Pair to lead charge with peer support
townsvillebulletin. com. au/ GreatNightIn TWO Townsville veterans who faced challenges transitioning out of the army have been hired to help lead the development of an Australianfirst peer mentoring program.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan will today announce the establishment of a Peer Mentor Network in Townsville that will assist current and former Australian Defence Force personnel recover from a mental health condition.
It comes little more than 12 months after Mr Tehan met veterans participating in another first- of- its- kind peer- topeer initiative delivered through the Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland with in- kind support from Mates4Mates.
As part of the new network, Townsville veterans Andrew Dyer and Tim Loch have been appointed full- time community and peer advisers as part of the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service Community Coordination pilot.
Mr Dyer was in the army until discharging in July after 25 years as an infantry soldier and most recently a rehabilitation Warrant Officer.
“With my background, experience and my own issues along the track, I thought I could make a difference and help my fellow soldiers,” he said. “I think peer- to- peer help definitely has a place among all the services in Townsville … because having mates with similar experiences I have found helpful so I want to do the same for others.” Mr Loch was injured when an improvised explosive device detonated in 2009 while he was serving in Afghanistan with the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment.
“I had to go through a whole livelihood change with my physical injuries and the mental ones that can come as a result of that,” he said.
“I did have dramas with al- cohol, relationships, finding meaningful employment, including while still serving, and I believe that’s where I can assist people most.”
Mr Tehan said the new Peer Mentor Network would support the work of the Townsville Suicide Prevention Trial Site, also known as Operation Compass, with the trial’s advisory committee to contribute to informing the structure and priorities of the Network.
“The Network will see trained, volunteer Peer Mentors, who have experienced a mental health condition, matched with veterans who are at the beginning of their recovery,” Mr Tehan said.
“A mentor who has experienced the defence forces and the challenges of a mental health issue can provide valuable support to what has been established with the support of VVCS along with collaboration from local ex- service organisations.”
The network will look to hold its first meeting in early December with a full program to begin early next year.
For anyone interested in the Peer Mentor Network, please contact the VVCS Townsville office on 4723 9155.