Dear Veterans Care friends, we have now passed the half-way mark of 2025.

2024 was the largest year to date for VCA in terms of participant numbers on programs (approx. 150) and extensive collaboration with a variety of Ex-Service Organisations in Australia, New Zealand and Timor-Leste. This year we have added two programs (total seven) and developing our program offerings to support more veterans and work within our funding constraints. We have continued our work in supporting their veterans and family through a very busy first six months of 2025. I encourage you to peruse the reports of out programs, which can be found on our Timor Awakening website home page. The participants’ evaluation feedback and smiles in the photos are an inspiring reminder for us of the gravity and impact of our commitment.

Our Veterans English School has the highest volume of students ever, with approximately 150 students. We have funded a new bore, rainwater harvesting, water storage, new ablutions and fridge and freezer for the kitchen. See more about this program here and thank you to all who support. A special thanks to our good friend Craig Thrupp, ex-A Coy 3 RAR Timor-Leste veteran and TA participant, who has been proving extraordinary support to this program.

As you read this newsletter, we are preparing to return to Timor-Leste for our next Timor Awakening program. On a planning visit earlier this year, we revisited old friends and made new ones to help ensure our program continues to be unique, culturally immersive with sufficient time and space for veterans to explore their wellbeing and enjoy time out from their busy lives.

As demand for our programs grows, securing sustainable funding remains a priority. We are actively working with our current partners while also exploring new sponsorship and grant opportunities. We are awaiting a decision on DVA Veterans Wellbeing Grant which will play a crucial role in shaping our future programs.

We remain energised with firm commitment to save the lives of veterans and to provide space and tools for healing and hope. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our volunteers and supporters who make achieving our mission possible. Your dedication ensures that VCA remains a pillar of support for our veteran community. Hamutuk ita bele!

Warmest regards,

Michael Stone
President, VCA

Timor-Leste Anzac Day Program – April-May 2025

TA31 | Our Anzac Day program in Timor-Leste is one of our most popular programs. This year was no different, with our EOI inbox overflowing with applications. For the 26 fortunate participants and 8 mentors, it was a a powerful journey of reflection, service, and connection through Timor-Leste. The program began in Darwin with trust-building sessions before participants were warmly welcomed in Dili by Timorese veterans, each gifted a traditional Tais in honour of their past service. For many, it marked a meaningful return to a country deeply connected to their military experience.

The journey blended cultural immersion, historical insight, and community contribution. Highlights included a battlefield tour, a moving ANZAC Day dawn service in Dili, and the chance to support a vital water and sanitation project at the VETS Friendship School in Same. Veterans worked side by side with students and locals, forging genuine bonds while giving back to the next generation. Along the way, they explored village life, attended Mass, and tackled big conversations around relationships, compassion fatigue, and healing.

The program also offered moments of personal challenge and triumph. A sunrise summit of Mt Ramelau—the highest peak in Timor-Leste—was a deeply spiritual experience for many, crowned by a ceremony led at the top. Returning to Dili, the group reflected on their journeys and were honoured with a private meeting at the Presidential Palace with President José Ramos-Horta. TA31 offered not just a reconnection with Timor-Leste, but a renewed sense of purpose, healing, and shared strength. Please visit our Facebook page for the wonderful photos from TA 31.

Gold Coast Wellbeing Programs – February and June 2025

TA30 | We delivered a successful program at St George’s Defence apartments from 15-23 February with 22 participants and 12 veteran mentors and facilitators. This was the largest domestic program to date, making use of the full St George’s facility. Based on the feedback and comments in the evaluation, it was a highly impactful program. The program ran smoothly under the leadership of Michael Lay, the team of volunteers and external facilitators. Read more here.

TA32 | In June, we returned to the Gold Coast and the wonderful St George’s Defence Apartments. From the 14-22 June, participants and their mentors worked through a full program, which included sunrise walks along Coolangatta Beach, presentation of quilts from our good friends at Quilts of Valour Australia, barefoot beach volleyball matches on Rainbow Bay beach, diving deep with Big Talk to explore vulnerability and growth, making sauerkraut as part of a lesson mind-gut health, silent meditation at Snapper Rocks, and a visit to Rhythm Wellness for movement and to Veterans Organic Farm in Currumbin Valley where participants helped plant out vegetable beds and learn about how the farm is supporting veterans. Read more here.

A big VCA thanks to our sponsor SPAHS, owners of the St George’s Defence Apartments.

