We acknowledge and remember those who have served Australia. Our work promotes an understanding of the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families through commemoration.
Commemorations & War Graves
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) acknowledges and commemorates all those who have served Australia in global wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
We do this to promote understanding of the:
- service and sacrifice of veterans and their families
- wartime experience of Australians
- cultural significance of national days of commemoration, such as Anzac Day
Some of the different ways we do this include:
Domestic and overseas commemorations
Our National Commemorations Program commemorates those who have served Australia and its allies in wars, conflicts and peace operations.
We deliver this program by promoting recognition of service and sacrifice through events and the media. This aims to provide recognition, respect and acknowledgement to all Australian veterans, which supports DVA's objectives relating to veteran health and wellbeing.
Office of Australian War Graves
Through the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG), we care for and maintain the official commemorations of more than 334,000 Australian service men and women in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
History and education resources
To educate the community about Australia's wartime history, we:
- produce educational resources for primary and secondary schools
- gather and share images and stories of veterans
- provide grants to support the commemoration of Australia's wartime heritage
Saluting Their Service grants
The Saluting Their Service (STS) Commemorative Grants program helps to preserve Australia's wartime heritage. It engages communities in projects and activities to:
- highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia's service men and women in wars, conflicts and peace operations
- promote an understanding of the role that those who served have played in shaping the nation
Protecting the word 'Anzac'
To help Australians comply with the legal restrictions on the use of the word 'Anzac', we issue the Use of the Word 'Anzac' Guidelines. These guidelines interpret the term's usage under the Protection of Word 'Anzac' Act 1920. You'll generally need written permission from the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel to use 'Anzac' in a commercial context.
Sir John Monash Centre
At the Sir John Monash Centre near Villers-Bretonneux, France, we seek to educate a new audience about Australia's early role in international affairs. We use the immersive experiences at the centre to share the stories of ordinary Australians doing extraordinary things on the battlefields of the Western Front.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or comments you can get in touch with us at education@dva.gov.au
You can also reach us at this postal address:
Community Engagement Section
Department of Veterans' Affairs
GPO Box 9998
Brisbane Qld 4001
Glossary
- veteran