Veterans deserve better than a system that waits for a scandal – The Mandarin

Veterans deserve better than a system that waits for a scandal  The Mandarin

Veterans deserve stronger protections, transparent fees, and effective regulation to prevent exploitation within Australia's veteran support sector. If you like this article, share it with your friends. The Four Corners investigation into the exploitation of Australian veterans was confronting. It was also necessary. The program exposed allegations of aggressive marketing, inappropriate billing, conflicts of interest, and the exploitation of Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) funded services. But the response should not simply be to identify a handful of “scammers” and move on. The deeper issue is what allowed the practices to develop. There are undoubtedly unscrupulous providers exploiting veterans. But there is also a department that has, for too long, been unable or unwilling to regulate parts of the veteran support sector effectively enough to prevent exploitation.

Unlock this article with extended access for logged in readers. Save 50% on your first year of unlimited access. Renews at $440/year thereafter. Cancel anytime. Dr Kate Robinson is an author and former Royal Australian Air Force member, vice chair of Women Veterans Australia, and spouse of a current serving ADF member. She has held leadership, advisory, and consulting roles across Australia and the United States, with expertise spanning ethics, organisational culture, governance, and leadership development. Across two days, senior leaders, agency heads and the private sector voices shaping the state’s future cut