The Albanese Government is launching Australia’s first-ever agency to combat suicide among serving and retired defence personnel, following through on the “most important recommendation” of a landmark probe. Source: News.com.au.
It has been just over a year since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide handed down its final report, marking the end of a three-year inquest that painted a horrific picture of institutional failures and widespread bullying and abuse.
Among the 122 recommendations made in the final report was a standalone body charged with preventing suicide.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission (DVSC) would be “a powerful champion” for personnel.
“The royal commission said creating an independent body to oversee reform was its most important recommendation,” Mr Keogh said in a statement.
“Today, less than a year after the Albanese government accepted that recommendation, it is up and running.
“Now, veterans and their families have a powerful champion in their corner with a sole focus on fixing what has been a broken system.
“The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission has a singular focus – to drive the reforms that, guided by the best evidence, will lower suicides and suicidality among current and ex-serving ADF members.”
With hearings right around the country, the royal commission revealed at least 1677 serving and former defence personnel took their own lives between 1997 and 2021 – more than 20 times the number killed in combat or military exercises over the same period.
It led commission chair Nick Kaldas to declare there had been a “catastrophic failure” in senior government and defence leadership.
The Albanese Government accepted 104 royal commission recommendations. It took a further 17 on notice and refused to back one.
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Labor launches new agency to combat veteran suicide in wake of royal commission (By Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer, News.com.au)
National FREE 24/7 Crisis Services: • Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au • Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au • Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au • MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78 www.mensline.org.au • Beyond Blue Support Service 1300 22 4636
