The VVC, in partnership with Consumer Affairs Victoria as the regulator of patriotic funds, advises ex-service organisations on how patriotic funds can be raised and appropriately used, including transfer and winding-up arrangements.
The VVC is the trustee for 6 patriotic funds that are administered under Pt 4 of the Act.
The Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women Scholarship Fund – Albert Coates Memorial Trust
This fund, in association with the Albert Coates Memorial Trust, funds scholarships awarded to students who are studying to become paramedics, nurses or doctors in emergency care at Victorian universities. In 2023–24 the VVC provided $30,631 to the Albert Coates Memorial Trust to allocate scholarships for rural emergency nursing studies.
The Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women Scholarship Fund No 1 – Nurses Memorial Centre
This fund was first established in August 2006. It supports scholarship grants awarded each year to students undertaking postgraduate studies caring for older people or palliative care at a recognised university. The VVC administers the funds, which are provided to the Australian Nurses Memorial Centre as the facilitator of the scholarships. In 2023–24 the VVC provided $30,635 to the centre for these scholarships.
The War Widows and Widowed Mothers Association Scholarship Fund
This fund supports scholarships awarded by Federation University Australia (FedUni) to students undertaking graduate or postgraduate study a health-related discipline. In 2023–24 the VVC worked with FedUni to update the scholarship agreement to promote the longevity of the awards.
The Victorian Blinded Soldiers’ Welfare Patriotic Fund
This fund was established in April 2013 from funds provided by the Blinded Soldiers’ Association and a letter bequest from the estate of the late Lucy Adamson. It provides welfare assistance to visually impaired veterans and their dependants and offers assistance to former ADF members who have visual impairment due to their service. In 2023–24 the VVC provided $8,000 to Vision Australia to support its veterans clients.
The Extremely Disabled Association Patriotic Fund
This fund supported the now discontinued Victorian Veteran Community Story Writing and Art Competition, which Austin Health’s Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital facilitated. In 2023–24 the VVC explored options for how this fund can continue to support the ex-service community and achieve the objects for which the fund was established.
Australian United Ex-Services Association Patriotic Fund
This fund was established in 2015 to help fund postgraduate study in the field of veterans’ health. A memorandum of understanding with Austin Health was signed in February 2016 to deliver the scholarships for training postgraduate students in cognitive processing therapy, with an associated year of supervision. In 2023–24 the VVC explored ways that the objects of this fund might continue to be met through supporting training for clinicians working in the field of psychological trauma.
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