About Us

The Premier announced the establishment of a new portfolio of Veterans’ Affairs on 23 January 2009.  The Honourable Graham West, Minister for Juvenile Justice, Volunteering and Youth was appointed as NSW’s first Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans’ Affairs.  Minister West had previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Community and Veterans’ Affairs from July 2006 to March 2007.

The new position ensures that ex-service men and women have a single point of contact for bringing their needs and interests to the attention of the NSW Government. 

The State Government provides many services to veterans and their families across a range of areas including health, disability and transport among others.  The creation of a portfolio will facilitate access and equity for veterans in the delivery of these services.

Importantly, State Governments have a key role in ensuring the sacrifices of the past are honoured and remembered with dignity and respect.

In NSW, this function encompasses three broad areas of responsibility:

Commemoration

Ensure community remembrance and commemorative activity is maintained.

Responsibilities include:

• Financial and event management support to the Dawn Service Trust for ANZAC Day Dawn Service and the RSL for the ANZAC Day march.
• Event management support for Remembrance Day services and activities.
• Hosting functions and representing the people of NSW at many other commemorative events throughout the year and across the State.

Heritage

Conserve and record the historic collection of war memorials throughout NSW including management of the ANZAC war memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park and through the provision of financial support to local communities.

Responsibilities include:

• Chairing the ANZAC Memorial Building Trust responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the State’s principal memorial to all Australians who have served in war.
• Providing grants to NSW communities to enhance and restore local war memorials through the Community War Memorials Fund.
• Continuing to record the more than 3000 local war memorials on the NSW War Memorials Register.
• Building the NSW Korean War Memorial in Moore Park.

Education

Ensure the sacrifices of service men and women are understood and remembered by future generations through school curricula and other initiatives.

Responsibilities include:

• The Premier’s annual ANZAC Memorial Scholarship enabling school students to travel to key battlefield sites – the Premier and the RSL President will accompany 12 scholars from years 10 and 11 and two teachers to Gallipoli for the ANZAC Day service in April 2009.
• The Living History project where school students visit, interview and record the experiences of veterans as part of their studies.
• Providing curriculum resources for secondary school students, including the Anzacday.gov.au website maintained by the Board of Studies.

The Veterans’ Affairs portfolio responsibilities are managed by a small team within the Department of Premier and Cabinet.