Around 10,000 Defence Force veterans and their families will benefit from Mates4Mates’s expanded services in the Territory once its new services support centre opens at 39 Stuart Park in Darwin.

Mates4Mates, an organization focusing on veterans’ welfare, will be partnering with local ex-service organisations and stakeholders to deliver services including psychological support, physical rehabilitation and wellbeing programs, along with employment, transition and housing programs, and advocacy support.

The organization was appointed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver the Northern Territory Veteran and Family Wellbeing Centre. It first opened in the Territory last year with a $5 million Commonwealth Government grant and their own $500,000 contribution and currently operates in Palmerston.

“In Palmerston, we have RSL Queensland doing advocacy, which means claims for people that have injured themselves in the Defence Force. We also have a telehealth room for people that want psychology appointments online and a counsellor, and social connection activities,” NT regional manager and former services member Marcia Morgan said.

Mates4Mates’ new building, a short walk from the Stuart Highway, will get a $2.3 million facelift.

“There’ll be 10 clinical rooms, we will do exercise physiotherapy so we’ll have a gym here as well and we’ll have a big area set up for social connections and a big outdoor area and BBQ area for social connection,” Ms Morgan said.

The organisation’s social connection activities in the Territory are open to all veterans and their families.

Scheduled to be operational early next year, Mates4Mates’ Stuart Park centre will offer a wider range of services to veterans and ex-service organisations and will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

To learn more or to keep updated on the progress of the NT Veteran and Family Wellbeing Centre email the group at nt@mates4mates.org or join the Mates4Mates Northern Territory Facebook group.