The
Turnbull Government will increase support for veterans
and ADF members, including an employment initiative to
support people moving from military service to civilian
life.
We
recognise that the transition from the services into
civilian life can be challenging for some members, and
we are committed to providing the required support to
re-enter the workforce. The Prime Minister will host the
first Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Initiative
in November – bringing together business leaders and
veterans to find ways to better use the valuable skills
and leadership of former service personnel into our
modern economy.
We will
ensure ADF members and veterans who face mental health
challenges, either during service or once they have left
the ADF, can access the mental health services they
require.
Today we
announce a review of suicide and self-harm prevention
services available to veterans and ADF members. The
National Mental Health Commission in conjunction with
clinical experts and a reference group comprised of
current and former members of Defence, will analyse the
effectiveness of existing suicide and self-harm
prevention services.
One suicide
is one too many, and as a society we must address mental
health issues together to find solutions. The Government
has already announced an additional $192 million to
tackle the mental health challenges across our
community.
In
preparing the Government’s response to the Senate
Inquiry into the Mental Health of Australian Defence
Force Members and Veterans, it became clear that this
was a complex issue that required a forensic examination
of how we tackle suicide and self-harm.
The review
of services for veterans and Defence personnel announced
today will build on this work by providing an
independent analysis of the services provided.
The
Government is announcing that in North Queensland - home
to a large veteran community - the first Suicide
Prevention Trial Site will be established. This will
occur through the North Queensland Primary Health
Network. As part of its work, the trial will focus on
veterans’ mental health.
This will
be one of 12 innovative, front-line trials in our fight
against suicide which will improve understanding of the
challenges and work to develop best-practice services
which we can be applied nationwide.
All of
these sites will incorporate a focus on veterans and
Defence personnel.
The review
will provide an interim report in December and a full
report in February next year.
It will
consider:
- The range
of services available to current and former serving
members and their families
- The
effectiveness of these services in supporting members
and their families while they serve, as they transition
from Defence to civilian life, and later in their
civilian life
- Any
duplication or gaps in current services and how they
might be addressed
- Any
barriers to current and former serving members accessing
services, taking into account cultural relevance,
availability of providers, employment, functional
capacity and degree of ill health
- The
extent to which former serving members utilise services
provided by other parts of government, ex-service
organisations, the private sector or non-government
organisations
- Whether
there is balance in the way in which the military
experience is understood by and communicated to the
Australian community, recognising the impacts that it
can have on the mental health of those who have served
but also the positive benefits that are derived from the
military experience
- The
reporting of and incidence of suicide amongst serving
and former serving ADF members compared to the broader
Australian community.
This review
in conjunction with our $6 million investment in the
Phoenix Australia Centenary Institute will improve our
understanding of mental health challenges and lead to
better treatment for our veterans and the wider
community.
Our
investments complement the $46.4 million for veterans
and Defence personnel to access free mental health
treatment announced in this year’s budget.
The
Government’s response to the Senate Inquiry on the
Mental Health of ADF Members and Veterans will be tabled
when Parliament resumes.
The
Government is funding the national rollout of an
alternative dispute resolution and case management
system that significantly cuts the time taken to process
claims.
The
Government has a responsibility to the men and women who
defend our liberties. The Government is committed to
action on veteran and ADF suicide and is working with
the wider veteran community to achieve this.
