Veteran suicide royal commission
‘The enemy within’: Royal commission damns Defence for needless deaths
The landmark inquiry found current and former service personnel are 20 times more likely to take their own lives than to die in combat.
- by Matthew Knott
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Families' hopes Royal Commission will finally tackle veteran suicide
Julie-Ann Finney whose son David took his own life hopes the Royal Commission into veteran suicide will save lives.
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Defence
‘My life was destroyed’: Veteran suicide families speak out
With the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran suicide about to release its findings, six families disclose their heartbreak, their belief that the system let them down – and what they would like to see changed.
- by Tim Barlass
Everyone holds a picture: veteran suicide families’ hopes for the Royal Commission - vision
Julie-Ann Finney speaks about her son, Dave, his passing, his experience with The Australian Defence Force and her hopes for Royal commission outcomes.
After Pete’s Black Hawk helicopter crashed, he was lucky in more ways than one
Army sergeant Pete Rudland survived serious injuries and then got compensation for his treatment relatively easily. Many of our veterans aren’t looked after so well.
- by James Massola
Compensation payments spike by $9b with PTSD affecting more young veterans
A surge in veterans’ payments represents one of the biggest budget blowouts, alongside unexpected increases in disaster relief payments and childcare subsidies.
- by Matthew Knott
The Sydney Harbour shark attack that left Ashley with lifelong scars
Former navy diver Ashley Semmens used to be at home in the water. Now he cannot enter without a wave of fear coming over him.
- by Angus Thomson
Defence chief apologises ‘unreservedly’ for high suicide rates
The royal commission completed its final day of hearings on Thursday with the nation’s most senior military official providing evidence.Â
- by Matthew Knott
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Mental health
Serving Defence personnel face higher suicide risks, new research claims
Defence previously suggested that serving members of the military were better protected against suicide. That may not be true.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Defence blasted for ‘going through the motions’ on veteran suicides
Commissioner Nick Kaldas said veterans were still being driven to suicide because of deep-rooted flaws in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
- by Matthew Knott
Military veterans attack lack of support from charities
A former sergeant major who served in Iraq has blasted the support network offered by some government-backed service charities in a private hearing of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
- by Tim Barlass