Veteran Keith Payne, the last living Australian recipient of the original Imperial Victoria Cross, has visited Greenslopes Private Hospital to tour the mental health unit named in his honour.
Read: Greenslopes Strengthens Veteran Care Legacy with Legacy House
The 92-year-old visited the hospital in August, where he was given a tour of the Keith Payne Unit and met patients and members of the hospital team. Among those he met were team members who were there when the unit opened in 1996.
“It was an honour to have veteran Keith Payne, the last living recipient of the original Imperial Victoria Cross and namesake of our Keith Payne Unit,” the hospital said in a post shared on Facebook.
A decorated Vietnam veteran
Mr Payne was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in Vietnam on 24 May 1969. At the time, Mr Payne was serving with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. He was commanding 212th Company of the 1st Mobile Strike Force Battalion when it came under attack from a North Vietnamese force of superior strength.
The Australian War Memorial records that, despite being wounded, Mr Payne organised a withdrawal and helped bring wounded soldiers to safety. His actions were recognised with the Victoria Cross, as well as several other military decorations. Mr Payne was the last Australian to receive the Victoria Cross under the Imperial Honours system.
In 1970, Queen Elizabeth II presented Mr Payne with the Victoria Cross aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia in Brisbane.
Mr Payne has continued to advocate for stronger mental health support for veterans. In April 2026, he called for a dedicated, Commonwealth-supported rehabilitation centre for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. He told the media that more needed to be done to support veterans dealing with PTSD and the transition to civilian life.
The Keith Payne Unit
The Keith Payne Unit at Greenslopes Private Hospital was opened in 1996, when Ramsay Health Care developed a modern mental health facility at the hospital.
Before then, psychiatric inpatient services at Greenslopes had been housed in one of the old pavilion ward blocks. The new facility offered inpatient and outpatient services, a day hospital and recreational areas.
Today, the Keith Payne Unit provides mental health services specifically for entitled veterans and war widows, specialising in post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions.
Read: Legacy House in Greenslopes Reaches Key Construction Milestone
The unit bears Mr Payne’s name and provides specialised mental health services for veterans and war widows. During his latest visit, Mr Payne toured the unit and met patients and staff. The hospital said the visit was an honour, with Mr Payne meeting patients and members of the team at the unit named after him.
Published 19-August-2026
