About Gwen
She is the partner, mother, widow, daughter, granddaughter, niece, and cousin of veterans.
The Journey
Gwen Cherne was appointed as the inaugural Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner on the Repatriation Commission on 6 August 2020. On 2 March 2021 she was appointed a member of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. Gwen is a statutory independent office holder of the Commonwealth and her advocacy work spans issues such as veteran families, health care, mental health, suicide prevention, housing and homelessness, aged care, child care, incarceration, family and domestic violence and education. She has lived experience of military family life, supporting those with mental health issues and family and domestic violence.
Media
Gallery
About Gwen's Work
Gwen's career has taken her all around the world.
Her career has taken her all around the world including Afghanistan, Africa, the United States, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, working with other nations on stability, relief, and development for youth, women, and families living in crisis and extreme poverty. Gwen spent three years in and out of Afghanistan doing stabilisation and reconstruction work with multinational partners. Since then, Gwen has continued her work with international partners on policy, research, development and strategic operations.
Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner
Gwen’s expertise is in working with local communities and ensuring their voices are heard and understood at the federal level to affect real, tangible change.
Repatriation & Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commissions
She has successfully advocated for systemic change of support structures for families in her local community and beyond.