The Final Report

The Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was presented to the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, on 9 September 2024, and it was tabled in Parliament on the same day.

The Australian Government responded the Final Report in December 2024.

Read more about the Final Report and the Government response at the links below.

Final Report | Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

Australian Government response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission

Use the table below to explore the Royal Commission's recommendations from their Final Report, and the Australian Government's responses.

Recommendation	Government Response	Volume	Description
Recommendation 1: Improve the capacity of future royal commissions to undertake their inquiries	Note	Volume 1: The Fundamentals	The Government notes this recommendation. This recommendation concerns the operation of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and establishing royal commissions. As there is no royal commission currently operational, the position of ‘note’ reflects acknowledgement of the recommendation for consideration by Government in the future, should further royal commissions be established.
Recommendation 2: Improve outcomes and access to support for recruits in ab initio training	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees to develop a model of support to be provided to all recruits in ab initio training. The model will be informed by principles of resilience, help-seeking and lived experience of service. The Government recognises new recruits are first exposed to Defence culture and develop their ethos and future behaviours at its initial training establishments, including Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy. Defence needs to do the work to ensure they are safe environments for our Defence recruits. Defence undertakes education and training tailored to the Australian Defence Force Acamdecy, including on sexual misconduct prevention, response, reporting and support services available to Trainee Officers. Defence will commence a planned trial of Squadron Support Officers who will provide mentoring and support to junior Trainee Officers. Defence will design and develop a specific program on healthy relationships.
Recommendation 3: Build the capability of career managers	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees to build the capability of ADF career managers and acknowledges the importance of supportive and trauma-informed career managers in relation to the careers of ADF personnel. The Government appointed the first three star Chief of Personnel in June 2023 with responsibility for increasing the effectiveness, efficiency and cohesiveness of personnel management to achieve a more integrated ADF. Additionally, through future improvements of the Defence Human Resouces Information System, career managers will have better access to a broader range of information for the selection and appointment of ADF personnel.
Recommendation 4: Mitigate the adverse impacts of the posting cycle	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees Defence should mitigate the adverse impacts of posting cycles on members and their families as a priority. The Government will consider options to trial additional measures to reduce the adverse impacts of the posting cycle. This will build on the changes Defence has made in recent years to support members and families including enhancements to study and education assistance, family health benefits and leave arrangements including remote locality leave. Examples of these recent initiatives include implementation of a five-year posting outlook which provides members and their families the confidence in finding suitable education, childcare and employment opportunities at their designated home base. In September 2024, Defence also began a trial to allow early confirmation of rental allowance which provides more certainty and housing options for personnel. Defence will continue this trial and subject to its assessment, look to roll it out on an ongoing basis. Additionally, the Government will make necessary changes to ensure ADF personnel who are posted or deployed overseas (temporarily absent for up to three years), and their accompanying spouses, have consistent access to the Government’s paid parental leave (PPL) scheme.
Recommendation 5: Support all serving members to decompress, rest and reintegrate, especially after high-risk experiences	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees all members should be supported to decompress, rest and reintegrate, especially after high-risk experiences. Defence established a Mental Health and Wellbeing Branch in July 2023 to focus and strengthen Defence’s approach to preventative mental health and wellbeing in response to issues being identified through the Royal Commission. The Branch is focused on supporting and optimising the capability of ADF personnel both pre and post deployment. The Branch will review and update Defence’s Respite Policy to ensure it addresses the issues raised.
Recommendation 6: Improve the procedural fairness of the military employment classification system	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees to improve procedural fairness of the military employment classification scheme by publishing guidance for decision-makers and providing members with appropriate opportunities to review relevant documents. The Government is committed to making the Military Employment Classification system simpler, more transparent and easier to navigate, and work is already underway. The outcomes of a recent internal examination of processes for the Military Employment Classification Review Board system, including improving the transparency of decision-making, will be implemented to provide greater procedural fairness for ADF personnel.
Recommendation 7: Increase employment opportunities within the Australian Defence Force for members who cannot be deployed	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees to increase employment opportunities for members who are unable to deploy. ADF personnel may be unable to deploy during the course of their career for a variety of reasons. Although some roles in the ADF do require deployment, many do not. Defence will maximise opportunities for ADF members who are no longer able to be deployed, including systematically identifying suitable roles for these members to continue their careers in the ADF.
