Building Excellence in Support and Training

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) program.  BEST aims to improve the quality of pension and compensation claims by contributing funds to ex-service organisations (ESOs) to assist members of the veteran and defence communities access pension and other entitlements.  BEST also assists ESOs in assisting clients to access a range of welfare services.  BEST grants are available to provide salary assistance for advocates, pension and welfare officers and support staff, and for computers, software, hardware, consumables and ongoing running costs.  A BEST grant is intended to be a contribution to costs incurred, not a full cost model.

BEST provides funding to ESOs for pensions, compensation and welfare work, to assist veterans, their dependants and past and present members of the Australian Defence Force, and their families. 

BEST aims to promote access to a range of welfare services and to improve the quality of pension and compensation claims.