Message from the Acting Commissioner

The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission is now six months old. As we approach the Easter break, I’m reflecting on the strong foundations we have built to set the Commission up for success in the future. The goodwill the Commission has received from all those with a keen interest in improving suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for our veterans and their families has been second to none. 

New Standalone Legislation 

This week I was pleased to see our new standalone legislation pass both Houses of Parliament. The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Bill 2025 will strengthen the independence of the Commissioner and the Commission. It will also increase transparency and accountability and ensure the powers are adequate to enable the Commission to do its work. 

The Bill was debated in the Senate and an amendment by the Opposition was agreed. This amendment means an earlier due date for the first progress report on the implementation of the Government’s response to Royal Commission recommendations. The due date will now be 5 February 2027, rather than 2 December 2027. 

The second progress report will still be due by 5 December 2030. 

The Bill will become an Act of Parliament once it receives Royal Assent. It will underpin all that we do at the Commission. This includes appointment of the inaugural Commissioner by the Governor-General. 

Engagement 

Connecting with people who can inform the work of the Commission remains a top priority. Since my message last year, I have continued to engage with a wide range of stakeholders – hearing about what’s important to them and what they are seeing, hearing and learning. 

This has included ex-service organisations with areas of particular interest such as veterans’ arts, total and permanent incapacity, women veterans, military sexual violence, military children and veteran welfare. I have also connected with research institutions, individual veterans and senior members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). 

We were privileged to attend several events recently. These provide another opportunity to speak with people in the defence and veteran ecosystem. They also give us further insights into issues of interest, important history and the latest developments in the community. These events have included:

• 75^th Anniversary of National Service Commemorative Service at Parliament House, 

• Last Post Service at the Australian War Memorial followed by RSL Australia’s ‘Better Together’ Dinner, and 

• A special screening of ‘Under a Bamboo Sky’, a documentary following the three-year journey of Australian soldiers held prisoner by the Japanese in WWII. 

I also travelled this week to South Australia to meet with a number of stakeholders to discuss the work of the DVSC. Hearing about the experiences, insights and priorities of current and ex-serving ADF members and their families, and those who support them, is vital. 

Thank you to everyone who made the time to share their views with me. It is invaluable. 

Access to Information Inquiry  

In January, the DVSC commenced our first inquiry. We are looking into how serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families access information held by Defence and DVA. The inquiry relates to the Government’s implementation of recommendations 9 to 13 from the Royal Commission’s Interim Report from 2022. 

This inquiry is an important first step in overseeing implementation of the Royal Commission's recommendations. 

Public submissions for the inquiry have now closed. My sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and perspectives. These insights are essential to understanding the real-world experience of members, veterans and their families in accessing information. They will inform my findings on whether the implementation of the recommendations has met the intent of the Royal Commission and made a meaningful impact. Importantly, my findings will be publicly reported. 

Commissioner’s Advisory Group  

I recently sought expressions of interest in joining the Commissioner's Advisory Group. Expressions of interest closed on Sunday 29 March. The Group will provide me with first-hand advice, helping to drive improvements in suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving ADF members.  

I am encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response we received. Applications have come in from people across a wide range of professional backgrounds and from those with invaluable lived experience. My team and I will carefully review applications over the coming weeks to establish this inaugural Advisory Group. 

Community Involvement 

The DVSC team has also been out and about in the community joining this year’s MarchOn Challenge run by Soldier On Australia. 

I am proud to report that DVSC team members walked over 400 kilometres in March. They raised nearly $2,000 which equates to several psychology sessions for a veteran, or numerous peer and employment support sessions. 

With more than 12,000 Australians participating nationally, this year’s MarchOn Challenge raised over $3 million to help prevent veteran suicide and save lives. 

Looking ahead 

The DVSC is transitioning from its establishment phase and the first progress report on Royal Commission recommendation implementation is firmly in our sights. In doing so, our focus is firmly on our purpose – that is, to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for current and ex-serving ADF members and their families. 

I thank everyone who has engaged with the Commission to date. I remain committed to the task ahead and look forward to the Commission influencing meaningful change for those who serve and have served us.