Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee - Mental health of Australian Defence Force members and veterans - Report March 2016

Impact summary

On 25 March 2015 the Senate referred the following matter to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 19 February 2016. On 2 February 2016, the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date for the inquiry to 29 February 2016, and then on 29 February 2016 agreed to further extend the reporting date to 15 March 2016. The terms of reference for this inquiry concerned the mental health of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who have returned from combat, peacekeeping or other deployment, with particular reference to: a. the extent and significance of mental ill-health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among returned service personnel; b. identification and disclosure policies of the ADF in relation to mental ill-health and PTSD; c. recordkeeping for mental ill-health and PTSD, including hospitalisations and deaths; d. mental health evaluation and counselling services available to returned service personnel; e. the adequacy of mental health support services, including housing support services, provided by the Department of Veterans‘ Affairs (DVA); f. the support available for partners, carers and families of returned service personnel who experience mental ill-health and PTSD; g. the growing number of returned service personnel experiencing homelessness due to mental ill-health, PTSD and other issues related to their service; h. the effectiveness of the Memorandum of Understanding between the ADF and DVA for the Cooperative Delivery of Care; i. the effectiveness of training and education offerings to returned service personnel upon their discharge from the ADF; and j. any other related matters.
Recommendations related to the use of lariam (mefloquine) were included after testimony from Dr Quinn and others.

Impact date	28 Feb 2014 → 31 Mar 2016
Category of impact	Public policy Impact
Impact level	Adoption