ROYAL COMMISSION: Hobart HEARING BLOCK 6 - SUMMARY
To keep you informed about the Hearings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, the RSL has prepared a summary of the Hobart Hearing Block, including the key themes examined so far and the actions of the League in response. The RSL will continue to provide these summaries periodically. The next Hearing Block will begin in Darwin on 17 October and will be livestreamed on the Royal Commission website.
The Royal Commission has so far received more than 1900 submissions and conducted 178 private sessions across the country. The RSL has had representatives present at all hearings and is listening to and acting on the evidence being presented.
During the eight days of the Hobart hearing block, the Commissioners heard testimony on a broad range of relevant issues, including:
The unique nature of challenges facing veterans in Tasmania, particularly regarding accessing adequate medical and support services
The importance of providing local services for local veterans
The RSL Tasmania-led effort to create a hub and spoke model of Veterans’ Hubs on the island, including the services to be provided through the model, the necessity of ESO partnership and collaboration, and the importance of providing wraparound care for veterans from the day they separate from the ADF
The Veterans Wellbeing Centres program, including the need for a sustainable funding model, the desirability of co-designing the centres with veterans and the local community, and how locations for the centres were chosen by the Federal Government
Ongoing reluctance of Defence members and veterans to seek help, particularly where services are not tailored to the veterans’ needs
The impact of Service on families, the difficulty in engaging families in Defence life and treatment for mental health issues
ADF recruiting practices, including recruitment standards and targets, retention, training, and separation
During the hearing block, the Royal Commission heard from representatives from RSL Tasmania, Tasmania Ministers for Veterans’ Affairs Guy Barnett, medical and trauma experts, representatives from Defence Force Recruiting, representatives from DVA, and National Mental Health Commissioner, Mr Allan Woodward.
The Hobart Hearings also heard impactful lived experience testimony. This included Senator Jacqui Lambie who said a back injury that resulted in her being medically discharged began a six-year battle with the Department of Veterans' Affairs for compensation, as well as debilitating pain and depression.
On 11 August 2022, the Royal Commissioners, presented the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to the Governor-General. The Interim Report lays out in detail what the Royal Commission has learnt in its first year of operation, while making some recommendations for urgent reform. These include:
Calling for legislative reforms to simplify and harmonise the veteran entitlement system
Urgent and immediate steps to fix problems with the processing of claims for veterans
Urging the Federal Government to provide the resources necessary to allow DVA to do reduce the backlog of claims
Several measures targeted at increasing protections for those who wish to engage with the Royal Commission
Improve access to information for the Royal Commission, Defence members, veterans, and the public
The RSL is committed to working with government, the ESO sector and veterans to coordinate the response needed to minimise risk of suicide and maximise the wellbeing of Australia’s Defence member and Veteran community.
Some of the work being undertaken by the RSL to engage with the Royal Commission and address the issues it identifies includes:
Participating in the Royal Commission’s Stakeholder Reference Group, which discusses systemic, cultural, and structural issues that can contribute to suicide by serving and ex-serving Defence members
Drafting and submitting an Interim Submission to the Royal Commission, building on the evidence examined in Public Hearings and the Stakeholder Reference Group
Implementing the RSL Australia Mental Health Initiative in partnership with Open Arms
Developing a Catalogue of Services application, which will help connect Veterans and their families with local service
Helping to expand the nationwide network of Veterans Wellbeing Centres
The RSL has been working closely with its national network, states and sub-branches to provide ongoing support to veterans and families throughout the process of the Royal Commission.
If you are thinking about testifying, need support after listening to hearings or reading the media, or any other kind of help, the RSL NSW Royal Commission Office can provide support or direct you to the appropriate support for your needs. The Office’s contact details are submissions@rslnsw.org.au or 0499 441 291.
If you, or someone you know, needs mental health support, you can contact:
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Open Arms (current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families are able to seek this free and confidential support) – 1800 011 046
ADF Mental Health All-hours Support Line (for current serving ADF personnel and their families) – 1800 628 036.
Safe Zone Support (for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families) – 1800 142 072. When you call Safe Zone Support, you do not need to identify yourself if you do not wish to.
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The next hearings will be held in Darwin from the 17th October