Standing with Defence and veteran communities for change and accountability
As the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide held its Ceremonial Closing last week, it encouraged people across Australia to now ‘fight for our veterans’.
The three-year inquiry has been one of the most in-depth examinations of health and wellbeing. Through 5,889 submissions, nearly 900 private sessions and 346 witnesses, the Royal Commission has drilled into the cultural and systemic issues failing past and present Australian Defence Force members and their families, and are associated with the tragic rates of suicide and suicidality amongst serving and ex-serving Defence personnel.
The Commission’s Interim Report focussed on issues around Defence Force culture and transition from the Defence force into civilian life, and veteran compensation processes. The Final Report is expected to make further recommendations in these and other areas.
Mental Health Australia partnered with Suicide Prevention Australia and Relationships Australia to contribute several submissions to the inquiry and provide ongoing representation on the Stakeholder Reference Group.
Most recently, we facilitated a webinar for the mental health and suicide prevention sectors with Commissioner Brown on a publication: Shining a Light: Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope & Healing. This unique book honours the incredible contribution of people with lived experience and their families, carers and supporters to the Royal Commission, and offers greater insight to the broader Australian community about the sacrifices, extreme challenges, resilience and recovery made by many in our Defence Force.
This Royal Commission represents a significant examination of the role of government in addressing the cultural and systemic issues impacting on health and wellbeing. As Commissioner Brown indicated at the Ceremonial Closing: "We have at last heard senior Defence leaders acknowledge the nexus between service and the risk of suicide, and commit to change. We now need them to deliver on their newly gained insights, remembering their people are their greatest asset."
Commissioner Kaldas stated: "We call on this government and succeeding governments to finally take the courageous step of overruling bureaucratic inertia and doing what is needed, what is necessary and what is right."
Ongoing accountability for this change is essential. The Royal Commission has already flagged the need for a powerful new oversight body to monitor and report on the implementation of its recommendations. Mental Health Australia strongly supports the establishment of such a body. We look forward to the Australian Government’s response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations, following provision of the Commission’s Final Report to Government on Monday 9 September.
This is truly a moment in time for everyone who calls this country home to show solidarity with our Defence and veteran communities, in calling for change and accountability. We can be part of ensuring this Royal Commission leaves a legacy of action.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia | 
