Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the government response to the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on its inquiry into mental health of Australian Defence Force members and veterans, and I seek leave to have the document incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The documents read as follows—

Australian Government Response to the

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Report

Mental Health of Australian Defence Force Members and Veterans

September 2016

PREFACE

The Government welcomes the opportunity to provide a response to the Senate Inquiry Report on the mental health of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and veterans, and acknowledges the useful work and recommendations of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee in conducting this Inquiry.

This Government Response sets out the Government's view on the 25 recommendations made in the Report, including the Minority Report recommendations, and also indicates how the Government intends to address the important task of supporting mental health of current and former ADF members.

Whilst the funding and operational arrangements vary between the Department of Defence (Defence) and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), arrangements are in place across both agencies for current and former serving veterans to access mental health care when they need it. Through treatment and rehabilitation, Defence and DVA can assist individuals to recover, continue their service within the ADF or return to a meaningful and productive life in the broader Australian community with the recognition and support they deserve following service to their country.

Military service and mental health

As noted to the Committee, military service is a unique experience, both for the personnel who serve and their families who support them. Benefits of service include the protective mental health effects of identity, purpose and camaraderie. Military service also involves sometimes being put in harm's way in the course of duty, and the occupational risks of service can include hardship, stress or danger, whilst on operational deployment, in training environments, providing disaster and humanitarian support or during border protection tasks.

Just like all citizens, there are also the normal challenges of life like career changes, moving house, relationship breakdowns, grief and loss, and growing older that can impact upon mental health and wellbeing. For service personnel leaving the ADF, the transition into civilian life can also be a time of significant adjustment.

It is normal for people to react to risks or challenging events in their lives but sometimes these reactions are a sign of mental health concerns, particularly if the reactions persist or interfere with the ability to engage in normal life. In some cases, reactions or symptoms can emerge many years after an event. Defence and DVA's systems must cater for those who experience mental health concerns while they serve, those leaving the military with a mental health condition, as well as for those whose condition develops many years after service.

Our essential early intervention message for current and ex-serving ADF members is as follows: if you or your family or friends are worried about how you are coping or feeling, then seek help early. We know that the earlier people seek help, the better their prospects for earlier and more successful recovery. If the situation does start to become overwhelming, then seek help straight away. Both Defence and DVA offer comprehensive systems of support that can help you and your family.

This support is ready and available to provide help to those that require it, where and when it is needed, from both Defence and DVA. Should treatment need to be accessed, then both Defence and DVA have the services and funding to make sure it can be provided.

The Government also acknowledges that we need to continue seeking ways to improve our mental health response, in line with advancing knowledge and improved mental health responses.

Going forward

The Government has committed to increase Defence funding by $29.9 billion over the next ten years and to deliver on the 2013 election commitment to return Defence spending to 2 per cent of gross domestic product within the decade. This includes support for ADF personnel by providing them with the advanced training, modern equipment and the health care that they deserve.

Tackling the mental health challenges for veterans and their families is also a pillar of the Government's plan for veterans' affairs. Most recently, this includes the Government commitments to fund $6 million for the Phoenix Australia Institute and $3.1 million for further extensions of access to the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service.

The Phoenix Australia Institute will work collaboratively with experts to improve the quality of mental health care for Australia's veterans. It will achieve this by providing expert clinical advice to practitioners across Australia and by conducting cutting edge research into effective treatments and the mechanisms underlying recovery.

Access to the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) will be further extended to include:

These initiatives build on the measure in the 2016–17 Budget, to provide funding of $46.4 million, to extend non-liability mental health care. This will expand eligibility for treatment for certain mental health conditions to all current and former permanent members of the ADF, irrespective of how long or when they served, or the type of service. Conditions covered by these arrangements are posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorder.

