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The Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit has brought together several key stakeholders to Parliament House to try and improve services and support to former Defence personnel.
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The summit was chaired by the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester, and focused on “extra steps that can be taken to improve veterans’ mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention”.
“As a federal government, we are determined to put veterans and their families first, which is why I’m convening the Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit this Wednesday,” Minister Chester said.
“It’s an opportunity to take stock of current programs and assess what else can be done to improve mental wellbeing of veterans.
“While we have already expanded access to free counselling, and introduced new payments to ensure veterans submitting mental health claims have financial support while their claims are being considered, it’s important to constantly assess the government’s strategy.”
The summit is the first stage of a structured engagement with ex-service organisations, veterans, families and service providers over the coming months, which the Department of Veterans Affairs described as “a great opportunity for stakeholders to continue working with the federal government on veteran matters of great importance”.
“I will also be working through the government’s approach to veterans’ mental health and wellbeing with my federal ministerial colleagues,” Minister Chester said.
“State and territory governments also have a vital role to play, and mental health will be a focus at the Veterans Ministers Council meeting in August.
“The Prime Minister has made it clear that mental health will be a core focus of this government, and he has already announced several initiatives aimed at suicide prevention and mental wellbeing in the wider community.
“It is a sad and complex issue which costs Australia more than 3,000 people each year, and when it comes to veteran suicide, the only acceptable number for me is zero – the only acceptable number for the Australian people is zero.
“We need to keep working together to improve mental wellbeing and prevent suicide throughout Australia.”
