A message from Emma.

The new year is well and truly underway, and 2023 is already shaping up to be a year full of exciting opportunities to help veterans and their families find mateship and move forward from the impacts of service.

This year marks the 10 th anniversary since Mates4Mates was established by RSL Queensland to help address the significant health and wellbeing challenges faced by some current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and their families. Over those 10 years, we have grown to better understand the needs of those who have served and what it means to be part of the Defence community.

As we reflect on the past 10 years, we also move forward into the next decade with a clear focus on the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families, leading us to develop our ‘Journey to 30’ Strategic Plan.

This seven-year plan will allow Mates4Mates to grow and better serve veterans and their families impacted by service. This includes delivering more services that are evidence-based and inclusive, and reaching more veterans in more places through sustainable growth.

This growth of Mates4Mates is already in action across the country, with new centres opening in the Northern Territory, South East Queensland and North Queensland. On page 3, discover the journeys of how these regions have expanded to further support their local Defence communities.

Through our commitment to delivering evidencebased services to both current and ex-serving Defence Force personnel, Soldier Recovery Programs are run by our exercise physiologists in both Brisbane and Townsville. Read more about how the program is supporting soldiers transitioning out of the military into civilian life through physical rehabilitation on page 6.

As you read through these stories and more in this edition of the Mates4Mates magazine, I know that my team and I are proud to continue actively changing the lives of veterans and their families impacted by service.