Abstract
Purpose: To analyse the influence of ADF institutional “greediness”, culture of injury stigmatisation, and gender on veteran length of delay between discharge and initiation of a service related injury claim with an RSL-SA compensation advocate.
Method: Sample data analysis of 30 South Australian veterans that engaged with the RSL-SA advocacy service in 2021.
Results: The sample delayed x̅ 19.9 years before seeking assistance from an advocate. Longer periods of delay were found in veterans that are male, voluntarily discharged, and disclosed the inclusion of a physiological injury.
Findings: By applying Lewis Coser’s theory of ‘greedy institution’ (1974), it has been purported that the ADF’s greediness, and culture of injury stigmatisation, have converged to influence veteran avoidance in being identified as injured, and their reluctance to seek help from an RSL-SA compensation advocate. Additionally, the higher length of service in male personnel, and their corresponding greater exposure to these influences, has produced an elevated length of delay in male veterans across all variables when compared to their female counterparts.
Conclusions: The ADF, and the values and beliefs embedded within its culture, would appear to have had a long-lasting impact on its personnel. This can influence veteran delays in seeking advocacy support, submitting an injury claim, and gaining access to DVA-funded assistance. These delays can have harmful implications, including unnecessarily prolonged psychological distress, worsened injuries, and an elevated suicide risk. However, further research is needed to improve understanding on the effect the military institution has on veteran patterns of delay.
Method: Sample data analysis of 30 South Australian veterans that engaged with the RSL-SA advocacy service in 2021.
Results: The sample delayed x̅ 19.9 years before seeking assistance from an advocate. Longer periods of delay were found in veterans that are male, voluntarily discharged, and disclosed the inclusion of a physiological injury.
Findings: By applying Lewis Coser’s theory of ‘greedy institution’ (1974), it has been purported that the ADF’s greediness, and culture of injury stigmatisation, have converged to influence veteran avoidance in being identified as injured, and their reluctance to seek help from an RSL-SA compensation advocate. Additionally, the higher length of service in male personnel, and their corresponding greater exposure to these influences, has produced an elevated length of delay in male veterans across all variables when compared to their female counterparts.
Conclusions: The ADF, and the values and beliefs embedded within its culture, would appear to have had a long-lasting impact on its personnel. This can influence veteran delays in seeking advocacy support, submitting an injury claim, and gaining access to DVA-funded assistance. These delays can have harmful implications, including unnecessarily prolonged psychological distress, worsened injuries, and an elevated suicide risk. However, further research is needed to improve understanding on the effect the military institution has on veteran patterns of delay.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 59 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
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De-identified Data of 150 South Australian Veterans entering the RSL-SA Advocacy Support Program in 2021
Prevett, A. (Creator) & Morrissey, M. (Supervisor), Andrew Prevett, 01 Jun 2022
DOI: 10.26189/fn2y-5y17
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