In order to ensure that government’s expectations for the delivery of services to veterans is met and to support the achievement of the key government priorities; VANZ has identified the following outcomes:
- Veterans are acknowledged and recognised for their service and sacrifice and the community is aware of the role veterans have played and continue to play in developing New Zealand as a nation.
- Working in partnership with the NZDF, the impacts of service on eligible veterans and their dependants are monitored and they have information about and access to services and support that promotes wellbeing.
- The veterans’ perspective is considered as part of government decision-making on issues that impact on their lives.
Outcome One
Veterans are acknowledged and recognised for their service and sacrifice and the community is aware of the role veterans have played and continue to play in developing New Zealand as a nation.
What are we seeking to achieve?
The key achievements will be that:
- Veterans’ service will be acknowledged.
- The New Zealand Government’s participation in key commemorations will be effectively coordinated.
- Veterans will be able to access support to enable them to participate in the commemoration of significant events related to their service.
- Services Cemeteries will be maintained in a way that recognises the value to New Zealand of the service of the veterans buried there.
Why is this a priority?
Acknowledgement and recognition of veterans service is an important way that government can place value on the service that veterans have given and the sacrifice that they have made.
What will we do to achieve this?
To achieve this outcome the following strategic initiatives will be undertaken.
Initiative 1
The management and administration of the commemorations programme which includes:
- The administration of the Minister’s Commemorations Discretionary Fund, providing funding to veterans to enable them to attend commemorations of events related to their service.
- The co-ordination of veteran participation in any government sponsored commemorations.
- The co-ordination of the yearly participation in the Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli.
- The provision of veterans certificates of appreciation.
Initiative 2
The development of a five year capital works plan for the maintenance and development of services cemeteries. This will be done in consultation with local authorities
How will we demonstrate success?
- There will be a greater public awareness of the role played by veterans in the development of our national identity.
- Communities will acknowledge veterans’ experiences.
- Veterans will have the opportunity to participate in the commemoration of significant events related to their service.
How will we demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of our activities?
Activities under this outcome will be assessed to ascertain whether the funding made available was used effectively and whether the cost of delivery could be improved by looking at the cost effectiveness of various methods of delivery.
Outcome Two
Working in partnership with the NZDF, the impacts of service on eligible veterans and their dependants are monitored and they have information about and access to services and supports that promote wellbeing.
What are we seeking to achieve?
The key achievements will be:
- VANZ will have accurate information about the issues faced by the veteran population enabling the required services and supports to be put in place.
- The focus of service delivery will be proactive and facilitative. Veterans will have a clear understanding of the processes involved in obtaining support and assistance. These processes will be efficient and accessible.
- The provision of high quality information to groups who provide assistance to veterans in the community ensuring that veterans are able to make informed choices about their entitlements.
Why is this a priority?
Ensuring that veterans have access to services when they require them is an important part of managing the impact of service on the quality of a veteran’s life in the long and short term. This is important in ensuring that the focus on the care of veterans becomes a focus on wellness. Government has an expectation that these entitlements will be delivered as a seamless service across all the agencies involved.
What will we do to achieve this?
Initiative 1
Implementation of the findings of the review of services to veterans. This includes:
- Ensuring that the service delivery systems that are in place are responsive to the needs of veterans.
- Providing training to staff to ensure that they have knowledge of the services and supports available and are able to maximise these for the benefit of the veteran and the veteran’s family.
- Reviewing primary level decision making to ensure that they are transparent and that veterans understand processes and how they are applied.
- Enhancing the systems that monitor the appropriateness and effectiveness of service delivery in the long term.
Initiative 2
Improve the information provided to veterans, and the way that information is provided, to ensure that the communication mechanisms used are appropriate and reach all veterans. This includes:
- Providing information and training to, and working with, veterans’ groups and community agencies to raise awareness of the services available to support veterans who live in the community.
- Improving the quality of the information provided in existing publications and developing new publications on specific issues.
- Seeking alternative ways to disseminate information.
- Introducing regular reviews of material to make sure it remains relevant.
Initiative 3
The development of registration databases for various veteran cohorts. This will make VANZ aware of the veteran groups in the population and enable VANZ to contact specific groups of veterans to make them aware of services. This will provide the basis for establishing mechanisms for the monitoring of on going health and wellbeing issues of various veteran cohorts.
How will we demonstrate our success?
- Veterans will have access to the services and supports they need at various stages of their lives.
- Veterans and their families will be involved in planning, monitoring and evaluating any programme put in place for them and will feel empowered and be able to take responsibility for managing the issue impacting on their quality of life.
- VANZ will have effective partnerships with the service providers that provide services and support to veterans in the community.
How will we demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of our activities?
Criteria that consider value for money will be included in the process of establishing regular reviews of programme effectiveness. This will include looking at the efficiency and costs of various processes.
Outcome Three
The veterans’ perspective is considered as part of government decision-making on issues that impact on their lives.
What are we seeking to achieve?
The key achievements will be:
- VANZ will provide in-depth information about veteran-related issues to support decision-making, policy development and service delivery.
- VANZ capability will be strengthened so that there is the ability to respond to the issues impacting on the Veteran community.
Why is this a priority?
Government has recognised veterans as a special group of New Zealanders and provides a range of veteran specific services. It is important to ensure that there is effective information available to provide quality advice on veterans’ issues.
What will we do to achieve this
Provide advice on new policy development and the review of existing policy
Initiative 1
The establishment of key indicators in the veteran population that need to be monitored to establish a profile of the veteran community. Establish mechanisms to collect that data so that a profile can be monitored in the long term.
How will we demonstrate our success?
- VANZ will have the ability to provide quality advice.
- VANZ will have effective working relationships with stakeholders.
- Departments and agencies involved in the provision of policy and service delivery issues that impact on the veteran community will consult VANZ over issues that have the potential to impact on the veteran community.
- VANZ will have effective working relationships with international administrations with responsibility for the provision of services to veterans so that they are able to access necessary information.
How will we demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of our activities?
The cost of delivery of various pieces of policy work will be analysed to ensure best value for money.
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