Recommendation 8: Maximise workforce retention by addressing factors that contribute to voluntary separation	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees the next iteration of the Workforce Plan, due to be released in 2026 alongside the National Defence Strategy, will focus on outcomes-based retention initiatives. The Government recently announced the 2024 Defence Workforce Plan, which drew on a range of Defence workforce experience data to understand the reasons people choose to stay and leave the ADF. The Workforce Plan included measures to address Defence’s organisational culture, wellbeing and support to ADF members and their families. As part of this Plan, the Government committed to ensure that benefits to support member and family wellbeing are fit for purpose, and meet both member and capability needs. The Government also committed to short-term measures to grow the ADF and reduce workforce concurrency pressures, including hollowness in the Defence Force. The Workforce Plan also included the expansion of the Continuation Bonus pilot to two separate bonus offerings to ADF personnel at two separate career decision points during their career. The first will be offered to eligible, permanent members at the end of their initial service obligation who have served a minimum of four years. The second will be offered to eligible, permanent members after a minimum of seven years of service. This expansion will encourage continuation of service and career progression to middle ranks in the Defence Force.
Recommendation 9: Improve organisational culture and leadership accountability to increase member wellbeing and safety	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees to improve Defence’s organisational culture and leadership accountability to increase member wellbeing and safety. The National Defence Strategy recognises that culture is fundamental to achieving the Defence mission and implementing the strategy. In addition to the overarching responsibility of the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of Defence, each Service Chief and Group Head is accountable for the culture of their organisations. The Government will improve Defence’s surveys and ensure it uses them to produce actionable insights, including an annual culture report. The Government amended the Defence Act 1903 so that it now includes provisions similar to those in the Fair Work Act 2009 and to implement recommendations of the Respect@Work Report. These amendments will allow ADF personnel and APS employees to make reports outside of their chain of command to stop sexual harassment. This was an unprecedented amendment to include Defence Personnel as a group of people who have access to Fair Work provisions. The Government remains committed to implementing recommendations from this report, to improve organisational culture and leadership accountability to increase member wellbeing and safety. This work will continue with urgency.
Recommendation 10: Develop service-specific action plans to implement the Defence Respect@Work Framework	Agree-in-principle	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) will work with Defence to assess the extent to which underlying drivers, risk and protective factors in the Defence Respect@Work Framework are present in each Service, allowing Defence to develop service-specific action plans for the Framework. These new action plans will extend beyond the three Services to include all Groups in Defence and is an important next step to making this overarching Framework relevant to each Service. The Government is committed to AHRC independently assessing Defence’s application of the Framework.
Recommendation 11: Assess Australian Defence Force leaders based on upward feedback and performance against culture, health and wellbeing targets	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees Defence will assess its ADF leaders based on upwards feedback and performance against culture, health and wellbeing targets. Defence is developing an integrated workplace behaviours, culture and integrity reporting capability to be tested in early 2025. The integrated reporting capability will include reporting on sexual misconduct and unacceptable behaviour. The capability will draw on wider government integrity measures from the Australian Public Service Commission and will expand to include workplace surveys data.
Recommendation 12: Consider emotional intelligence and performance against wellbeing targets in selecting leaders to promote	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees to consider emotional intelligence and performance against wellbeing targets in selecting leaders to promote. The Government will continue to strengthen the selection of ADF leaders. The introduction of the fit and proper person test has contributed to a greater focus on the culture of Defence’s leaders when assessing their suitability for promotion and selection for command positions.
Recommendation 13: Co-design a new doctrine recognising that operational readiness depends on a healthy workforce	Agree	Volume 2: Serving the nation, and Defence culture and leadership	The Government agrees to co-design a new doctrine recognising that operational readiness depends on a healthy workforce. The new doctrine will be released in 2026 alongside the next iteration of the Workforce Plan and the National Defence Strategy. The Government recognises that people are Defence’s most important asset. Defence must evolve its culture to underpin the significant reform required to deliver the National Defence Strategy, including supporting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of its workforce. Defence has continued to improve health services and support by expanding funds and services available under the ADF Family Health Benefit program from 1 July 2023. This included doubling the allowances per dependent per year, and expanding the services eligible for reimbursements to ADF personnel, to include improved access and support for healthy diets, physical activity and cancer screening.
