Who You Are
Legatees are characteristically people who are empathetic, understanding, non-judgemental and knowledgeable.
Become a Legatee
Support your local community by becoming a member of Legacy, known as a ‘Legatee’.
Register your interestCarry on a proud tradition
By becoming a Legatee, you will become a part of Legacy’s proud traditions and actively live its values. These traditions and values have been passed on from generation to generation of Legatees in caring for the families of veterans.
Who are Legatees?
Legatees are the backbone of Legacy and deliver the vast majority of our services. A Legatee is a volunteer member who makes a personal commitment to assist the families of those who gave their lives or health in service to their country.
The majority of Legatees are veterans who recognize the military service values, culture and commitment of Legacy in serving the families of their mates. Legacy also values mature members of the general community as Legatees who can bring broad-based life skills and empathy in caring for the Legacy families.
Why join us?
Legatees are individually assigned to the partners and children of veterans who have lost their lives or health. You can be there personally for these individuals who need it most.
How you will help
The role of a Legatee can vary with each family or individual, although ultimately Legatees serve to ensure Legacy’s vision and mission is met.
Practical support
Legatees can help troubled or grieving widows and families manage their personal administration including engagement with government departments and contractors providing home services, and practical support to ensure their financial and social welfare.
Social activities
Legatees call and visit veterans’ families as regularly as desired and also attend functions with other Legatees.
Mentorship
Often a family needs some advice, or a listening ear. As a Legatee, you can help a family navigate through difficult times.
Advocacy
As a Legatee, you will help ensure a family or individual receives as much support as possible from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Legacy and other related organisations.
Skills and Qualifications
Legatees will bring relevant skills from the broader community and ideally have recent military service experience. All Legatees are respectful of military service values, culture and commitment. There are no rank hierarchies in Legacy and all Legatees are equal.
The role of a Legatee can vary with each family or individual, although ultimately Legatees serve to ensure Legacy’s vision and mission is met through conscientious support in the form of personal service. This includes assisting war widow(er)s, partners and families of veterans to gain their appropriate entitlements and support services.
Assist
Guide and advise
Aid and help facilitate support
Time Commitment
The extent of commitment is entirely up to each Legatee’s availability and willingness.
Of course, the more you get involved, the more rewarding you will find the role.
Location
Legacy operates on both a national and state level, with 44 Legacy Clubs throughout Australia.
As a Legatee, Legacy will do as much as possible to assign you to the family of a veteran convenient to your place of residence.
Orientation, training and support
There are currently approximately 3600 Legatees throughout Australia, some having served Legacy for more than 50 years. You will be inducted and mentored by an experienced Legatee who will provide you with the appropriate training and preparation.
A prerequisite of the induction process includes providing character references, as well as undertaking a mandatory Working with Children check and a National Criminal History check. Legacy welcomes all volunteers regardless of race, gender or sexuality. Share values and commitment are paramount in becoming a Legatee.
It’s a simple process and your experienced Legatee ‘buddy’ will be there to help along the way.
Sign up today
If you would like to contribute to your local community by bringing compassion, sensitivity and caring support to others, then you’re just what we’re looking for.
Learning the ropes
Experienced Legatees will provide you with the appropriate training and preparation. They’ll also provide you with all the information, support and mentoring you need.
Commitment and availability
The extent of your commitment is entirely up to your availability and willingness. Of course, the more you get involved, the more rewarding you will find the role.
The process
If you decide that becoming a Legatee is for you, you will undertake a formal induction process. A prerequisite of this process includes providing character references as well as undertaking a mandatory Working with Children check and a National Criminal History check (these requirements might vary depending on state or territory). Don’t worry, it’s a simple process and we’ll be there to help you along the way.
Become a Legatee
If you would like to contribute to your local community by bringing compassion, sensitivity and caring support to others, then Legacy would love to hear from you.
To express your interest in becoming a Legacy Legatee, simply click the button below.
FAQs about becoming a Legatee
For a hundred years Legacy has been the iconic Australian charity caring for the families of military veterans who have given their lives, or their health, in service to their country.
Legatees are the volunteers who support veterans’ families.
No! Legacy is quite independent as a charity and there are no ranks nor military hierarchies – all Legatees are equal.
Legacy assigns a Legatee to each family to ensure that the family does not suffer socially or financially from the loss of life or health of their loved one.
Legatees become mentors to families and are there to provide support where a family might be struggling and needs assistance.
Each family’s circumstances may differ but the Legatee may be called upon to deal with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other government agencies, to be a good listener and provide guidance on the practical day-to-day challenges of juggling work, health, finances and maintaining a safe family home. A significant role is to ensure that the Legacy widow or family is not socially isolated nor left behind.
Legatees are assigned to, and inducted into a Legacy Club, near to where they reside. Legatees are given training and backup to undertake their support role.
As much, or as little, as is practical and possible – even an hour a week can be helpful.
Legacy is looking for mature members of the community – with practical life skills, and a strong sense of community spirit and service. In particular, Legacy is seeking new Legatees who come with a veterans’ service experience.
A Blue Card or Working With Children and/or Vulnerable People Card is required.
You can find out more by emailing [email protected] or filling out this online form.
