26^th March 2025  

Invictus Australia welcomes last night’s commitment in the Federal Budget to extend the government’s financial support of Invictus Australia for a further 12 months.  

The funding provided by the Australia Government over the last three years has enabled Invictus Australia to support more than 12,000 veterans and their families in communities around Australia, plus deliver three outstanding international Teams to the Invictus Games and Warrior Games. These activities deliver significant outcomes which strengthen the wellbeing of the Defence community by proactively building mental, physical and social fitness, as well as supporting recovery, rehabilitation and transition from Defence. 

Invictus Australia projections for 2025/26 indicate that this continued support will help an additional 10,000 veterans and their families engage with sport at the community level, along with early preparations for the next Warrior Games and Invictus Games.  

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide presented 122 recommendations to the Australian Government last September. In presenting their report, the Commissioners called on the entire sector and broader Australia to do more to improve the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families, and to address the devastating impact of suicide on the community. Invictus Australia’s work directly and indirectly impacts nearly one third of the Royal Commission recommendations and the organisation remains focused on doing all we can to ensure that the pain and trauma of those who shared their experiences over the duration of the Royal Commission was not done so in vain.  
  
Invictus Australia is committed to working with the Government to continue to advocate for and progress effective solutions that improve the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families.  

***** 

Michael Hartung, CEO of Invictus Australia, said of the announcement “We thank the Australian Government for extending their commitment to Invictus Australia for a further 12 months, and the critical programs that these funds support, which will positively impact thousands of veterans and their families. This commitment is important to provide the Defence community with confidence that these initiatives will continue, especially since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide nine months ago called for more action and support from all parts of the sector. We look forward to further conversations with Government about the future opportunities that exist to increase the impact and reach of this support for the wellbeing of veterans and their families in Australia”.