Recommendation 14: Understand the prevalence and effects of military sexual trauma and improve responses to support victims	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to research the prevalence and effects of military sexual trauma and improve responses to support victims, including use of appropriate terminology.
Recommendation 15: Clarify definitions and processes related to sexual offences	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to clarify definitions and processes related to sexual offences. Proactive initiatives to prevent sexual misconduct create workplaces that are safer and more productive. All Defence personnel receive training to raise awareness of the issue of sexual misconduct and to help commanders, managers and teams to manage an incident if it should occur. In October 2024, Defence updated its guidance to clarify the need for Joint Military Police Unit to be consulted to determine whether an incident constitutes an offence. Defence will update its guidance to include definitions of sexual offences aligned with the Crimes Act 1900.
Recommendation 16: Evaluate training on managing sexual misconduct and make it mandatory for all leaders	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to evaluate training on managing sexual misconduct and make the training mandatory for all leaders. There is no place for sexual misconduct in Defence. Mandatory sexual misconduct education seeks to equip Defence personnel with the understanding they need to prevent, respond to and report incidents of sexual misconduct. Defence will evaluate its Sexual Misconduct Workshops and continue to develop its mandatory education on sexual misconduct for all Defence employees. Defence’s mandatory training currently includes modules on which unacceptable behaviours constitute sexual misconduct, pathways for disclosing or reporting sexual misconduct, consent, and how to respond to disclosures. Enhancing and modernising Defence’s established sexual misconduct education program ensures an enterprise-wide approach to sexual misconduct education.
Recommendation 17: Prioritise the prevention of sexual misconduct in the Australian Defence Force	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to prioritise the prevention of sexual misconduct in the ADF which will include the development of a comprehensive sexual misconduct prevention strategy. The Government will invest in efforts aimed at sexual misconduct prevention in the ADF. A comprehensive sexual misconduct prevention strategy will unify Defence’s approach to prevention, detection and response to sexual misconduct. The strategy will include a commitment from leadership to build awareness and seek to prevent sexual misconduct through early intervention and the management of complaints. Defence will develop the strategy and its policy on prevention of sexual misconduct to align with the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children (2022-32).
Recommendation 18: Strengthen workplace protections during sexual misconduct investigations	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to prioritise strengthening workplace protections during sexual misconduct investigations, including through a dedicated policy for when investigations are underway in the administrative, disciplinary or civilian justice systems. This policy on workplace protections during sexual misconduct investigations will provide for the immediate amendment of work arrangements to ensure no contact between the victim and alleged perpetrator. The Government will make necessary legislative amendments to enable ADF members to be suspended with pay (while not precluding suspension without pay) with appropriate safeguards, when they are subject to an investigation or inquiry. All workplaces should be safe, inclusive and free from harassment, discrimination and other unlawful behaviours. Defence has implemented Stop Sexual Harassment directions, which mirror those introduced by the Government’s Respect@Work legislation. The Government also expanded the jurisdiction of the Fair Work commission to receive stop work applications from defence personnel if they have exhausted internal processes. As an interim measure in November 2024, the Chief of the Defence Force issued an interim Directive ‘Consideration of Suspension from Duty and Involuntary Separation of ADF Members Alleged to have Engaged in Serious Misconduct’ aimed at ensuring more consistent decision-making by setting out a process and providing guidance for the management of certain offences including sexual offences.
Recommendation 19: Protect victims of sexual misconduct from disadvantage over the course of their careers	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees victims of sexual misconduct should be protected from disadvantage over the course of their careers. The Government strengthened protections for employees who have been, or are being, subjected to family and domestic violence from discrimination in the workplace through amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 in 2023 and 2024. These were applied to Defence and the ADF. The Government agrees that victims of sexual misconduct should not be posted with their perpetrator/s over the course of their career in the ADF where possible and appropriate. Defence will report to the Minister for Defence Personnel on how career management, human resources and Defence housing systems have been updated to ensure this.
Recommendation 20: Amend the legislation related to sentencing perpetrators of military sexual offences	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees the impact of a sexual offence on the victim, and the comparative ranks of the offender and victim, should be considered in sentencing. The Government will seek to make necessary legislative amendments to achieve this, including to the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth). In September 2024, the Australian Defence Force Chief Judge Advocate amended Practice Note 6 – Part IV Sentencing to require the prosecution counsel to invite victims to make a victim impact statement for consideration by the service tribunal during sentencing.
