Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA) is thrilled to share a $275,000 commitment to support our service men and women access sport and exercise to aid their recovery and wellbeing.
This top-up funding will ensure the expansion of the University of South Australia’s (UniSA) WAVES (Wellbeing for Australian Veterans and Emergency Services) program, which offers crucial support to current and former military members and first responders who face physical, emotional, or phycological challenges resulting from traumatic events.
The two-year funding is a joint contribution from The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) Group and Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA, part of THRF Group), granted to UniSA’s Allied Health & Human Performance team, which has developed and runs WAVES.
It will enable UniSA to expand the scope of the program and reach even more current and former serving military personnel and first responders, including their family members.
MESHA’s Program Director Dr Karen May said it will ensure even more current and former serving military personnel and first responders can access this world-first program.
“WAVES has helped hundreds of service men and women with their physical and mental injuries through sport. It’s enabled them to set new goals, engage in the community, overcome their challenges and heal from their injuries,” Dr May said.
“We’re excited to continue this partnership with UniSA and support this life-changing program that continues to reach new heights.”
The WAVES program combines structured physical activity and goal setting with a comprehensive approach to recovery, while also using a unique student-delivered style incorporating sport, exercise, allied health services and community adaptive sports.
The program also trains the next generation of health professionals in working together in an interdisciplinary way with clients and gaining a deeper understanding of service populations and their specific needs and experiences.
UniSA’s Professor Gaynor Parfitt, Research Director of the WAVES Program said they are thrilled to receive this funding from MESHA and THRF Group.
“These funds will enable us to employ additional staff to expand the WAVES program and continue supporting the wellbeing of current and former serving military personnel, first responders and their families,” Prof Parfitt said.
WAVES has helped hundreds of current and former serving military personnel and first responders and we look forward to sharing the impact sport and recovery will continue to have on our service personnel.
