflict to act justly and with integrity. The most effective way to achieve peace involves a third party becoming present. Belligerents become aware that others are watching them, and they may moderate their behaviour because of our presence and dialogue. A moderator can help angry people find solutions and can facilitate communication.

From my time in the Holy Land, it was obvious to me that God came among us in the person of Jesus to witness to a new way of living that was characterised by loving our neighbours. Jesus did that in practical ways by helping and caring for people of all races and religions and by promoting forgiveness. Many people at home and abroad still haven’t got that basic message. We must love our neighbours.

Jesus’ way of approaching conflict situations avoids simplistic polarised positioning. It is not helpful to adopt a dualistic stance by saying, for example, that I support Mum, or I support Dad, or that I support Israel, or I support Palestine. A third approach, a 'non-dual approach', is possible. A better stance is to say, “I support peace, I support justice, I support caring for those that are suffering. I reject the use of violence. I appeal for exploration of solutions". 

In practical terms, what can we do? Internationally, this Christmas, we can support those who are suffering by making financial gifts to charities like Caritas, which are assisting the millions of people displaced from their homes, wounded, sick, starving, and living under plastic sheets in freezing winter. We should also be asking our politicians, as I have done already, to work in bi-partisan ways to see these conflicts brought to a close by proactive diplomacy to promote peace and by taking measures to stop the flow of weapons of massive destruction to the belligerent combatants. War crimes of monstrous proportions are being committed by all combatant groups. Integrity demands that we call them out. There is no military solution possible. No side can win by trying to wipe out the other. Ceasefire and third-party intervention are necessary now.  

We must also be peacemakers here. When conflict arises in our families or communities. It can be more comfortable to avoid getting involved or to take sides. But the Christian imperative is that we should get involved, in promoting peace, de-escalating disputes, and searching for solutions. Integrity and authenticity as Christians demand that we act to resolve differences. Some might say, “Well, that would require a miracle”. My life experience attests that Jesus can do that, too. We just need faith, good intentions and a loving disposition. If you haven’t read what Jesus did and said, please do so. I try to follow him in what I do and say. It is the formula for a happy and purposeful life.

Finally, as Jesus says, “may peace be with you”. Let peace radiate from your soul. May your Christmas offering and your gratitude to God be expressed this Christmas by some practical act of love, following the example of the Prince of Peace, Jesus our Lord.

May God bless you all. 

Padre Gary

As we come to the close of this remarkable year and prepare to celebrate the Christmas season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve shared at VCA in 2024. It has been a year of milestones, growth, and deep connection—one that reaffirms the importance of community, service, and care.

This year, we commemorated the 25th anniversary of Australian operations in Timor-Leste, a historic occasion that highlighted the enduring bonds between our nations. These commemorations, alongside the four Timor Awakening programs delivered across Australia and Timor-Leste, brought healing, hope, and renewed purpose to the largest number of participants we’ve ever welcomed. Seeing veterans and their families reconnect, grow, and support one another has been a truly special experience.

Closer to home, we’ve seen VCA grow as an organisation. With six programs already scheduled for 2025, including a new domestic initiative in Western Australia, the year ahead is brimming with opportunity.

Christmas is a time to reflect on the bonds we’ve built and the lives we’ve touched. It’s also a time to remember those who may find this season difficult—the veterans, families, and communities who carry burdens, visible and unseen. Let us reach out with compassion and ensure no one feels alone during this season.

I want to thank our dedicated volunteers, donors, committee members, and partners. Your unwavering commitment to our mission has made everything we’ve achieved this year possible. To our veterans and their families—thank you for trusting us to walk this journey with you.

Merry Christmas and obrigado barak.

Jason Taane

Email: jasontaane@veteranscare.com.au
Phone: 0484301780

We are thrilled to announce and welcome the newest members of our Management Committee.

• John Lay - Director of Governance & Risk

• Lily Mulholland - Director of Communication

• Cherie MacDonald - Treasurer

Each brings a wealth of expertise, fresh perspectives, and a shared passion for advancing our mission.

Their collective knowledge and dedication will be instrumental in driving our organisation forward.

Thank you for being part of our community!

• TA30 Gold Coast 15 - 23 February

• TA31 Timor-Leste 22 April - 1 May

• TA32 Gold Coast 14 - 22 June

• TA33 Western Australia 12 - 16 June

• TA34 Timor-Leste 16 - 24 August

• TA35 Timor-Leste 18 - 26 October

• VCA Retreat 13 - 17 November

2025 is shaping up to be another busy year, and the driving force enabling us to serve more veterans and the veteran community in 2025 is our amazing volunteers.

If you are interested in helping us out on our mission, the first step is to submit an EOI. Once you have submitted an EOI, should an opportunity come up to help with one of our programs, we will give you as much notice as possible. We aim to provide volunteers with six months’ advance notice. 

Over the years, many of our participants have expressed interest in returning to Timor-Leste to travel or volunteer. If this sounds like something you would like to explore, please check out the link below. Palms Australia offers a range of services, including one—to three-year volunteering missions in Timor-Leste.

The Veterans Education Training Scheme - Timor-Leste (VETS) project is an extension of Veterans Care's 'Timor Awakening' program and provides a focus for Australian Service Veterans to raise money, volunteer, and learn the benefits of giving and serving others, especially those less fortunate. This project is located among the communities that supported Australian Commandos during World War II and is considered a key part of Australia's debt of honour to the people of Timor-Leste.

Please check out the link below to learn more about this project or make a donation.

Timor Awakening is a life-changing program that supports veterans and their families by fostering healing, resilience, and community. Your donation can make a profound impact by empowering these heroes to rebuild their lives and continue serving their communities. By contributing, you’re helping to fund essential wellness programs, retreats, and ongoing support networks.

Whilst we continue to advocate for government funding, we rely on corporate and private donations to continue our mission.

As we expand our impact in 2025 and look to deliver more programs, all donations made to VCA will go directly to delivering these programs. No matter what size they are, we couldn’t do what we do without donations, so thank you in advance.