RESCUE MISSION DAMNING REPORT EXPOSES DVA FAILURES
No time to lose, says support manager
A TOWNSVILLE-BASED ex- service organisation is calling for prompt action from the Federal Government following a long- running inquiry into veteran suicides.
The bipartisan Senate committee report, tabled in parliament late on Tuesday, made 24 recommendations to tackle the issue after receiving more than 450 submissions.
Townsville-based Mates4Mates was one of the organisations that handed in a submission to the Senate References Committee Report into Suicide by veterans and ex- service personnel.
Mates4Mates general manager of operations Suzanne Desailly welcomed the report findings but said the recommendations needed to be acted upon “with urgency”.
“Veteran suicides are happening so this isn’t something the Government should be pondering over for too long,” Ms Desailly said.
“The recommendations have been tabled, now we need to see them acted upon.”
Ms Desailly said some of the suggestions put forward by Mates4Mates in their submission had been accepted as recommendations.
“One of our recommendations that came to fruition is ensuring that clinicians who are working with veterans receive adequate training to understand the veterans’ experience,” she said. “Another recommendation that the committee accepted was around the acknowledgment of some of the more complimentary therapies that are out there. We have an equine program that uses the horse as a conduit to recovery.”
Ms Desailly said the committee also acknowledged the importance of social connec- tion for veterans and how important it was for partners of veterans to be part of the healing process.
“The committee made a recognition of how important it is for veterans to have that social connection during that transition process from military to civilian life,” she said.
“( It) also acknowledged that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs invest more on programs and support for partners of veterans.”
Committee chair Labor senator Alex Gallacher said the inquiry had heard harrowing evidence from current and
SOME OF THESE PERSONAL STORIES HAVE BEEN HARD TO READ. IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THE TRAUMA OF LIVING THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES DESCRIBED COMMITTEE CHAIR SENATOR ALEX GALLACHER
former service members who described their self- harm and suicide attempts.
It had heard from widows, parents and friends who shared stories of tragic loss.
“Some of these personal stories have been hard to read,” Senator Gallacher said.
“It is difficult to imagine the trauma of living through the experiences described.”
The report recommends government funding for a range of services and suicide prevention programs for veterans, including a trial program to provide assistance animals for those suffering post- traumatic stress disorder.
It recommends the Government set up a bureau of veterans’ advocates to represent veterans and establish an independent review to determine whether vulnerable veterans are adequately protected when dealing with the Veterans’ Review Board.
It also recommends the Government establish a veteran suicide register and ask the Productivity Commission to review the compensation and rehabilitation system. There are several recommendations aimed at improving processes within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan said the Government would carefully consider the report and respond soon.
Senator Gallacher said modern veterans were more likely to die from suicide and self- harm than overseas operation service.
“Unfortunately, the effort to address suicide in the vet- eran community is likely to be a struggle that has no endpoint,” he said.
Senator Jacqui Lambie, who instigated the inquiry, called on veterans to unite and pressure the Federal Government to implement the committee’s recommendations as soon as possible.