Wounded Heroes Australia Helping Our Heroes

Wounded Heroes Australia was established to support those who have contributed to our great country but have fallen on hard times and can no longer provide for themselves.

We’re talking about families in crisis, veterans running out of money and sleeping in their cars with their kids.

Unfortunately, the sad reality is that these men and women would remain forgotten by society if it wasn’t for the work of this incredible charity. Can you help?

They served us, let’s serve them with “compassion, hope and purpose” is the tagline and applaudable mission of Wounded Heroes Australia, which celebrates 16 years in operation this May. From humble beginnings in Ipswich, Queensland, Wounded Heroes Australia has grown to a national charity organisation doing whatever it takes to provide support to current and ex-serving Australian servicemen and women, and their families. This includes attempting to ease their financial, emotional, and personal hardships.

“Wounded Heroes Australia’s purpose is to assist them to get their life back on track and restore their dignity,” Martin Shaw, President, tells ORM.

Wounded Heroes Australia are ‘first responders’ and support not only veterans but also partners of veterans, where other community services are not immediately available. Support services include practical financialsupport for families, rehabilitation, mental health and housing.

“When someone calls our crisis line, they speak to a veteran who understands. We provide them with immediate support (within an hour), so they’re not left waiting in their time of need. We then partner with other organisations who have the necessary expertise and human resources to continue their support.”

Many readers will not be aware that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the only organisation in the country that doesn’t have work cover.

“Like the wider community facing higher rent costs and cost of living pressures, this is being mirrored in the veteran’s space,” Martin says. “The difference here is that most homeless veterans are dealing with mental health issues due to service of our country.”

“When a member of the ADF is discharged, they have to then prove their injuries in the civilian world,” Shaw continues. “The preface to that is that when they are let go, they’re let go without income so after they’ve used their holiday pay if they’re owed any, they’re on their own.”

Wounded Heroes Australia have been in discussion with government to try to change that for the past 16 years.

“It’s highly complex,” explains Martin. “But now we find ourselves in a position – post COVID and with layers of bureaucracy, which was identified by the Royal Commission – that veterans entitled to payments are waiting two years to receive the money. It used to be that claims were processed in about eight months but that’s now blown right out.”

Wounded Heroes Australia supports veterans including people who have served as a member of the ADF, whether they have served in a war or not, including peacekeepers and reservists.

“I, like most people, just presumed that veterans were well looked after financially. But, unbeknown to me, the founder had sent $2,000 to a family in need,” Martin explains. “At Carrara Markets, a lady came up to me to say thank you. I learned that the man, who was a veteran and a father, had been hit by a grenade in Afghanistan. The lady gave me $1,000 back and said, “we didn’t need the full $2,000 so please give this to another family who really need it.” After many tears, I rang my kids and said, “Dad’s not going to be rich, I’ve found what I want to do with my life. And I haven’t looked back.”

It is with great pride that Martin says that a full 100 per cent of public donations go to veterans and their families in need.

Wounded Heroes Australia is a small team (just three permanent staff), making a big impact and could not do this without their passionate volunteers and the generosity of the public, supporters and sponsors. To donate, visit woundedheroes.org.au. If you are an organisation wanting to sponsor Wounded Heroes Australia, please contact media@woundedheroes.org.au.

*Reference (https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/research-papers/homelessness-amongst-australian-veterans)

Mr Jim Shapcott is the Founder and of Wounded Heroes Australia and has long been deeply committed to the armed forces and the difficulties faced by our defence families. He is a reservist, commissioned in 1966 and retired as a Captain in 1973. His passion for the families of our deployed soldiers is unchallenged and at 75 years young in 2015 he was out at 10 pm getting the electricity back on and filling up a fridge of food for a mum and her two children, with their dad suffering from PTSD.