Part-time psychologist services Lavarack

A SINGLE psychologist working just two days per week currently services the thousands of military personnel based at Lavarack Barracks.

Commander of the 3rd Combat Brigade Brigadier Kahlil Fegan was questioned about the adequacy of heath services as the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide began its nine-day hearing in Townsville.

Brigadier Fegan (pictured right) commands an estimated 3000 soldiers who are first in line to rapidly deploy to protect Australia. To ensure troops are ready at a moment’s notice the brigade must maintain the highest training readiness in the country.

Another estimated 2000 troops, who belong to other units, are also based at Lavarack Barracks.

Counsel assisting, Kevin Connor, asked the brigadier if he thought the wait of up to eight weeks for personnel to see a part-time psychologist was adequate to service the estimated 5000 troops at the base.

In a startling admission, the experienced military man said the set-up was not adequate when soldiers were preparing for deployment or had recently returned, but was probably “as good as we are able to get” in normal times.

“In those circumstances (high tempo), at those times, I don’t think it is adequate,” he said

During his evidence the brigadier was asked about cultural pressures inside Defence that stopped some people seeking medical attention for mental or physical issues.

He said some people did not seek treatment in case it impacted their potential to be selected for deployment and that lengthy waits to secure appointments also stopped people seeing a doctor.

This is critical in Townsville where more than one third of the army’s deployable combat capability is based.

“Our men and women, who are predominantly young and professional … are highly motivated when there is a probability of being able to deploy and serve our nation,” he said.

“Are people incentivised to hide potential problems? There could be an element of truth to that.”

But the brigadier said that a new generation of soldiers coming up in the ranks were more comfortable with raising concerns.

He said at any given time, about 15 per cent of soldiers within the brigade were medically downgraded for physical or mental injuries but estimated a four to eight-week wait for an appointment.

“One of the frustrations is how long it takes to get an appointment if it is not a priority issue,” he said.

“(Troops) know they are not going to necessarily be able to get the assistance unless in the case of an emergency,” he said.