ROYAL COMMISSION: TOWNSVILLE HEARING BLOCK 5 - SUMMARY
To keep you informed about the Hearings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, the RSL Royal Commission Office has prepared a summary of the Townsville Hearing Block, including the key themes examined so far and the actions of the League in response. RSL Australia will continue to provide these summaries periodically. The next Hearing Block will begin in Hobart on 1 August and will be live streamed on the Royal Commission website.
The Royal Commission has so far received more than 1800 submissions and conducted 137 private sessions across the country. The Royal Commissioners are due to submit their Interim Report on 11 August, with the report being tabled in Canberra in the same month. The Interim Report is expected to lay out in detail what the Royal Commission has learnt in its first year of operation.
During the nine days of the Townsville hearing block, the Commissioners heard testimony on a broad range of relevant issues, including:
The process of deployment, including screenings, critical incidents and support, information and support provided upon return
The potential long-term effects of deployment and the importance of prevention and early intervention for addressing these effects
The importance of culture, where a good culture fosters capability, while bad culture can erode it. The gaps between policy and implementation of cultural changes at the grassroots level was also examined
Delays for Defence personnel in gaining access to medical services, including the lengthy processes for conducting Defence investigations
The need for better qualitative analysis, and therefore data, regarding suicide and suicidality in the ADF
Issues with the effectiveness of ADF systems and processes in identifying members, particularly officers, who engaged in patters of unacceptable behaviour
Promotion processes and Defence responsibility for ensuring identified abusers are not promoted
The lack of legislative reform in veterans’ entitlements legislation and the lack of Government response to the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s report of 2019
The inadequate resources and effort from the previous Government to reduce the DVA claims backlog
The impacts of service in the ADF on First Nations members of Defence for the first time, including potential risk and protective factors, mechanisms for support, and efforts to embed cultural competency in the organisation
The gaps in service provision for veterans and their families, and the ESOs that have seen gaps and established services to address them
During the hearing block, the Royal Commission heard from former Ministers for Veterans’ Affairs Andrew Gee and Darren Chester, mental health experts, representatives from support organisations, former Chair of the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce, the Hon. Leonard Roberts-Smith, and members of the Australian Defence Force.
This included General Angus Campbell, Chief of the Defence Force, whose term has been extended for a further two years by the incoming government. Over the course of two days, General Campbell outlined some of the work the ADF is undertaking to address the issue of suicide among its members, while acknowledging the significant job left to do. General Campbell also strongly encouraged serving Defence members to come forward and engage with the Royal Commission and said he would seek action against any supervisor who would treat someone adversely because they were engaging with the Royal Commission.
The RSL is committed to working with the government, the ESO sector and veterans to coordinate the response needed to minimise the risk of suicide and maximise the wellbeing of Australia’s Defence members 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 services
Helping to expand the nationwide network of Veterans Wellbeing Centres
The RSL will continue to listen and seek insights from Veterans, Defence personnel, and their families to better understand their needs, and the role RSL can play in supporting them.
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 Hobart from the 1st of August.