Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health) Share this | Hansard source

That's right. I think this is a really important area where we can work together. Transition is something we must do better. If we do not support the transition itself then that could cause distress, not just for the veteran but for their family as well. An individual's inability to find work and the isolation experienced as a result of that can lead to or exacerbate mental illness—and this does not account for those whose service has had a great impact upon them and who have been medically discharged.

As we know, wounds are not just physical; they can be psychological as well. Psychological wounds are just as incapacitating as physical wounds and can lead to complex social problems, including homelessness and ongoing mental health problems. Mental health is a really important area that we must all address. I recognise the minister and the government for getting the Mental Health Commission to do work in this area, and I look forward to seeing the recommendations.

One thing that has been raised with me is ensuring that there is equal access across the country in terms of mental health services for our veteran community. This is something that I will continue to pursue to ensure that, no matter where veterans live, they can access high-quality mental health services that support their needs. Together we can do better. I look forward to working in this term of parliament to do just that.

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