WA Pilot Wellbeing Program – June 2025

TA33 | From 11-15 June 2025 we ran our first Western Australian veterans’ wellbeing program at the Veterans Transition Centre (VTC), Jarrahdale.

The program was an evolution of Timor Awakening. It provided Australian and New Zealand veterans with an opportunity to immerse themselves in a veteran-led health and wellbeing experience designed to support healing from difficult experiences during their time in the military.

Led by Gary and Michael Stone, with a team of experienced mentors, the program focused on holistic healing. Read more here. Thank you to the staff at VTC without whom this program would not have been so successful.

See below for a selection of images from our Gold Coast and Perth programs. Please make sure you are following us on Facebook and Instagram to see all of our images.

At the end of our June 2025 Gold Coast veteran wellbeing program, we farewelled Jason Taane as our Executive Officer.

VCA President, Michael Stone, spoke on behalf of the Management Committee: “Thank you for your dedication over the past 18 months. As a result we have more programs and more participants than ever before, we are in a secure financial position and we are achieving great results, constantly and consistently.”

But it is not goodbye to Jason as we look forward to continuing to work with him as a volunteer, peer mentor and as a future committee member.

In July we welcomed Roy Henry as VCA’s Chief Operations Officer (COO). The Management Committee will provide direction to the COO, who will report to the President.

Roy is responsible for:

• Contributing to the development and implementation of VCA’s strategic and operational plans, innovation, and business initiatives.

• Providing leadership in the management and operations of staff and services to align to business needs and organisational objectives.

• Developing and implementing human resource management policies and practices for leadership and workforce capability development, performance management, succession planning and talent attraction and retention.

• In conjunction with the Treasurer, developing, implementing, and managing a grant and operational annual budget. This includes pursuing major fundraising opportunities with Industry stakeholders, DVA, ADF and other potential donors.

• Providing organisational and financial reports to the Management Committee and key sponsors in agreed timeframes, including Timor Awakening program acquittals.

• Coordinating the delivery of the Timor Awakening programs, including logistics and accommodation.

Although he is already known to many of you as a mentor, please make Roy feel welcome as the new COO when you see him next.

Welcome to the VCA team, Roy!

VCA Advocacy

VCA provided a response to a request from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide feedback on its draft Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029.

You can read the VCA submission here.

VCA was represented at the Women Veterans Policy Forum run by DVA in Canberra 5-6 March 2025. The forum provided the opportunity to provide input on how DVA considers programs and support for women veterans, including through veteran services organisations.

Thank you to Bolton Clark

VCA extends its sincere thanks to our sponsor of 10 years, Bolton Clark. As Australia's largest independent not-for-profit aged care provider, they are dedicated to enabling, celebrating and supporting older Australians in the same way that VCA supports veterans.

With shared values, we have been able to achieve a range of wellbeing outcomes for Australian and New Zealand veterans, including older veterans, whose health was affected by their service.

The VCA Annual General Meeting was held on the Gold Coast in November 2024. Members heard from the President, Vice President and Secretary on the program of events during 2024, as well as a look ahead to 2025. The outgoing Treasurer, Jeff Mclaren, presented a financial report, which demonstrated that VCA was solvent and had sufficient funds for the 2025 program of activities.

Our adviser and padre, Gary Stone, remarked on the difference our work was making to veterans in Australia and New Zealand, as well as deepening the ties between Timor-Leste and Australia.

Our flagship activity, Timor Awakening continues to be fully subscribed, and participant feedback remains highly enthusiastic.

The Committee thanked all donors and sponsors for their support of our programs and looks forward to continuing our relationship throughout 2025 and beyond.

2025 Committee Appointments

• President Michael Stone

• Vice-President Michael Lay

• Secretary Justin Ansell

• Treasurer Cherie MacDonald (new)

• Member (Fundraising and Partnerships) Candice Carroll (new)

• Member (Governance and Risk) John Lay (new)

• Member (Communications) Lily Mulholland (new)

• Member (Health and Wellbeing) Matt Pepper

The President thanked Jeff Mclaren for his work as Treasurer and welcomed the incoming members of the committee.

The next Annual General Meeting is planned for November 2025.

If you are interested in helping us out on our mission, the first step is to visit our website to find out more about our programs, including the VETs Friendship School in Same. Reach out to support@veteranscare.com.au with your offer to volunteer, including a brief summary of your relevant skills and experience. 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 and look to deliver more programs in coming years, 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.