Suicide prevention for serving and former serving ADF members at risk and support to the families who have been affected by the tragedy of suicide remains a high priority for the Government. The Government's current suicide prevention strategy includes training to assist at-risk individuals, programs to build resilience, self-help and educational materials, a 24-hour support line, and access to clinical services. The Government is continuing to invest in initiatives to prevent suicide among current and former serving personnel and support those affected by it. As part of the 2016-17 Budget, funding of $1 million has been provided to continue the suicide awareness and prevention workshops and to pilot an alternative approach to suicide prevention in the veteran community. This is in addition to the $187 million a year that the Government already spends in relation to veteran mental health.

On 11 August 2016, the Government also announced that in North Queensland, the first Suicide Prevention Trial Site will be established. This will occur through the North Queensland Primary Health Network and the trial will focus on veterans' mental health. This will be one of 12 innovative, front-line trials in our fight against suicide which will improve understanding of the challenges and work to develop best-practice services which we can be applied nationwide.

A Review of Self-harm and Suicide Prevention for Current and Former Serving ADF members

The Senate Committee Report has usefully highlighted some areas for attention by Government, and the Government welcomes the contribution of the Committee in many of the recommendations it has made. While the Committee Report has been able to cover some aspects of mental health for this population, the Government considers that given the complexity of the issues, more work is required to review the effectiveness of self-harm and suicide prevention in current and former serving ADF personnel. While the Senate Committee Report did cover some aspects of the issue of self-harm and suicide prevention, none of its recommendations directly addressed this topic.

The Government also recognises that some time has passed since Professor David Dunt's reports, the Review of Mental Health Care in the ADF and Transition Through Discharge and the Independent Study into Suicide in the Ex-Service Community, both delivered in early 2009. Since these reports, the Government has implemented a number of important initiatives to assist members and former members of the ADF who may be at risk of suicide and to help combat this serious problem and directly address suicide prevention in ADF personnel and veterans.

However, suicide prevention is an intensely complex policy area, and needs concerted and continued attention across all aspects of the mental health and social services system. While both Defence and DVA have implemented comprehensive suicide prevention strategies, our knowledge of this important issue is also continually being updated and improved. Over the past few decades, we have learnt much more about self-harm and suicide prevention. We also know that in Australian society just like other countries, we have been working towards addressing stigma around mental health problems and seeking help, including for concerns about self-harm and suicide.

The Government has asked the National Mental Health Commission to review the effectiveness of self-harm and suicide prevention strategies for current and former serving members of the ADF. The work of the Commission will provide further information and advice to Government to help focus future activity, so that current and former members of the ADF can receive the recognition and support they deserve following service to their country.

In terms of responding to the recommendations, the following responses have been used throughout this document.

Recommendation 1

The committee recommends that Defence conduct annual screening for mental ill-health for all ADF members.

Government Response

Agreed in principle

The Government agrees with the principle of screening for mental ill-health for ADF members, but does not agree with screening being conducted annually as a compulsory requirement because this would further entrench stigma and challenges of encouraging ADF members to identify and seek help early.

The Government agrees with the Committee that early identification and treatment of mental ill-health will lead to better health outcomes and is less likely to negatively impact upon a member's career rather than leaving a condition untreated. It further agrees on the importance of ensuring that ADF mental health screening, awareness, early intervention and treatment programs are available to all ADF members regardless of their deployment status.

A primary aim of mental health screening is to facilitate early intervention for treatment of mental health problems and mental illness. It does not prevent the development of a diagnosed mental health condition at either the time of the screen or at a later date. Mental health screening does provide an opportunity to identify symptoms and enable them to be addressed before they become entrenched and cause broader psychosocial problems for the individual.

Defence already operates a comprehensive screening program that focuses on operational deployment and exposure to potentially traumatic events, and is exploring ways to extend and enhance this program through an ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum that will use a stepped approach to most effectively result in screening for all ADF personnel, regardless of their deployment status.

Elements of the ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum will include:

The Government supports Defence in its development of the ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum in a manner that will optimise the early identification of mental health problems and provide all ADF members with a stepped approach to appropriate early intervention, better self-management and improved access to care at the earliest possible opportunity.

