The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
RSL Australia welcomes the Royal Commission and the opportunity it represents to address the devastating phenomenon of Defence and Veterans’ suicide in Australia.
The current Royal Commission marks the 58th inquiry into Defence and veteran suicide by Australian Governments. Australia must seize this opportunity to, once and for all, provide real improvement in the health and wellbeing of the men and women who serve and have served our nation. The cost of not doing so is too high.
RSL Australia is committed to working with the government, the ESO sector and veterans to coordinate the response needed to minimise the risk of suicide and maximise the wellbeing of Australia’s Defence members and Veteran community. The RSL participates in the Stakeholder Reference Group and has made a number of submissions (published below).
Australia’s veterans need – and deserve – immediate government action to address the many factors which lead to veteran suicides. The response to the Royal Commission’s Final Report, due in September 2024, can kickstart this change. The RSL will work to support the early implementation of all recommendations.
RSL Submissions
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Consultation Response: A new entity to support the wellbeing of Defence Members and Veterans
This paper provides RSL Australia’s response to the Royal Commission’s consultation paper Proposed new entity to promote the wellbeing of Defence members and veterans. It represents a consolidated response from across the League, including state and territory branches. It follows on from the RSL Australia March 2023 submission to the Royal Commission, Proposal for Implementation of Recommendations.
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Answering the call: An ESO informed response to a Sector Peak Body - Nov 2023
This submission is provided to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide on behalf of participants of the recent series of National Forums for Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs). It presents the insights for an ESO sector response to the establishment of an ESO Peak Body framework.
Note: The original submission indicated ADSO instead of RARC on pg. 32 and excluded the RARC logo, which has since been rectified. -
RSL Australia: Proposal for Implementation of Recommendations - Mar 2023
This submission provides RSL Australia’s response to the Royal Commissioners’ calls for feedback on the potential creation of a suitable entity with comprehensive oversight and powers to drive lasting reform to help reduce the incidence of suicide amongst serving and ex-serving ADF members.
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RSL Australia: Harmonisation of Legislation - Sep 22
The RSL strongly supports the need for harmonisation of veterans’ entitlements legislation. Our experience in providing claims advocacy services for veterans means the organisation is very aware of the unintended consequences of the complex array of legislation administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. We need to achieve an outcome that preserves benefits for veterans overall but also achieves a simplified, ‘user-friendly’ system to provide timely assistance to veterans in need.
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RSL Australia: Interim Report Response - Sep 2022
The urgent and immediate recommendations contained within the Interim Report released by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide are sensible, significant, and vital. RSL Australia fully supports the Commissioners’ calls for legislative reform, to improve claims processing at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and to increase protections for those engaging with the Royal Commission.
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RSL Australia: Interim Submission - June 2022
The RSL Submission builds on the evidence examined in Public Hearings by the Royal Commission and its Stakeholder Reference Group thus far and seeks to inform the recommendations of the Interim Report. It contains both recommendations that could be implemented immediately, and others with a view to the long-term.
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RSL Australia: Submission - November 2021
Building on the contribution of our State Branches and the interest, consideration, reflection and personal input of our membership, RSL Australia has provided a submission to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide identifying issues, risks and opportunities to improve the current landscape for Australia’s Defence Members and Veterans.
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Submission: Themes for the consultation - May 2021
Read the RSL submission on the themes for the consultation to inform the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
RSL Latest News
Read RSL media releases and the latest news articles relating to the Royal Commission
11 April 2024 - Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Hearings wind up - RSL reports
28 March 2024 - RSL commends those who appeared at the Royal Commission Hearings.
21 December 2023 - RSL Australia Calls for Establishment of Permanent and Independent Body to Monitor Wellbeing of Veterans, Defence Members, and their Families.
1 November 2023 - RSL Australia Welcomes GP’s Veteran Access Payment Increase
5 October 2023 - Deadline for Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Submissions Fast Approaching
5 October 2023 - Minister, Royal Commissions, Military Leader and Departmental Secretary to Address National Ex-Service Organisation Forum
15 August 2023 - RSL Australia calls for the establishment of a National Office and a Commissioner for veteran wellbeing
2 June 2023 - The National Forum for Ex-Service Organisations - A Summary
26 May 2023 - ESO Sector Continues its Push to Establish Peak Body to Support Veterans
22 May 2023 - Federal Budget Provides Joy for Veteran Community but More Remains to be Done
10 May 2023 - RSL Australia Welcomes Additional $328M Committed to Veterans in Federal Budget
2 May 2023 - RSL Australia Calls for More Veteran Support in Next Week’s Federal Budget
16 February 2023 - RSL Australia Welcomes Government’s Proposed Reform of Veteran Entitlement Legislation
8 February 2023 - RSL Australia Outlines Budget Wins for Government to Improve Veteran Healthcare and to Address Royal Commission Outcomes
14 December 2022 - Royal Commission: Wagga Wagga Hearing Block 8 Summary
18 November 2022 - The ESO Sector Comes Together to Pursue a National Peak Body For Veterans
9 November 2022 - The RSL Announces ESO Forum to Address Royal Commission
27 September 2022 - The RSL Welcome Governments Royal Commission Response and submits its own Interim Report Response
26 September 2022 - RSL Australia releases Interim Report Response and Harmonisation of Legislation document
16 August 2022 - Royal Commission Hobart Hearing Block - Summary
June 2022 - RSL submits an Interim Submission to the Royal Commission to inform the Interim Report
2 May 2022 - Royal Commission Canberra Hearing Blocks - Summary
31 March 2022 - Royal Commission Sydney Hearing Blocks - Summary
10 January 2022 - Interview with Nick Kaldas, chair of the Royal Commission
25 November 2021 - Pete Rudland to represent RSL Australia as ambassador and spokesperson at Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
25 November 2021 - Solutions Must be Found to Address Veteran and Defence Force Member Suicide
29 September - Latest report on veteran and ADF suicide timely
13 August 2021 - RSL Preparing Submission for Veteran Royal Commission
9 July 2021 – RSL Welcomes Appointment of Royal Commissioners
24 May 2021 – RSL Input to Consultation Themes for Royal Commission
19 April 2021 – RSL Commitment to the Royal Commission
26 March 2021 – RSL Fully Supports Royal Commission
WATCH the Hearings
Website: https://defenceveteransuicide.royalcommission.gov.au/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/roycommDVSRC
Hearing Blocks
Hearing Block 1, Brisbane, 29 November to 10 December 2021
Hearing Block 2, Sydney, 14-18 February 2022.
Hearing Block 3, Sydney, 7–17 March 2022
Hearing Block 4, Canberra, 4–14 April 2022
Hearing Block 5, Townsville, 20-30 June 2022
Hearing Block 6, Hobart from 1 August 2022
Hearing Block 7, Darwin from 18 October 2022
Hearing Block 8, Wagga Wagga from 28 November 2022
Hearing Block 9, Perth, from 15 May 2023
Hearing Block 10, Adelaide, from 17 July 2023
Hearing Block 11, Melbourne, from 28 August 2023
Hearing Block 12, Sydney, from 4 March 2024
Videos of the public hearings are available to view here.
Support
ADF Mental Health All-hours Support Line (for current serving ADF personnel and their families) – 1800 628 036
Safe Zone Support (for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families) – 1800 142 072. When you call Safe Zone Support, you do not need to identify yourself.
Open Arms (current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families are able to seek this free and confidential support) – 1800 011 046
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
FREE LEGAL SUPPORT
The Defence and Veterans Legal Service provides free, independent information and legal support to assist Australian Defence Force personnel and veterans, as well as their families, carers and supporters, to safely share their experiences with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.