Recommendations
Recommendation 1
3.90 The committee recommends that Defence conduct
annual screening for mental ill-health for all ADF members.
Recommendation 2
3.96 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.
Recommendation 3
3.100 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.
Recommendation 4
3.103 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.
Recommendation 5
4.79 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.
Recommendation 6
4.80 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.
Recommendation 7
4.86 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.
Recommendation 8
4.89 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.
Recommendation 9
4.92 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).
Recommendation 10
4.93 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.
Recommendation 11
5.62 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.
Recommendation 12
5.63 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.
Recommendation 13
5.68 The committee recommends that the Department
of Veterans' Affairs be adequately funded to achieve a full digitisation of its
records and modernisation of its ICT systems by 2020, including the
introduction of a single coherent system to process and manage claims.
Recommendation 14
6.46 The committee recommends that the Department
of Defence work with ex-service organisations to develop a transition mentoring
program, which will connect every veteran with a trained mentor from the
ex-service community to assist and guide them through the transition process.
Recommendation 15
6.48 The committee recommends that the Department of
Veterans' Affairs review its rehabilitation assessment policy to ensure that
junior-ranked members are not disadvantaged and all veterans are able to access
rehabilitation, education, and re-skilling based on their individual needs and
abilities and regardless of rank.
Recommendation 16
6.52 The committee recommends that the Department
of Veterans' Affairs identify veterans who are receiving in-patient mental
health care as at risk of homelessness and provide an ongoing psychosocial case
manager to actively manage an 'at risk' veteran's care program until their
mental health and living situation is stable.
Recommendation 17
6.54 The committee recommends that the Department
of Veterans' Affairs work together with the Department of Human Services and
RSL Lifecare to develop a program to address veteran homelessness based on the
Homes for Heroes 'housing first approach' and focus on ongoing psychosocial
support.
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