DFWA strongly supports the proposal to establish the Ex-ADF Community Support Services Hub in Townsville, known in the ESO community as ‘The Oasis Townsville’.
The proposal originated from the collaboration of all ESOs in Townsville. These ESOs have been working with Townsville City Council, Queensland State Government and the local business community to centralise the referral for services of the various ESOs into a single facility.
This Oasis gives ex-ADF members and their families one place to go to find answers and identify disparate and specialised services provided by ESOs that are spread throughout Townsiville.
The ESO assessment of the need has been reinforced strongly by the findings of the Federal Minister for Health trial being conducted in Townsville to support the prevention of suicide in the ex-ADF community.
Townsville is one of 12 National Suicide Prevention Trial sites around Australia, and the only one dealing with the ex-ADF community. The Townsville project is known as Operation Compass. The Oasis Townsville is the single biggest issue for the ex-ADF community in Townsville and has had the effect of banding ESOs, the Townsville community and veterans of all generations together to find a solution to simplify effective access to services for ex-ADF members and their families.