Recommendation 21: Implement a ‘presumption’ of discharge for Australian Defence Force members found to have engaged in certain forms of sexual misconduct	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that subject to fair process the ADF will implement a presumption of discharge for members found to have engaged in serious sexual misconduct. All Defence personnel have a responsibility to help create a safe and respectful workplace environment and culture free from sexual misconduct. This includes an understanding of what constitutes sexual misconduct, prompt and sensitive actioning of reports and managing incidents well when they occur. Further work will be done to understand the legislative reform required to give effect to this recommendation.
Recommendation 22: Adopt a policy of mandatory discharge for Australian Defence Force members convicted of sexual and related offences	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that the ADF will adopt a policy of mandatory discharge for ADF members convicted of sexual and related offences. All Defence personnel have a responsibility to help create a safe and respectful workplace environment and culture free from sexual misconduct. This includes an understanding of what constitutes sexual misconduct, prompt and sensitive actioning of reports and managing incidents well when they occur. Further work will be done to understand the legislative reform required to give effect to this recommendation.
Recommendation 23: Record convictions of sexual offences in Australian Defence Force records and civilian criminal records	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that the ADF will ensure it has a complete and reliable record of all serving members’ convictions of serious crimes in civilian courts, and will record convictions of sexual offences and related offences made under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 in civilian criminal records. The Government notes that the Minister for Defence has recently agreed to the policy for reporting certain Service Convictions to an authority of the Commonwealth, or of a State or a Territory, for purposes connected with investigating, prosecuting or keeping records in relation to offences against laws of the Commonwealth, the State or the Territory. This policy ensures that Service Convictions that society would expect to appear on a criminal history record apply to members of the ADF, even once they leave the Defence Force. The Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission have been working closely with Defence to integrate Service Convictions for serious offences into the National Police Reference System. This will enable Defence data to be made available for police reference checks.
Recommendation 24: Annually publish anonymised data on outcomes of all incidents of sexual misconduct	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to annually publish anonymised data on the administrative and disciplinary outcomes of all incidents and forms of sexual misconduct, which will be disaggregated by service and include the demographic information of victims and perpetrators.
Recommendation 25: Conduct a formal inquiry into military sexual violence in the Australian Defence Force	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to commission an independent inquiry into military sexual violence in the ADF. Sexual misconduct and unacceptable behaviour have no place in Defence. The rates of sexual violence being reported in the ADF are completely unacceptable. Defence will support and participate in any formal inquiries conducted into military sexual violence in the ADF.
Recommendation 26: Foster a strong culture of reporting unacceptable behaviour	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that Defence will develop a stronger culture of reporting unacceptable behaviour, including taking action to identify where those behaviours are occurring, and implement risk mitigation strategies. In addition to fostering a stronger reporting culture, Defence will improve its reporting capability in consultation with the APS Commission. This reporting capability will enable the integration of multiple sources of data, including complaints, to prevent, detect and respond to unacceptable behaviour. The first version of this capability will be available in late 2024.
Recommendation 27: Evaluate outcomes to ensure that Defence has addressed the intent behind recommendations	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to evaluate Defence’s implementation of the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s 2023 review into its handling of unacceptable behaviour complaints. In 2023, Defence accepted all the recommendations of the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s review ‘Defending Fairness - Does Defence handle unacceptable complaints effectively?’ A key recommendation of that report was to establish a specialised, centralised trained complaints unit with quality assurance at its core to ensure Defence’s policies and procedures are applied consistently and to facilitate continuous improvement. Defence will evaluate and report to the Government on the status of the implementation of the review’s recommendations. Defence will prioritise the achievement of its intent, including the establishment of a specialised, centralised trained complaints unit.
Recommendation 28: Coordinate governance, assurance and policy functions of the military justice system	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to effectively coordinate the governance, assurance and policy functions of the military justice system. Defence will establish a new Military Justice System Assurance Branch in December 2024 to coordinate these functions.
Recommendation 29: Establish a new role to improve training and communication on conducting inquiries	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees ‘fact finds’ and inquiries should be conducted in a trauma-informed manner, and agrees to review the effectiveness of existing approaches to training, policies and communication material accordingly. The new Military Justice System Assurance Branch will include a Joint Workforce Capability Employment Manager to undertake these reviews.
