Well fellas what would you like to know it's all here.
VA49 Thursday 22 May 2003
BURSARIES KICK-START TERTIARY STUDY FOR WA STUDENTS
Four young Western Australian students, whose relatives served in the
Vietnam war, will receive a Federal Government bursary to assist them in
their first year of tertiary study.
The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, will present the Long Tan
Bursaries to two of the four WA recipients tomorrow at the Vietnam Veterans
Association of Australia national congress in Perth.
The bursaries will be presented to 18-year-old Amanda Dove, a student of
Edith Cowan University, whose father served with the Divisional Locating
Battery, and 19-year-old Shankar Muthu Krishna, a student at Central West
TAFE whose father served with 12 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.
"Bursary recipients are selected for their academic merit and commitment to
achieving their goals and each of these young people have shown enormous
talent and tenacity worthy of the Long Tan Bursary," the Minister said.
Mrs Vale said the Government had awarded 30 bursaries across Australia this
year, each worth $6000, to assist Vietnam veterans' children in making the
transition from secondary school to tertiary study.
The bursary was established in August 2000 in response to the findings of
the Vietnam Veterans' Health Study, which highlighted the importance of
providing educational assistance to the children of Vietnam veterans.
The bursaries provide important financial assistance that helps the sons and
daughters of Vietnam veterans to obtain the qualifications and skills they
need to pursue their chosen career.
The four WA recipients are:
* Shankar Krishnar Muthu of East Perth, studying for a certificate in
Information Technology in Software Applications at TAFE. His father served
in Vietnam with 12 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.
* Amanda Dove of Padbury, studying for a Bachelor of Communication at
Edith Cowan University. Her father served in Vietnam with the Divisional
Locating Battery.
* Lisa Smith of Australind, studying for a Bachelor of Medical
Radiation and Nuclear Medical Technology at the University of South
Australia. Her father served with the RAN in Vietnam in HMAS Hobart, Yarra
and Sydney.
* Peter Hannay of Geraldton, studying for a Certificate in Information
Technology at TAFE. His late stepfather served in Vietnam with 2nd Field
Ambulance.
EDITORS NOTE: The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, will present
the bursaries at the opening of the VVAA national congress:
Date: Friday, 23 May 2003
Time: 10.45am
Place: Wentworth Plaza Motel, 300 Murray Street, Perth
Media Contact: Rachael Thompson (02) 6277 7820 or 0417
265 289
VA50 Friday, 23 May 2003
GOVERNMENT EXTENDS TIME OUT FOR VIETNAM VETERANS
A successful trial by the Federal Government of Time Out accommodation for
Vietnam veterans would be extended to cover Vietnam veterans across
Australia, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, announced today.
Opening the 2003 National Congress of the Vietnam Veterans Association of
Australia in Perth, Mrs Vale said the trial had demonstrated the potential
of the emergency accommodation program to provide valuable support for
Vietnam veteran families facing the risk of breaking up.
"During the trial, the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service arranged
short-term accommodation for 19 veterans, giving them and their family
members much-needed respite in situations where the family might otherwise
have collapsed," the Minister said.
"Following the success of this trial, I am pleased to announce that the
program will be extended Australia-wide for all Vietnam veterans in areas
where suitable accommodation is available.
"This provides another level of support for Vietnam veterans, to help them
manage serious family problems that could end up hurting the veteran, their
partner and their children."
The Time Out program was trialed as part of the Federal Government's package
of increased support for Vietnam veterans, their partners and children,
following the findings of the Vietnam Veterans Health Study.
Under the program, Vietnam veterans facing a family crisis can contact the
VVCS to arrange short-term accommodation for themselves and, where
appropriate, their children.
"The program offers time for Vietnam veterans and their families to take a
step back from a crisis situation.
"The VVCS also provides access to counselling to try to help the family
members to manage the pressures on their lives.
"This program has been endorsed by the peak ex-service organisations and I
would like to express the Government's appreciation for the strong support
it has received from the veteran community in implementing this initiative,"
the Minister said.
Vietnam veterans can access the Time Out program by contacting the VVCS on
the following numbers:
1800 011 046 Qld, ACT, Vic, Tas, SA, NT and WA
1800 043 503 NSW
1800 019 332 North Qld
Media contact: Rachael Thompson (02) 6277 7820 or 0417 265 289