The defence force’s culture and commitment to supporting veterans has been called into question during the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. At a hearing into defence force suicide held in Adelaide on July 21, the royal commission was told of many issues faced by military service families. Head of military personnel, Major General Wade…
New Package Approved for Australian Veterans Support
Australian defence force families and veterans undergoing rehabilitation and full-time study will continue to receive higher welfare payments after the Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package Bill 2022 passed the Senate on Sept. 28. The Scheme, which expired in July 2022, will now be extended until July 2023 and backdated for August and September. Matt…
No More Reviews: Veteran Affairs Advocate Says Defence Force Needs Overhaul
It was customary for soldiers of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to “break in” their standard combat boots. “There were not many people who actually had to carry packs and equipment long distances who didn’t have to bash these boots in to make sure they didn’t hurt their feet,” said Heston Russell, a former special…
Veteran Homelessness, Suicide Ongoing Problems in Australia: Commission Hears
Australia is examining its handling of veteran affairs and is questioning senior public servants over issues such as suicide and support. Currently, the Royal Commission on Defence and Veteran Suicide is holding hearings in Tasmania for seven days—home to the most veterans per capita of any jurisdiction in Australia, with over 17,500 veterans. Kate Pope,…
37,000 Claims Await Processing at Australia’s Veteran Affairs
A recently unearthed report reveals that Australia is dealing with a huge backlog of compensation claims from servicemen and women. The Department of Veteran Affairs’ claims process diagnostic compiled by McKinsey Consulting revealed that as of December 2021, the Department was processing 17,000 claims, with another 37,000 on hold because the body did not have…
Soldiers Felt Like ‘Villains’ When Returning Home: Veteran Suicide Commission
Australian Lance Corporal Ryan Goodwin returned home from Afghanistan in 2012 with no welcome-home parade, no fanfare, and no support for the traumatic injuries he suffered. Tormented by the horrors of war and unable to seek help from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), Goodwin took his own life in December 2019. Goodwin’s family told his…
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