Recommendation 30: Prioritise the Inspector-General’s inquiry into the weaponisation of the administrative system	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force should prioritise its own-initiative inquiry into the weaponisation of the administrative system.
Recommendation 31: Consider how mental health may contribute to poor conduct before recommending administrative termination	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that Defence should consider how mental health may have contributed to poor conduct, including when considering viable alternatives to administrative termination. As an interim measure in November 2024, the Chief of the Defence Force issued an interim Directive ‘Consideration of Suspension from Duty and Involuntary Separation of ADF Members Alleged to have Engaged in Serious Misconduct’ that includes a requirement to consider the member’s mental health and impact of that condition on their conduct.
Recommendation 32: When requested, conduct a merits review when a member’s service is terminated for the reason ‘retention-not-in-service-interest’	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to introduce an enhanced merits review process, and to consider a ‘fast track’ method for conducting external merits reviews. Defence will work closely with the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force and the Attorney-General’s Department to consider how this recommendation can be implemented.
Recommendation 33: Seek to understand whether/how involvement in military justice processes contributes to adverse outcomes	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to undertake further research to understand how involvement in military justice processes may contribute to adverse outcomes, and, if they are found to contribute to adverse outcomes, to implement policies to appropriately support members. This research will consider and build on a previous review by Defence of its health policies relating to members involved in the military justice system. That review resulted in updated guidance in June 2024 for Defence health staff in advising commanders and managers, and supporting members who are involved in the military justice process.
Recommendation 34: Prioritise the review into the regulations governing court martial panels	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees Defence will prioritise the review of current regulations governing court martial panels and document them in the 2024/25 Military Justice Steering Group workplan.
Recommendation 35: Determine whether support mechanisms for members involved with military justice processes are effective	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to evaluate the effectiveness of support mechanisms for members involved in military justice processes.
Recommendation 36: Trial a model outside the chain of command for supporting members involved in military justice processes	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to trial a model outside the chain of command for supporting members involved in military justice processes. The ADF should fund and pilot a model for automatic, opt-out referral to both legal and welfare support services for members engaged in certain military justice processes that is separate from the chain of command (for example, the Workplace Behaviour Adviser Network, the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Office, and the Employee Assistance Program).
Recommendation 37: Develop a charter of minimum standards for all members involved in military justice processes	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to develop a charter of minimum standards for all members involved in military justice processes. Defence has commenced development of this charter. The charter will set minimum standards for all members involved with or subject to disciplinary processes, or involved in matters handled by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 38: Improve governance processes related to accountability and continuous improvement	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees Defence should improve its governance processes related to accountability and continuous improvement regarding mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Defence and DVA have commenced work on a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Recommendation 39: Address risk factors for suicide and suicidality and report on progress as part of enterprise-level risk management	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that Defence will continue to address risk factors for suicide and suicidality, and report on progress as part of enterprise-level risk management and development of the mental health and wellbeing strategy, supported by two Action Plans. Defence has created a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Branch to focus and strengthen Defence’s approach to preventive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, which will be responsible for the implementation of this recommendation. Defence and DVA are prioritising suicide prevention programs, including through the release of the draft Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for consultation by the end of 2024. The strategy will be reviewed by the Taskforce before finalisation in 2025.
Recommendation 40: Improve governance mechanisms from the unit level to the enterprise level	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that Defence will improve its governance mechanisms, including identifying and addressing barriers to effective governance.
Recommendation 41: Build project-management capability so that reform initiatives are successful	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that Defence will assess and build its project management capacity, with a focus on areas directly responsible for implementing recommendations made by the Royal Commission.
