Royal Commission: RSL Wagga Wagga Hearing Summary
Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
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 Wagga Wagga Hearing Block, including the key themes examined so far and the actions of the League in response. RSL NSW will continue to provide these summaries periodically. The next Hearing Block will begin in Perth on 15 May 2023 and will be livestreamed on the Royal Commission website.
The Royal Commission has so far received close to 3000 submissions and conducted 258 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 four days of the Wagga Wagga hearing block, the Commissioners heard testimony on a broad range of relevant issues, including:
The importance of ADF training facilities for instilling the desired culture and ethics of the ADF into recruits and trainees
ADF recruiting practices, including recruitment standards and targets, retention, training, and separation
Ongoing issues relating to data and reporting, including the inability of ADF Chain of Command to receive information required to effect reform
Issues with the ADF medical system
The importance of providing local services for local veterans
During the hearing block, the Royal Commission heard from representatives of various ADF training facilities, including the Commanding Officer of RAAF Base Wagga, the Commanding Officer of 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka, the Commanding Officer, Royal Australian Navy Recruit School, and the Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy. They also heard from Dr Robert Worswick, a medical doctor and former serving member on the impact of recruiting standards on health and wellbeing.
The Wagga Wagga Hearings heard impactful lived experience testimony.
The Royal Commissioners were also invited to visit the Riverina Veteran Wellbeing Centre, run by RSL NSW’s charity partner, RSL LifeCare. This was a valuable opportunity to discuss the challenges of service provision, the wellbeing of veterans and their families, and ex-service organisation (ESO) collaboration. The RSL will continue to work closely with the Royal Commission to help guide their work and inform their recommendations.
The Royal Commission will continue throughout 2023, with the first Public Hearing Block to be held in May in Perth, before visiting Adelaide and Melbourne in the second half of the year. The Commissioners will focus on conducting roundtables, private sessions, Stakeholder Reference Groups, and releasing several Special Reports before the Perth block.
The Royal Commission will accept submissions until Friday, 13 October 2023. The Royal Commissioners continually emphasise the importance of submissions to informing their work. A final report, and the Royal Commissioners’ recommendations, are due to Parliament no later than 17 June 2024.
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 support 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
Organising a National Forum for ESOs to discuss the findings of the Royal Commission and ways of working together to address the issues outlined by the Commission on an ongoing basis
Continuing to draft and submit submissions 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
Launching the Veterans’ Catalogue, which helps connect Veterans and their families with local services
Helping to expand the nationwide network of Veterans Wellbeing Centres
Implementation of a nationwide research project to capture a broad range of insights from the Australian veteran community. Learnings will be used to inform RSL’s future strategy and support offering to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the veteran community.
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 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 can 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.