VETAFFAIRS ISSN 0819-8934
DVA’S FREE NEWSPAPER FOR AUSTRALIA'S VETERAN COMMUNITY
CELEBRATING
Vol. 40 No. 3 DECEMBER 2024
40 YEARS!
Government response to the Royal Commission
into Defence and Veteran Suicide On 2 December 2024, the Government responded to Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, accepting the overwhelming majority of its recommendations. T he Gover n ment ag reed or agreed-in-principle to 104 recommendations, noted 17 recommendations, and did not support one recommendation in part. The Government response is available on the DVA website. In responding to the Royal Commission’s Final Report, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel acknowledged the size and complexity of the tragic issue of Defence and veteran suicide, and the Government’s resolve to address it. The Government’s response marks the beginning of a substantial and long-term program of reform across Defence, DVA and the veteran support system. The Government will establish a new Defence and Veterans Services Commission – a new statutory entity to oversee enduring and systemic reform. The Defence and Veterans Services Commission will provide independent oversight and evidence-based advice to improve suicide prevention and drive better outcomes for serving and ex-serving ADF personnel. An interim head will be appointed as soon as possible to work across Government toward the establishment of a legislated oversight body by 2025. To support the implementation of the Government’s response, a Taskforce will be established within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, drawing on expertise from across Government, to consider matters of detailed implementation. The Government has also provided funding to DVA to co-design with the veteran community a new agency focused on veteran
DVA services during the holiday season
wellbeing to be established within DVA (recommendation 87), and to continue consultation on a new national peak body for ex-service organisations (recommendation 89). This work will begin soon. The Government has already acted on the Royal Commission’s Interim Report, including: • int roducing leg islat ion to simplify and harmonise the veterans’ rehabilitation and compensation system • eliminating the backlog of 42,000 unallocated claims identified by the Royal Commission • improv ing the administration of DVA claims systems, including through streamlined medical forms, the introduction of claims-screening teams, and improvements to the MyService portal • improving access to information held by DVA and Defence. Since the Interim Report, the increased rate of DVA decision-making enabled by additional departmental resourcing has supported a significant increase in the entitlements paid to veterans and veteran families. The 2024–25 Budget included an additional $6.5 billion for income support and compensation over five years from 2023–24 through to 2027–28, of which $2.2 billion was paid in 2023–24. Along with the Government response, Defence and DVA have released the Exposure Draft of the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Consultation on the draft opens early 2025 for a 6-week period. You will be able to provide feedback by answering specific questions in the exposure draft survey or uploading a written submission in the submission portal. More information is available on the DVA website. (See the article on page 5.) The Government has also released the Veteran Transition Action Plan to accompany the Veteran Transition Strategy launched last year, supporting our serving men and women as they transition from ADF service to civilian life. (See article on page 5.) DVA acknowledges all those who contributed their invaluable lived experience and insights to the Royal Commission’s inquiry. We are committed to making the most of this opportunity to achieve meaningful change and improve the wellbeing of Australia’s veteran community.
For support Always call 000 for support in an emergency. Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling is a national service that provides free mental health and wellbeing support to anyone who has served at least one day of continuous fulltime service in the ADF and their immediate families. Open Arms is available 24/7 call 1800 011 046 or go to www.openarms.gov.au
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs respects and gives thanks to all who have served in our Defence Force, and the families who support them.
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Horticulturally happy
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Prime Ministers’ National Veteran Employment Awards
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Timor-Leste 25th anniversary
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CONTENTS NEWS.............................................. 2–8 HEALTH & WELLBEING.................... 9–11 OPEN ARMS.................................. 12–13 FEATURES.....................................14–15 TRANSITION................................. 16–17 FAMILIES...................................... 18–20 DEFENCE NEWS.................................. 21 WIDOWS NEWS................................. 22 ESO NEWS ................................... 23–24 BOOKSHELF................................. 25–26 COMMEMORATIONS..................... 27–29 AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL........... 30 NOTICEBOARD.............................. 31–32