Andrew Russell Veteran Living (ARVL) Program

Leisa Russell is organizing this fundraiser.

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*2025 update*

Thank you to everyone who donated to Port to Pub in 2024, we raised just over $13, 000 for ARVL WA. For 2025 I am continuing to build on this amount and have registered for the HBF Run for a Reason and have reflected this by updating our goal for $25, 000.

On the 25th of May, myself and two close mates will be running the 12km distance. This year we are hoping to raise money for ARVL in both WA and SA.

Hi my name is Leisa,

On the 25th of May myself and my mates are running in the HBF Run for a Reason (https://www.hbf.com.au/run). We want to use this as an opportunity to raise funds for ARVL, the Andrew Russell Veteran Living Program in both Western Australia and South Australia.

The program aims to support our most vulnerable veterans who need housing assistance and mental health and community support services.

The program is named after my father who was a soldier and killed overseas in 2002. I never met my dad, but knowing that this program is in his name makes me feel incredibly proud.

To see a short video of my mum and I click on the below link

https://www.facebook.com/RAAFAWA/videos/352516127679790/

My mum also wrote the following opinion piece in the local newspaper to help raise awareness about veteran homelessness and ARVL.

Dark days for WA veterans are still a reality for too many

For families that have a member serving in the Australian Defence Force, there’s always the dread of receiving that knock on the door. This day came far too early for our family.

On 16 February 2002 my life changed. So too did the life of my one-week-old daughter Leisa.

Serving in the Special Air Service (SAS) Perth-based regiment, my late husband SGT Andrew Russell was the first Australian to be killed in action since the Vietnam War.

After Andrew’s death, I was overwhelmed by support and outreach from those who had themselves experienced tragedy, or simply wanted to do something to help. Over time, my grief and story changed from raising awareness about war widows and their experience, to the soldiers who had returned home.

Tragically for some veterans the transition from the defence force to civilian life can be confronting. Triggered by the loss of the defence community, relocation to a new home and city, or adjustment to new work routines. Sadly for some, this can lead to reduced mental health and wellbeing, unemployment, and family breakdown. No veteran ever plans to be without a home, but for some this is their story; couch surfing or living in their car.

The sobering truth is that Veterans often experience dark days, and while most will find a way through these, when they can’t, they need a safe place, to connect with the veteran community and receive the specialist support they require.

Research has confirmed that veterans are now three times more at risk of homelessness than everyday Australians, and suicide is more prevalent with those experiencing homelessness than those who are not. The recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has heard the harrowing accounts of lost hope, broken promises of support, and suicide in our defence and veteran community.

For me, meeting with veterans and hearing their stories of loss, pain and suffering left me feeling ashamed. I had the love and support of my daughter, family and friends to find my place in this world without Andrew. I had my profession as a registered nurse to pursue new opportunities, to build a career. Not everyone has this foundation or support. I'll always remember a veteran telling me that on leaving the defence force, and in the time needed to find a job, it left too much time to think, to relive the memories. And in reliving the memories came the sorrow and the fear. Then came the drinking, followed by the arguments with family and friends. Then came the divorce, absence from children, and what followed was homelessness.

With 90 per-cent of veterans at risk or experiencing homelessness not seeking help until it’s too late, what we’re witnessing in Western Australia’s community is a silent cry for help.

In response to these sobering facts and figures, my family and I joined forces with RAAFA to develop the Western Australian Andrew Russell Veteran Living (ARVL) program, which will see the development of the first purpose-built emergency veteran accommodation in our state.

In honour of Andrew’s service, ARVL will ensure our veterans receive the support they need and undoubtedly deserve, when they most need it. Just as our veterans have been there for our community when we have most needed them. Not only in defence of our country, but through fires, floods and COVID. Always at the frontline, always putting service first.

22 years ago, Andrew put service first. This week our daughter had her 22nd birthday. Service has a consequence. A child never meeting her father, a veteran managing a lifetime of triggers, and for our most vulnerable veterans, homelessness.

Upon completion, RAAFA’s ARVL program will see an accommodation site consisting of 16 purpose-built units and provide vital services to connect veteran residents with wellbeing and health services. These services will help support the four in five veterans reporting mental health conditions, including PTSD, while experiencing homelessness.

But, to make this program a reality, we need the help of Western Australians. We’re calling on all Western Australians to join forces with us to help end veteran homelessness by donating to the ARVL Appeal.

The ARVL Appeal will help raise money to build RAAFA’s ARVL emergency accommodation and deliver the services needed to support our veterans.

On behalf of our veterans, please join us in helping make the ARVL program a reality for Western Australians and donate to this appeal.

My Dad, Andrew with my mum before he left for deployment