Reflecting on ‘Shining a Light: Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope & Healing’
On 20 June, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released a book entitled ‘Shining a Light: Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope and Healing’ to bring to life the consolidation of many lived experience witnesses of the Royal Commission.
While some mentioned the help that they received through the Returned & Services League (RSL), others did not report a positive experience. As an organisation and Australia's leading ex-service organisation, we shouldn’t shy away from the experiences outlined in this report.
An ethos of mateship, compassion, and service has always been the motivating influence of the League, and right across Australia, our 147,000+ members are dedicated to supporting the mission of helping current serving members and veterans of the Australian Defence Force enjoy better opportunities and outcomes in all aspects of their lives.
The RSL is working hard at all levels every day and RSL Australia appreciates every member's dedication to this mission and all that they do to support veterans and their families in their local communities.
To ensure we continue to evolve to meet the needs of each generation of servicemen and servicewomen, we must take the opportunity this book offers to reflect and learn.
Some of the things we have heard from the personal experiences recorded in the book:
What we hear: Some younger veterans feel that the RSL is not for them. Some feel unwelcome. Some feel they are not listened to. Some feel the issues they face are not understood.
RSL’s response: The future of the League is in the hands of the younger generation. We welcome younger members and encourage all current and former service members to belong within the RSL. We are a collective of people dedicated to better outcomes for veterans. Anyone who is or has served in the ADF and would like to continue to contribute to the veteran community is welcome. The RSL is a democratic organisation. Each member makes a real contribution and can influence the direction of the League through their vote.
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What we hear: “What most vets want is to be able to maintain that camaraderie that only membership of the ADF can bring, and to be able to share their issues with someone who ‘gets it.’” Veterans also want mental health services and wellbeing services, support with advocacy claims, and support with transition to civilian employment.
RSL’s response: Staying connected to people who understand what you have been through is one of the most valuable supports an ADF member can have and one of the biggest benefits of joining the RSL. The RSL has over 1000 physical locations around Australia, allowing connections with other veterans in local communities. On top of that, the RSL offers support with transition from service-to-civilian life, including assistance finding meaningful employment, and connections to volunteer RSL advocates to help with DVA claims. RSL Sub-branches and State Branches offer many different opportunities for veterans to connect meaningfully with each other and their communities to improve wellbeing and enhance support circles. The RSL also introduces members to the services that RSL or partner ESOs provide to help veterans lead a full and connected life after service.
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What we hear: “Many authors have pointed out the risks associated with the proliferation of ESOs and VSOs, including duplication of services, one-off grants, lack of collaboration – even direct competition between them ‒ increased administration costs leading to inefficient use of resources, and confused messaging to veterans and the public”.
RSL Response: We agree. It’s confusing to know who to go to for help with so many Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs). That’s why the RSL led the National Forums for ESOs in 2022 and 2023, seeking to bring together ESOs and work together more closely to benefit veterans and their families. The final forum in October 2023 resulted in a submission on behalf of the ESOs presenting the insights for an ESO sector response to the establishment of an ESO Peak Body framework, as recommended by the Royal Commission in their Interim Report. We will continue to advocate for the establishment of a peak body for ESOs. We will also remain firm in our call for the Government to establish an independent implementation entity to ensure there is a sustained and permanent watch on the health and wellbeing of current and ex-serving ADF members and ensure independent oversight and monitoring of the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
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What we hear: We are perceived by some as just being about beers and pokies.
RSL Response: We recognise this, but we will continue to work to break this negative perception. The Returned & Services League hosts over 2,500 commemorative events each year honouring our servicemen and servicewomen. Across the year the RSL commits thousands of hours to support community and wellbeing services. RSL volunteer advocates spend hundreds of thousands of hours each year advocating for veteran compensation. Across the League the RSL spends millions on veterans’ welfare (learn more). We continue to endeavour to educate the public about the differences between RSL Sub Branches (the charity that supports veterans and their families) and RSL Clubs (licensed venues). It's a common misconception that all RSL clubs are owned and operated by the Returned & Services League. The majority of RSL Clubs are separate entities from the League.
We know many people shared their experiences to help inform the Commission's work in the hope of driving change across government and the Defence and veteran community. We thank these courageous individuals for sharing their experiences and we thank the Royal Commission for the opportunity this book has provided for the RSL to reflect on the support we offer to veterans and their families. When the Royal Commission releases the Final Report in September, the RSL will use the recommendations to chart our way forward and we will respond formally to the Final Report as we did with the interim report.
