The interim recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide focus on process and administration rather than supporting the families at the heart of the system. | OPINION by Renee Wilson, CEO of Australian War Widows NSW
At the opening of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in July 2021, chair Nick Kaldas made a promise to listen with empathy to all those affected by suicide, act with compassion and make a real difference to the lives of those serving, former ADF personnel and their families.
The 12-month backlog of claims is only one part of the problem of Defence and veteran suicides. The veterans’ system is outdated and in need of urgent reform. Hundreds of lives are at risk and the need for immediate action is now. Policymakers cannot afford to delay in helping this vulnerable community access the support and services it critically needs.
Instead, families are generally left alone to navigate incredibly complex systems and processes, to access support, entitlements, and treatment for their loved ones. Often, facing bureaucratic brick walls, they simply give up.
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