Recommendation 2

The committee recommends that the Australian National Audit Office conduct an audit into the scope and accuracy of recordkeeping of relevant clinical information collected or recorded during deployment regarding mental ill-health or potentially traumatic incidents.

Government Response

Noted

The Government will advise the Auditor-General to consider this recommendation.

Recommendation 3

The committee recommends that all veterans be issued with a universal identification number and identification card that can be linked to their service and medical record.

Government Response

Partly Agreed

The Government agrees that a better link should be provided between DVA clients and their service and medical records, but does not agree with an identification card.

In relation to a universal identification number, DVA has initiated an Early Engagement Model supported by the Department of Defence. Under this Model, Defence will make basic personal information for all ADF members who join after 1 January 2016 available to DVA. This will include their Defence identification number known as the Personnel Management Key Solution (PMKeyS) number. This program of work will enable DVA to recognise members by their Defence identification number.

Information, including the PMKeyS number, will also be collected when a member separates from the ADF and at other evidence and event-based trigger points during a member's career. Over time, DVA will have the details of most current and former ADF members and be able to identify them by their PMKeyS number. However, not all DVA clients have a PMKeyS number, such as clients whose service ended prior to the introduction of PMKeyS in 1997 and dependant clients.

In relation to an identification card, the Government does not agree with issuing veterans with separate identification cards as DVA already issues eligible members with treatment cards. The arrangements for use of the PMKeyS number under the Early Engagement Model, however, will provide the link between identification and a member's service and medical records.

Recommendation 4

The committee recommends that the Department of Health and the Department of Veterans' Affairs ensure that e-health records identify veterans and that GPs are encouraged to promote annual ADF Post-discharge GP Health Assessment for all veterans.

Government Response

Partly Agreed

The Government agrees that e-health records should identify veterans and agrees with promoting the ADF Post-discharge GP Health Assessment after discharge from the military as the basis of ongoing primary care in civilian life.

In relation to e-health records, a self-identifying 'Veteran and Australian Defence Force Status' indicator has been available in the My Health Record system (formerly the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record) since 30 November 2014. This indicator alerts participating healthcare providers that their patients may be eligible for DVA services.

In relation to GP Health Assessments, DVA has already worked with two main GP software providers to incorporate an ADF indicator into their programs. Where a patient is identified as ex-ADF, GPs will be reminded to encourage the veteran to undertake a GP Health Assessment. DVA is promoting the assessment to GPs, to encourage the assessment's uptake with their veteran patients.

The GP Health Assessment is promoted as an assessment to be undertaken after discharge rather than being undertaken annually (although it can be undertaken once in a person's lifetime at any time). The aim is to facilitate the identification of any health problems after discharge from the military and establish a relationship between the former ADF personnel and the GP for ongoing primary care in civilian life under the Medicare system.

The Government has also committed $6 million to the Phoenix Australia Institute to work collaboratively with experts to improve the quality of mental health care for Australia's veterans. This encompasses mental health at the primary care level, including to assist GPs.

Recommendation 5

The committee recommends that Defence and DVA contact ADF members and veterans who have been administered mefloquine hydrochloride (mefloquine) during their service to advise them of the possible short-term and long-term side effects and that all ADF members and veterans who have been administered mefloquine during their service be given access to neurological assessment.

Government Response

Agreed in principle

The Government agrees that ADF members and veterans who have been administered mefloquine should continue to be advised of its possible side effects, and agrees that appropriate neurological assessments should continue to be available.

In relation to providing advice to serving members and veterans about mefloquine, the Government will support, and build awareness of the support available, to serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families. Specifically, the Government will:

In relation to the second part of the recommendation regarding neurological assessments, the Government notes that this is already available to serving members and veterans.

Defence has developed and implemented clinical guidelines to assist Defence doctors to assess serving members who present with concerns relating to past mefloquine use. The guidelines include the conduct of a neurological examination. Where clinically indicated, the guidelines recommend further specialist neurologist examination and investigations. The guidelines have been shared with DVA.

