Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 19 February 2016:

The mental health of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who have returned from combat, peacekeeping or other deployment, with particular reference to:

(a) the extent and significance of mental ill-health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among returned service personnel;

(b) identification and disclosure policies of the ADF in relation to mental ill-health and PTSD;

(c) recordkeeping for mental ill-health and PTSD, including hospitalisations and deaths;

(d) mental health evaluation and counselling services available to returned service personnel;

(e) the adequacy of mental health support services, including housing support services, provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA);

(f) the support available for partners, carers and families of returned service personnel who experience mental ill-health and PTSD;

(g) the growing number of returned service personnel experiencing homelessness due to mental ill-health, PTSD and other issues related to their service;

(h) the effectiveness of the Memorandum of Understanding between the ADF and DVA for the Cooperative Delivery of Care;

(i) the effectiveness of training and education offerings to returned service personnel upon their discharge from the ADF; and

(j) any other related matters.

I seek leave to make a short statement.