Today the Final Report for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been delivered to the Australian Government and has been tabled with Parliament.
As the CEO of Mates4Mates, I’ve had the honour to be a member of the Stakeholder Reference Group within the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, representing the more than 12,000 veterans and families that Mates4Mates has worked tirelessly to support since we were formed in 2013 by RSL Queensland.
It’s important that we, as a nation, and those within the government and the ADF, acknowledge the problem at hand and put measures in place to address the rates of suicide amongst current and ex-serving Defence Force personnel.
This preventable loss of life is felt deeply by their families, friends and the community at large. We heard personal stories from the families who were left behind. Brave people who contributed their lived experience of military suicide to this Royal Commission deserve their voice to be heard, long after the handing down of the recommendations.
Something must change. At Mates4Mates, we are ready to embrace change and help implement recommendations within the Final Report to better support the future generations of the Australian Defence Force physically, mentally and emotionally.
When other Royal Commissions have concluded, people have moved on and forgotten about the issues brought up. It can not happen this time. We need to keep the momentum going. Those who shared their voice and told their story cannot be forgotten now that the Royal Commission has finished.
I sincerely hope the Australian Government accepts and implements the recommendations proposed within the Final Report.
For crisis support, please reach out to Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 (or text 0477 13 11 14). In an emergency, please call 000.
