DVA survey ‘about veteran needs’ miss named
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said veterans and their families were being surveyed to provide their views on how the ex-service community is consulted and engaged, and how this can be improved* [see editor’s note below].
Mr Chester said the views of the serving and ex-service community were essential as the Department of Veterans’ Affairs continues to change and to ensure veterans and their families could access the services they need, when they need them.
“The government is committed to putting veterans and their families first, and part of this is consulting with the right groups* [see editor’s note below] in the ex-service community and seeking a broad range of views on services, support and commemoration* [see editor’s note below],” Mr Chester said.
“Along with DVA, ex-service organisations have played a critical role in supporting veterans and their families for more than 100 years, and this review ensures their changing views and requirements are heard.
“I encourage all those in the ex-service community* [see editor’s note below] to participate and provide their feedback.
“The National Consultation Framework has been in place since 2009 and is reviewed every three years in consultation with the ex-service community.”
The last review was conducted in 2016 – so the 2020 review is cleverly called the “2019 NCF Review”, to cover off on that tardiness.
“It aims to facilitate the needs of veterans and their families are voiced and listened to by DVA* [aside from the wrong sentence construct here, see editor’s note below], through forum structures, membership of various forums, appropriate representation on fora and capacity of member organisations.”
Repatriation Commissioner Don Spinks, who is responsible for veteran engagement at DVA, said everyone’s suggestions would be heard* [see editor’s note below] and would play an important role informing the future consultation model.
“This review is essential to giving veterans a voice so I encourage everyone in the serving and
ex-service community to get involved and have their say,” Commissioner Spinks said.
Further information on the review, including participating in the survey, is available on the DVA website.
They [sic] survey will be available until 26 July 2020 with the final report expected to be completed in late 2020.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This survey could have been an opportunity to consult with individual veterans and veteran-family members and gain an understanding of actual veteran needs – but all questions are clearly concerned with the National Consultation Framework, its function and its constituent membership. There are no questions about veterans or their family needs. There are no questions about services, support or commemoration.
Unless you have a working knowledge of, or an intimate interest in, the National Consultation Framework and its workings, I wouldn’t bother with this survey.
Also, this is the first I’ve come across in a very long time, where you have to register with an email and password to participate in an ‘anonymous’ survey. They say they did it this way to allow participants to complete the survey in multiple sessions. Since it took me less than five minutes to complete, I don’t believe that’s the real reason. More likely it is to prevent certain individuals completing the survey more than once.
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Another comment from resident crankyman Sir Jeffrey Armiger – a retired Public Servant with a pet hate for BE (bovine excrement).
Follow Sir Jeffrey on Facebook here
or view his previous diatribes here.
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