The sessions today were part of RSL Victoria's Female Veterans Forums that kicked off across the state this week. The forums are funded through the Federal Government's Female Veteran Wellbeing and Empowerment grant.

In Bendigo, current and former female veterans in the region were interviewed about their experiences and how the RSL and other support agencies can assist more effectively as they transition to civilian life. 

RSL Victoria's Rebecca Berg facilitated the sessions and says the forums will help shape the RSL's welfare work.

"Last year's Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran suicide made some really sobering findings around the experience of females in defence and how they move to the next phase of their life," she said. 

"RSL Victoria has taken proactive steps to ensure female veterans are represented at state executive level, with two female veterans appointed in the last 18 months. 

But we know we must do more, and these forums are the next step in hearing directly from those that have the experience so we can build a support system that is more practical and successful in assisting female veterans." 

Kerryanne Graham, an air force veteran and now a member of the Sea Lake RSL Sub-Branch, was the first to take part in today’s forum.

"As a veteran and part of a regional RSL, I'm in a position where I have seen both sides of that support systems,” Ms Graham said.

"Once upon a time, the RSL was not always a place where I felt welcome as a female veteran. Thankfully that has changed, but being able to talk today about experiences, and with a variety of perspectives of veterans of all ages and backgrounds, will help inform how we work as an RSL network in the future." 

Quotes attributable to the Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters MP:

“This grant of $94,000 from the Veteran Wellbeing Grants Program is so important as it helps to empower and engage with female veterans in Bendigo to help develop strategies that assist individually and with family life. 

“It’s so important that we listen to our female veterans lived experience so that we can better support them in our community

“Their lives, experiences and ideas for how we can better support veterans will also assist with the development of the Bendigo Veterans’ and Families’ Hub that I announced our government will contribute $5 million towards the building of”