Message from the Commissioner
A message from the Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner, Penny McKay
I am honoured to have been named the inaugural Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner. Since my appointment was announced I have received many generous messages of support. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has taken the time to reach out. I feel privileged and energised to continue the Commission’s important work for our Defence and veteran community.
Five Year Anniversary of Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Approaches
On 8 July it will be five years since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide began. It was the result of thousands of voices calling for change – veterans, families, advocates and experts. The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission is the result of the key Royal Commission recommendation. Our mission is to honour those voices with action.
During our first eight months of operation, my focus has been setting the DVSC up for success and connecting with people who can inform our work. I’m pleased to report that much progress has already been made.
New standalone legislation
Today, on 1 June, our new standalone legislation commenced – the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2026 (DVSC Act). This is a significant step. The DVSC Act:
- strengthens the independence of the Commissioner and the Commission
- increases transparency and accountability, and
- ensures the Commissioner’s powers are fit for purpose.
The DVSC Act will underpin all that we do. You can learn more on the DVSC website – Our legislation.
Connecting with people
Following visits to NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, last month I visited Tasmania. Tasmania has the highest number of veterans per head of population of any Australian State. I met with Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel at Anglesea Barracks, Senator Jacqui Lambie, visited the Veteran’s Hub and RSL Tasmania, and enjoyed a lunch with Hobart Legacy.
The meetings were a valuable opportunity to hear what is important to them and learn more about what support is currently available for Tasmanian veterans. I heard about issues impacting those who have not engaged in full-time service. Also, how veterans stay engaged with Defence post-service. Tasmania is certainly a popular choice for retired veterans!
Hearing about the experiences, insights and priorities of veterans, their families, and those who support them, is vital. And although the DVSC is Canberra-based, I’m very keen that it not be Canberra-centric. So, hearing first-hand from the veteran community around Australia is very important to me.
Commissioner’s Advisory Group
Establishing the Commissioner’s Advisory Group has been an early priority. The Group will be made up of defence members and veterans with lived experience of suicide and suicidal distress, people who know what it means to be part of a defence family and people with technical and professional expertise.
The Group will provide me with first-hand advice to guide and inform the work of the DVSC. Insights from the coal face are central to understanding what meaningful reform should look like in practice. What has a real chance of informing change and what doesn’t.
I am thrilled with the response we received about joining the Group and thank those who took the time to express their interest. My team and I are close to finalising selections for the inaugural Commissioner’s Advisory Group. Planning is underway for a first meeting of the Group soon.
1st Progress Report
Work is also underway on the DVSC’s first progress report, required under our legislation. The progress report will be a major milestone. It will track how the Government is putting the Royal Commission’s recommendations into action.
All up, the Royal Commission made 135 recommendations. This was the most comprehensive review in Australian history that considered the system-wide factors affecting the wellbeing of serving and ex-serving ADF members. It highlighted longstanding failures experienced by veterans and their families.
Those recommendations provided the roadmap for addressing Defence and veteran suicide in Australia.
The DVSC must carry out at least two inquiries into the Government’s implementation of its response to the Royal Commission. The first progress report is due to Government by 5 February 2027. The second is due by 2 December 2030.
Military Sexual Violence Inquiry
The DVSC will receive $16.6 million through the 2026-27 Budget to conduct an independent Inquiry into Military Sexual Violence in the ADF. The Inquiry was requested by the Minister in response to the Royal Commission’s recommendation 25. It will provide advice to Government on reforms needed to prevent, manage and respond to military sexual violence.
The Royal Commission heard from veterans and serving ADF members about the devastating impacts of military sexual violence. It particularly impacts women and their families, and is directly linked to suicide and suicidal distress. The Royal Commission found reforms were needed – in prevention, survivor support, data collection and justice.
The terms of reference for the Inquiry can be found here: Military Sexual Violence Inquiry - Terms of Reference. They were developed following independent consultations by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and provided to us by the Minister. The consultations involved serving and ex-serving victim-survivors of sexual violence in the ADF, specialist service providers and other stakeholders.
This Inquiry will also assess progress taken to implement recommendations 14-24 in the Royal Commission’s Final Report.
The Inquiry will formally begin in late 2026. This is so it can factor in research the AHRC is coordinating in response to Recommendation 14 of the Royal Commission. This project is looking at the prevalence of military sexual trauma.
The Inquiry will be completed by the end of 2027. A final report will be published on our website.
Looking ahead
The DVSC is in a strong position to maintain the momentum we’ve seen over the last five years since the Royal Commission began. It has the independence, authority and purpose to hold government to account. I remain committed to keeping the voices of serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families at the centre of our work. And I remain committed to not only words, but action.
