Commissioner's Advisory Group
The DVSC has established the Commissioner’s Advisory Group. The Group supports the Commissioner to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.
The Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner’s Advisory Group provides the Commissioner with specialist, technical, professional, lived and living experience advice.
The Group is comprised of 16 members, who bring a mix of skills, experience and expertise.
Learn more about the Commissioner’s Advisory Group Members
The role of the Group is to:
- Share their advice and insights to help inform the Commissioner’s work and functions as legislated in the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2026
- Advise on emerging issues in the Defence and veteran ecosystem
- Advise on priorities for future inquiries and reviews
- Recommend ways to effectively engage and communicate with a broad range of stakeholders, and
- Review DVSC materials and reports, including progress reports on the implementation of Royal Commission recommendations.
The Group establishes a formal and ongoing mechanism for timely and confidential advice to guide the work of the DVSC.
This is what the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide envisaged.
Establishing the inaugural Commissioner's Advisory Group
The Commissioner has appointed 12 individuals as members of the Group. Four Commonwealth entities participate as standing member organisations. These are the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the National Health and Medical Research Council (NMHRC), the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO).
This followed a public expression of interest process, which took place between February and March 2026.
The Commissioner sought applications from:
- Individuals or family members with lived experience of suicidality, mental health and wellbeing in the Defence and veteran ecosystem, and
- Suitably qualified professionals with specialist or technical expertise and professional experience.
Members have been appointed for a two-year term, commencing in July 2026.
The Group is chaired by Commissioner Penny McKay.