If any former member is concerned about the effects of mefloquine administered in service, they can lodge a claim with DVA. As part of lodging that claim, they can receive a neurological assessment as deemed clinically necessary by their medical practitioner and/or specialist. Where the Department uses the assessment in its decision, DVA will meet all reasonable costs associated and will assist in the facilitation of the appointment(s).

Much of the public concern has been about the potential of mental side-effects from mefloquine use. The Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service provides free, confidential, 24/7 nation-wide counselling and support for eligible current and former ADF members and their families. DVA can also pay for certain mental health treatment whatever the cause under non-liability health care arrangements, covering the conditions of posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorder. From July 2016, this service is available to any current or former permanent member of the ADF.

Recommendation 6

The committee recommends that the report for the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force's inquiry to determine whether any failures in military justice have occurred regarding the Australia Defence Force's use of mefloquine be published immediately following the completion of the inquiry.

Government Response

Noted

The release of Inspector General Australian Defence Force (IGADF) reports are subject to the Defence (Inquiry) Regulations 1985. Decisions on release of IGADF Inquiry reports are made on a case-by-case basis, with due regard to privacy and legal issues. The IGADF Inquiry is still ongoing. Once it has been finalised, its release will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Defence (Inquiry) Regulations 1985.

Recommendation 7

The committee recommends that the Department of Defence ensure that medical officers and mental health professionals have ready access to records of potentially traumatic events for members following their deployment.

Government Response

Agreed

The Government agrees with the timely and accurate recording of health information related to Defence members and considers that this recommendation is addressed through current health policy and practices within Defence and planned enhancements of the Defence e-health System.

However, it is noted that members may not disclose exposure to a potentially traumatising event, or they may not identify or recognise that experience to be traumatising until sometime after the event, and sometimes even years later. Thus whilst all efforts will be made to ensure that recording of events is occurring in accordance with policy, there can be no guarantees that a full and complete record will be made due to these reasons.

Additionally, in multinational operations where health support is provided by partner nations it is not always possible for the health records generated in these facilities to be provided to the ADF due to differing legislation and consent requirements for those countries. The Return to Australia Medical Screen and Return to Australia Psychological Screen process addresses this problem by documenting self-reported contact with non-Australian medical services, and injuries or exposures to potentially traumatic events that may have occurred during the deployment.

Currently, medical and mental health screening and treatment records that are raised during deployment are paper based and are converted to electronic versions on return to Australia and added to the member's e-health record.

At present the Defence e-health System is only available in the garrison environment, however it will be implemented aboard Royal Australian Navy ships from late this year. Once fully implemented, health professionals aboard ships will be able to record exposures to potentially traumatic events within the system whilst at sea and prior to return to Australia.

Joint Project 2060—ADF deployable health capability, Phase 4 Health knowledge management is addressing the reliance on paper health records in the deployed environment with the eventual goal being a single and contemporary e-health record readily available wherever and whenever required by any Defence health professional.

Recommendation 8

The committee recommends that the DVA Psychologists Schedule of Fees be revised to better reflect the Australian Psychological Societies' National Schedule of Recommended Fees and that any restrictions regarding the number of hours or frequency of psychologist sessions are based on achieving the best outcome and guaranteeing the safety of the veteran.

Government Response

Noted

The Government notes this recommendation.

In relation to fees for psychologists, DVA is currently undertaking a review of its dental and allied health services provided to veterans, as announced in the 2015-16 budget. This review is considering the fees and items currently paid to all allied health and dental providers who treat DVA clients, including psychologists.

In relation to restrictions to the number of hours or frequency of psychologist sessions, DVA funding for mental health services is demand driven and not capped. The number of allied mental health services provided is determined by the health care provider based on the assessed clinical needs of the veteran. The two exceptions to this are group therapy sessions (limited to twelve services per calendar year) and trauma focused therapy (where a case review is required after eight sessions). If more or different treatment is required, then prior approval may be sought from DVA.

