Veteran Housing Australia has arrived in Queensland.
This week we marked the opening of the Daniel Keighran VC Apartments in Norman Park, Brisbane, as well as an additional 3 locations across Brisbane. VHA will manage the complex in partnership with The Salvation Army, as part of Hancock Prospecting’s $200 million commitment to address veteran homelessness.
The apartments are named after Queensland-born Daniel Keighran VC, who received the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions in Afghanistan in 2010.
Thank you, Mrs Rinehart
Speaking at the opening, VHA CEO Robert Miller thanked Mrs Gina Rinehart for the commitment and for her support of Australian veterans over many years.
“Thank you, Mrs Rinehart, for your incredible generosity with the $200 million veteran housing commitment, and also for your support of Australian veterans over so many years. It is both humbling and inspiring, and I know it is greatly appreciated by the broader veteran community.”
He said the Brisbane properties are another pillar of that commitment:
“The acquisition and operational delivery of these Brisbane properties is yet another pillar in Mrs Gina Rinehart’s support of veterans and commitment of $200 million to address veteran homelessness.”
A name that means something
Robert also paid tribute to the man the apartments are named after.
“Thank you also, Dan, for your service. I only met Dan today, and we discovered we missed serving at 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment by a few months. I found him to be a humble and intelligent man, and a great exemplar of our VC winners as well as a great example of the capacity of our veterans, both in service and in the civilian world
Housing First: no barriers to entry
VHA will run these homes under the Housing First principle. 
“To oversimplify, that principle is to remove all barriers to entry in housing. A veteran’s financial state, mental or physical health should not get in the way of their ability to secure safe and affordable housing. This is one of the most fundamental of human needs, safe and secure shelter, and it allows the veteran to get back on their feet.”
That is how VHA has always worked. We founded this organisation in 1932 as the Carry On Club, and the idea behind it has stayed the same: a veteran who has a secure home can start to rebuild everything else.
Honoured to be a partner
“We at Veteran Housing Australia are honoured to be chosen as one of the project partners, and we look forward to making good on supporting and housing many veterans.”
Need housing, or want to help?
If you’re a veteran who needs somewhere to live, or you know someone who does, get in touch with us at [enquiry link/phone/email]. If you’re a business, community group or individual who wants to support our work in Queensland, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here
