In this month's edition of Fighting for Justice, we discuss The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
This Commission has exposed the critical failures in supporting our veterans, with many being left without proper mental health care, leading to tragic rates of suicide. Our firm proudly contributed to this inquiry, advocating for much-needed reforms.
Read about our firm's other work in Royal Commissions in Australia.
The Royal Commission
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has shone a bright, and often painful, light on the systemic failures that have deeply affected our veteran community. After hearing the harrowing stories of families and veterans struggling for support, this inquiry has delivered its final report—a roadmap for change and a chance to right these wrongs.
Our law firm was privileged to play a part in this Royal Commission, advocating for veterans and their families, ensuring their voices were heard, and pushing for the systemic reforms they so desperately need. This was not just a matter of policy—it was about people, real lives, and preventing further loss.
Why the Royal Commission Was Needed
The catalyst for the Royal Commission was an escalating crisis that had gripped the Australian veteran community for years: suicide. From 2001 to 2019, over 400 veterans and serving Defence personnel tragically took their own lives. For too long, these deaths were treated as isolated incidents rather than a national emergency. Veterans, their families, and advocates demanded action. They wanted to know why so many of those who served their country were being failed when they needed support the most.
The Royal Commission was formed in 2021, and its mission was clear: investigate the systemic causes of veteran suicide and recommend urgent reforms. Over its course, the Commission heard from veterans, family members, and experts, each testimony painting a devastating picture of gaps in mental health services, lengthy compensation processes, and an often indifferent bureaucracy.
The final report from the Royal Commission lays out a series of shocking findings, revealing the ways in which veterans have been let down by the very institutions meant to support them.
1. Inadequate Mental Health Support
Veterans frequently found themselves waiting too long for mental health services, with inconsistent care and too few specialised services available. Veterans suffering from PTSD, depression, and anxiety described long delays in accessing care, often worsened by a culture that stigmatises mental health issues within the Defence Force. Many felt abandoned in their darkest moments, left to navigate an underfunded and overwhelmed system.
2. Compensation Delays
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) was singled out for its slow and cumbersome compensation process. Veterans shared stories of waiting years to have their claims resolved—years in which financial pressures mounted, worsening their mental health. The bureaucratic delays and lack of support often left veterans feeling like they were battling a system that was supposed to help them.
3. The Difficult Transition to Civilian Life
Transitioning out of the military is a pivotal moment for veterans. However, the Commission found that current transition support was not nearly enough. Many veterans reported feeling adrift, lacking the coordinated services they needed to secure employment, housing, or mental health support. This failure to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life contributed to feelings of isolation and despair, compounding their mental health challenges.
4. Stigma and Silence
A culture of silence around mental health persists in the Defence Force, with many veterans feeling that seeking help would harm their careers or make them seem weak. This stigma kept countless veterans from accessing care when they needed it most, with tragic consequences.
5. Neglected Families
The Royal Commission also highlighted how families of veterans—who are often their first line of support—have been neglected by the current system. Families shared how they too suffered, facing their own mental health challenges and financial struggles, with little to no formal support available to them. They have reported feeling overwhelmed by the burden of caring for their loved ones while navigating the complex bureaucracy themselves.
A Path Forward: The Royal Commission's Recommendations
The Royal Commission's final report is more than just a reflection of past failures—it is a blueprint for the future. It presents a series of recommendations designed to overhaul how we care for veterans and their families, offering hope for long-overdue change.
1. An Independent Veterans' Support Agency
One of the key recommendations is the establishment of a standalone Veterans' Support Agency. This new agency would be responsible for managing mental health services, compensation claims, and transition support, ensuring that veterans receive the care they need in a timely and coordinated manner. By creating a dedicated body, the aim is to cut through the bureaucratic red tape that has left too many veterans waiting for support.
2. Reforming the Compensation System
The DVA's compensation system was identified as a major source of distress for veterans. The Commission called for an overhaul, streamlining the claims process and dramatically reducing the wait times for veterans to receive their entitlements. No veteran should have to fight the system for the help they are owed.
3. Expanding Mental Health Services
A significant increase in funding for mental health services was recommended, along with the need for more targeted, specialised care for veterans suffering from PTSD and other service-related mental health issues. Reducing stigma around seeking help must also become a priority, with the Defence Force adopting proactive measures to create a culture where mental health is openly discussed and addressed.
4. Better Transition Support
Veterans leaving the Defence Force must be given a comprehensive, coordinated support network that includes mental health care, employment assistance, and housing support. The Commission called for the creation of a system that recognises the unique challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life and gives them the tools to succeed.
5. Supporting Families
Recognising the critical role that families play in veterans' lives, the Royal Commission recommended providing formal support services to families. This includes counselling, financial assistance, and respite care, helping alleviate some of the burden they carry.
6. Accountability and Oversight
The Commission emphasised the importance of ongoing accountability. To ensure that these reforms are not only implemented but effective, the report recommended regular progress reviews and the establishment of an independent body to oversee the changes.
The findings of the Royal Commission into Veterans' Suicide are undeniably tough to digest, but they offer a critical opportunity for change. As a law firm, we are committed to standing by veterans and their families, helping them navigate this complex and often frustrating system.
The recommendations in the Commission's report have the potential to reshape how we support veterans in Australia. But it's now up to the government and institutions like the DVA to act swiftly and decisively. These reforms are not just bureaucratic tweaks—they are lifesaving measures that could finally give veterans the care and respect they deserve.
Our veterans have sacrificed for their country; it's time for the country to do the same for them.
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