Recommendation 9

The committee recommends that eligibility requirements for the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) be consolidated and broadened to include all current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and their immediate families (partners, children, and carers).

Government Response

Partly agreed

The Government agrees to expand eligibility to VVCS to include all current and former permanent members of the ADF through White Card arrangements and to include certain family groups.

In relation to VVCS eligibility for current and former serving members of the ADF, the 2016-17 Federal Budget included a measure to expand and streamline eligibility to non-liability mental health arrangements. These arrangements provide cover for PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder whatever the cause. Under these arrangements, DVA can issue a White Card for the treatment of these mental health conditions, which enables access to a range of mental health services including VVCS. From July 2016, all current and former permanent members of the ADF will be eligible for these non-liability mental health arrangements which include VVCS.

In relation to VVCS eligibility for family groups, the Government has announced its commitment to extend eligibility to VVCS to:

Any decision to further extend eligibility for VVCS services would require additional resources and budget supplementation.

The Government notes that current ADF members have their physical and mental health needs met by the Department of Defence and a range of mental health support is also available through DVA's non-liability arrangements. In addition, there are a range of Commonwealth and State mental health programs which are available to Australian citizens more broadly, including through Medicare.

Recommendation 10

The committee recommends that currently serving ADF members be eligible to access the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) without referral and that the VVCS reporting obligations to the ADF be limited to situations where the VVCS believes that a members' mental ill-health will compromise their safety or the safety of others.

Government Response

Agreed

The Government agrees that eligible ADF members should be able to continue to self-refer to VVCS. The Government notes that VVCS already abides by reporting obligations as outlined in the recommendation.

Eligible ADF members, including those with a DVA White Card for the five mental health conditions outlined in response to recommendation 9, can self-refer to VVCS. In 2014-15, 2,966 current serving ADF members self-referred to VVCS for support.

VVCS is committed to preserving and upholding clients' rights to privacy and confidentiality, and there is no identifiable reporting back to the ADF on those clients who self-refer, unless there are serious safety concerns for the member or others. VVCS is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.

If Defence refers a serving member to VVCS under a formal agreement, VVCS is required to provide periodic reports regarding the treatment of ADF members to the ADF. The member's consent to this is sought prior to referral to VVCS. In 2014-15, 1,135 ADF members received VVCS support via ADF referrals.

Recommendation 11

The committee recommends that Defence mental health awareness programs do more to emphasise the benefit of early identification and treatment of mental ill-health for an ADF members' long-term career and encourage ADF members to plan beyond their next deployment.

Government Response

Agreed

The Government agrees that education on the early identification and treatment of mental ill-health is essential in assisting ADF members to make informed choices regarding their health and wellbeing, access to health care and future career decisions.

Defence has a number of existing key mental health promotion messages and awareness programs that already provide information on the early identification of signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and support options available to all ADF members.

Joint Health Command is currently developing a Strategic Communications Plan that will develop more targeted messaging on early presentation and include education for members regarding the Medical Employment Classification system that will address the misperception that "medical downgrading" automatically leads to medical discharge.

The key theme running through all of these programs and initiatives is to seek help early to achieve the best mental health outcomes, rather than just focussing on being deployable. In this way there is less chance of creating a focus on those who have deployed or are likely to deploy.

The Review of Suicide Prevention will include consideration of the range of mental health awareness programs operated by both Defence and DVA, in the context of suicide prevention.

Recommendation 12

The committee recommends that the Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs develop a program to engage current and former ADF members, who have successfully deployed after rehabilitation for mental ill-health, to be 'mental health champions' to assist in the de-stigmatisation of mental ill-health.

Government Response

Agreed in Principle

The Government agrees with the principle of de-stigmatising mental ill-health, and encourages early intervention where there are mental health concerns. While the Government does not see it is necessary to develop a new program for mental health champions, it does agree with continued efforts by DVA and Defence to involve current and former ADF members and their families in sharing their experience of mental ill-health and recovery to de-stigmatise mental ill-health.

