The first Kookaburra Kids Foundation camp for children of current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) families affected by mental illness will take place this weekend. The camp will give the children the opportunity to have fun in a supportive environment while also learning about mental illness and developing coping and resilience skills. More than […]

The Post War Survive to Thrive Online Course is an eight module, personal development coaching program. It was developed from first-hand military experience by Dane Christison (RAR) of learning to survive and thrive with post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression. It also helps a participant understand, adapt, and overcome the impact of transitioning from military to civilian […]

Increased risk of attempted suicide in Australian veterans is associated with total and permanent incapacitation, unemployment and posttraumatic stress disorder severity. You can read the full paper on suicide amongst veterans conducted by Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation in conjunction with Toowong Private Hospital, and published this week in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of […]

Ministers from five countries, including Australia, will meet in London this week to explore challenges faced by contemporary veterans, and how governments can improve support services to help them achieve a fulfilling post-service life. Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Dan Tehan said the International Ministerial Conference on Veterans’ Issues would provide an opportunity to […]

Tehan Media Release – Response to National Mental Health Commission Review The Government is delivering improved mental health support for current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and their families. The Government today (30th June 2017) outlined the work it is doing on mental health and suicide prevention in its response to the National Mental […]

Suicide by veterans and ex-service personnel – Senate Inquiry Extended to 15 Aug 2017. In terms of setting expectations, the committee emphasises that it is not in a position to address individual claims of rehabilitation or compensation for veterans and ex-service personnel. The committee’s focus is on the broad issues raised in the terms of […]

A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) team is conducting an independent evaluation of DVA’s mobile application (app) PTSD Coach Australia with short phone interviews (20-30 minutes) and hands-on 2 hour workshops (for those in the South East Queensland area, clinicians awarded 2 CPD points). They are looking for serving and ex-serving Defence members, and mental health clinicians working with […]

This week on The CheckUp, Dr Ross Walker reveals the best drug in the world that’s OK to take in high doses. READ MORE

“As a community, we’ve started to turn our thoughts towards veterans who die by suicide. But who is paying attention to the silent distress of military families?” Psychologist Dr Gail MacDonell is an expert on the mental health of military partners. She is executive director of the Australian Families of the Military Research and Support […]

This SMH article by David Wroe 13 May 2017 is a must read coverage of the fight against military suicide ……”Amid soaring concern about veteran suicide and rising dissatisfaction and criticism – some of it fair, some likely less so – of the Department of Veterans Affairs, thriving communities of veterans are self-organising online.” “As […]