DVA Tell Your Story: Kahlil Fegan DSC AM — Transition, Entitlement, and Belonging
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Episode Overview
In this episode of Tell Your Story, we speak with Kahlil Fegan DSC AM, Australia’s Repatriation Commissioner, who reflects on his journey from growing up in a military family to serving in senior leadership roles supporting veterans and their families.
Kahlil shares insights from his own military career, the challenges of transitioning from service to civilian life, and the importance of proactive engagement during periods of change. This conversation emphasises entitlement, transition as a process, seeking support, and the strength of the veteran community, offering reassurance and guidance to veterans and those who support them.
Listen to the conversation
About the organisation and association
The Repatriation Commission is a statutory body responsible for determining compensation and benefits for veterans and their families under Australia’s veterans’ legislation. The role of Repatriation Commissioner is deeply embedded in Australia’s veteran history and plays a critical part in upholding entitlements and supporting wellbeing across the veteran community.
As Repatriation Commissioner, Kahlil Fegan DSC AM brings lived experience, leadership, and a strong understanding of both service and transition. In this episode, he speaks openly about the importance of having the right conversations early, seeking help when needed, and ensuring veterans and families feel supported rather than isolated when engaging with systems and services.
Key links & resources
🌐 Department of Veterans’ Affairs: https://www.dva.gov.au/
📘 Repatriation Commission: https://www.dva.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/the-repatriation-commission
📄 Veteran transition support: https://www.dva.gov.au/what-we-help-with/leaving-the-adf-and-moving-into-civilian-life/transition-to-civilian-life
Key themes discussed
Military family life and identity
Service and leadership experiences
Transitioning from military to civilian life
Entitlement and access to support
The importance of proactive engagement
Community, belonging, and peer connection
Key takeaways
Key reflections and insights from this conversation include:
The role of Repatriation Commissioner is steeped in Australian veteran history.
Growing up in a military family can strongly shape identity and career choices.
Transitioning from military to civilian life can be daunting and requires support.
Proactive engagement is essential for a successful transition.
Veterans possess valuable skills that are highly desirable in the civilian workforce.
Seeking help and not navigating transition alone is critical.
Many trusted resources exist to assist veterans with claims and entitlements.
Veterans do not need to pay for advice when submitting claims — free support is available.
Maintaining balance between work and personal life is important for mental health.
The veteran community provides strong connection, support, and a sense of belonging.
Selected sound bites
Moments from the conversation that capture key themes and reflections:
“Transitioning from service is a process, not an event.”
“Skills and values cultivated in uniform are highly transferable — but counting on them alone isn’t enough.”
“It’s really important and a great cause.”
“It’s their entitlement, not someone else’s.”
Episode chapters
This episode covers the following topics:
00:00 Introduction and background
01:09 Military family and early life
03:53 Military career and experiences
18:12 Current role and responsibilities
23:39 Advice for veterans and transitioning service members
About the Tell Your Story project
Tell Your Story is a Department of Veterans’ Affairs supported storytelling project amplifying lived experience across the veteran community through respectful, recorded conversations.
If this conversation raises difficult topics, support is available through services such as Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (1800 011 046).
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