As part of DVA's work to continuously improve its rehabilitation framework and service offerings, DVA is reviewing its communication strategy for rehabilitation with the aim of ensuring that the benefits of rehabilitation are promoted to veterans and ex-service organisations, that communication is targeted and effective, and that opportunities are sought to aid in the de-stigmatisation of mental ill-health. Complementary to this work, DVA has already identified and promoted a number of successful stories from veterans who have benefited from their rehabilitation program. DVA will continue to promote rehabilitation success stories.

The Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Veterans' Mental Health has played an important role in informing both the development of the Government's policy relating to the mental health of the veteran community and to the programs and initiatives that are in place to address this important issue.

DVA already has a number of programs in place whereby former ADF personne

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

I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

I was very proud to work with the Senate to initiate this inquiry. It may surprise some people why the Greens would be interested in initiating an inquiry into veretans' mental health. Like anyone in this chamber, I was shocked by revelations on Four Corners about veteran suicide and veteran homelessness. I did my own research and felt that this was an issue that the Senate could scrutinise and make some constructive, positive recommendations into. It seemed to me that it was an issue that was going unrecognised in the broader community.

I am glad Senator Payne is in the chamber today. In thinking about deployment of our Defence personnel, especially overseas—and may I say that mental health issues like PTSD do not necessarily apply to people who have been in combat situations, for example; they can apply from training and other complex situations—it occurred to me that we were not fully aware, and the community was not fully aware, that it is a cost to this country, especially when we are sending the number that was brought up in the Senate committee. Nearly 70,000 Australians have been off to Afghanistan or Iraq in the last 15 years. Then, when you add East Timor, the numbers are even higher. A substantial number of veterans, especially younger veterans, are out there in the community.

As a government—and, of course, the Greens would like to see parliament have a direct say in foreign deployments—we really have to be aware of the costs of war. They are not just physical injuries and the loss of life to both Australian Defence Force personnel and to people living in other countries. There are also costs and hidden costs with the personnel and their families when they get back to this country. We heard some harrowing evidence, from both veterans and their families, as to the kind of problems that they are encountering not just personally, physically and mentally but also in dealing with the Department of Veterans' Affairs and Defence to get these problems recognised.

I am not taking a combative approach to the veterans' affairs issues, unlike other senators in this chamber. I feel that there needs to be a constructive way forward on this. The Senate has made 25 recommendations. I suppose am pleased there has been a little bit of progress. However, with a number of the recommendations, I think the government have agreed in principle or noted, or have said they partly agree with. I would have liked to have seen much stronger responses than that. I am not giving up on this; nor will Senator Ludlam, who will be taking this issue over from me. We will be continuing. One promise that I did make to the veterans that I have been working with is: at every estimates and at every chance that we get, we are going to continue asking these questions until we see some progress.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is something that I think is being better recognised now. Even in the last six to nine months I have noticed a significant jump in social media, for example, talking about PTSD and celebrities and TV programs talking about this issue. And it is not just the Defence forces. It is evident in the fire brigade and in the police force, and, in fact, in traumas suffered by rape victims. It is a very prevalent mental illness, but it is very complex. I accept from what I learnt in the Senate inquiry that there is no silver bullet solution to dealing with this issue and that—

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No pun intended.

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

No, definitely no pun intended, Senator Waters. The issue needs to be scrutinised, and we need to put a lot more resources into this. We are aware that there is a lot of stigma, especially serving personnel, who may have developed mental health issues. Having been in the services, I can directly relate to that experience. It is very difficult for people to talk out on issues they think may impact either their capability in their job or their own careers. This is something I think we need to do: breaking down that stigma is one of the best ways we can combat this situation.

There are a lot of recommendations here. I ask fellow senators to have a look at these. I understand there is another inquiry that is looking at suicide and suicide prevention with veterans but I think this is a good start. Senator Payne, through you, Chair, there will be a lot of people in this chamber who are taking this issue very seriously who will be keeping the scrutiny up.

Question agreed to.