PVV is the next step for police veterans
PVV is the next step to:
Health
Support
Community
Benefits
A veteran's story
Ron was only 16 when he joined the Police Cadets in 1972. As a young policeman, he was nothing short of a star – dux of his squad, he topped the Sergeants Course and was the youngest recruit to join Search and Rescue.
Ron loved being in the police force…and then, just like that, he was shot.
Leaving the hospital with more than 30 pieces of shrapnel in his skull, Ron was told he’d never return to even light police duties. After 11 years, he made strides in becoming fully operational, learning to write and shoot with his non-dominant hand.
Surviving such an event came at a cost, however. Ron began to suffer from the effects of PTS. That was until Ron met a crook from Bathurst and a dog trained in a gaol.
“Yogi” was a rescue dog who would’ve been put down, had he not found a home. In a way, Ron and Yogi saved each other.
Yogi’s care did more than save Ron – it also spurred a legal battle that would see first responders become eligible to claim therapy dogs as a legitimate medical expense.
Ron was a spirited VPSO for our organisation.
If you’d like to donate via bank transfer, please use these account details and quote the reference you used in an email to us.
Account Name: Police Veterans Victoria Inc.
BSB: 704 230
Account Number: 100634946
I simply didn’t want to admit to myself that I had
post-traumatic stress, and I didn’t want it to impact my career.
-Andrew Atkinson, police veteran
Backed by research
Professor Annie Venville, PhD, is Chair of Social Work at ACAP and Head of Social Work at Victoria University. She is an experienced social work practitioner, academic leader, educator, and researcher. Annie, with PVV, conducted important research into the role of peer support from active police duty to civilian life.
“Encounters with family violence, physical assault, armed and dangerous offenders and death are part of the everyday work for many police officers worldwide. The effect of repeated exposure to potentially traumatic and critical incidents, personal relationship difficulties, organisational climate and workplace stressors, can lead police to experience high rates of burn out and poor mental health.”
A police life is hugely rewarding but for some, the impact on their mental health and wellbeing is significant and largely unacknowledged. That impact and a lack of understanding and support remains a hidden tragedy in our society and change is needed.”
“The PVV peer support program recognises the importance of police service and police
identity and provides a reconnection to a community of support.”
A police life is hugely rewarding but for some, the impact
on their mental health and wellbeing is significant and largely unacknowledged.
Why donate to PVV?
Our organisation is funded entirely from the generosity of serving police, the public and corporates who recognise the contributions made by veterans throughout their service to the community; often with lifelong consequences.
Much like defence, police veterans experience a range of issues such as homelessness, financial hardship, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse. Unlike defence, PVV do not receive state or federal government funding.
While Victoria Police continue to support veterans through the Wellbeing Services team and EAP, PVV plays an important, supplementary role that runs in parallel to professional services such as Responder Assist (fee for service model). Other support services like Blue Hub are only available to serving members.
Ways to support us
There are many ways to support PVV’s mission.
- One-off donation
- Regular donations
- If you are run a business, consider buying a table at our Corporate Luncheon on 9 June 2023
- Consider adding PVV as a beneficiary in your will.
To make a donation you can either make a Direct Deposit or EFT Transfer or by Debit/Credit Card by filling out the form below.
Account Name: Police Veterans Victoria Inc.
BSB: 704 230
Account Number: 100634946