Recommendation 42: Ensure that future Inspectors-General of the Australian Defence Force will not have served in the ADF	Note	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government notes this recommendation. The Government agrees the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force should be appropriately qualified, independent, supported and consistent with comparable Inspectors-General. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 43: Allow the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force to make recruitment decisions for the staffing of their office	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force should make recruitment decisions for the staffing of their office. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 44: Ensure that staff of the office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force have the necessary skills, expertise and qualifications	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees staff of the office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force should have the necessary skills, expertise and qualifications to perform their duties, informed by an appropriate assessment. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 45: Improve transparency and accountability of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force by increasing their reporting requirements	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to improve transparency and accountability of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force through the publication of the guidance or other Standard Operating Procedures, to include quality assurance and, where feasible, performance measures. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 46: Ensure staff of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force are trained in trauma-informed practice	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees staff of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will continue to be appropriately trained in trauma-informed practice. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 47: The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force to inquire into all deaths of serving members unless suicide can be excluded as the cause of death	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that inquiries into deaths of ADF members should be presumed where suicide cannot be excluded and there is a plausible service nexus. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 48: When a member dies by suicide, appoint a legal officer to represent the interests of the deceased and support the next of kin	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees that the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force should continue to ensure a legal officer represents the interests of the deceased, where the next of kin consents. When a serving member dies by suicide, or is suspected to have died by suicide, the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force should ensure that a legal officer from Defence Counsel Services has been appointed to represent the interests of the deceased upon written directions for a formal inquiry being issued. The Inspector-General should ensure that interviews with the member’s next of kin are conducted after the legal officer has been appointed and made contact with them. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 49: Minimise disclosure restrictions of Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force inquiry reports and ensure they are fair and understood by the next of kin	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will continue to minimise disclosure restrictions of the reports and ensure they are understood by next of kin. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 50: Amend the scope of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force's role to inquire into suicide deaths of former Australian Defence Force members	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force should conduct inquiries into the deaths of former serving ADF members. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 51: The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force to regularly review inquiries into suicide deaths to determine common themes	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force should conduct triennial inquiries and reports into ADF member deaths by suicide or suspected suicide. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 52: Conduct a merits review when a member’s service is involuntarily terminated and they submit a redress of grievance complaint	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will continue to conduct a merits review and seek member engagement in the resolution of their complaint. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 53: Give members 21 days to make a complaint after being notified of a decision to terminate their service	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to amend policy to enable members to make a complaint up to 21 days after being notified of a decision to terminate their service.
Recommendation 54: Improve the frequency of military justice-related audits conducted by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will conduct the audits and studies as recommended by the Royal Commission. All recommendations related to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force will be implemented with regard to the recommendations of the Twenty-Year Review of the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 55: Conduct an audit into Defence workplace health and safety risk management	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to conduct an audit in 2025 into Defence workplace health and safety risk management.
Recommendation 56: Improve guidance and understanding of Defence’s ‘if in doubt, notify’ policy	Note	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government notes this recommendation. Comcare will work with Defence to improve understanding and guidance concerning the ‘if in doubt, notify’ policy about when to report a notifiable incident to Comcare.
Recommendation 57: Comcare to regularly review Australian Defence Force determinations of ‘service nexus’ for suicide attempts and suspected deaths by suicide	Note	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government notes this recommendation. Comcare will conduct a periodic review of matters that Defence has determined as ‘not notifiable’, and evaluate the results.
Recommendation 58: Give Comcare access to the National Veterans’ Data Asset	Note	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government notes this recommendation for further consideration by the Taskforce. The Government acknowledges the essential need for high quality data and research to support better health, wellbeing and safety outcomes for veterans and their families. The Government will continue to improve the understanding of veterans’ data in order to better support veterans and families. Comcare will work with relevant agencies to facilitate access to a National Veterans’ Data Asset (or equivalent) to inform Comcare’s regulatory approach to preventing psychosocial harm including latent harm.
Recommendation 59: Defence to participate in Comcare’s Psychosocial Proactive Inspection Program	Note	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government notes this recommendation for further consideration by the Taskforce. In 2023-24, Comcare piloted a psychosocial proactive inspection program. An independent evaluation of the pilot found it was perceived as a positive experience by workers, persons conducting a business or other stakeholders. The program methodology is currently being refined in order to effectively scale-up and support ongoing implementation. Comcare will commence a Psychosocial Proactive Inspection Program in respect of Defence.
Recommendation 60: Improve strategies for harm prevention and early intervention by sharing quality data with Comcare	Agree	Volume 3: Military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour and military justice	The Government agrees to this recommendation. Defence will improve strategies in relation to data sharing with Comcare, including seeking to share data and subsequent analysis on psychosocial harm.
Recommendation 61: Establish a brain injury program	Agree-in-principle	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation, for further consideration by the Taskforce. Noting the complex nature of brain injury and their evolving understanding, particularly in military settings, the Taskforce will provide advice on the establishment of a brain injury program. Current and former full time serving ADF members can already receive treatment of all mental health conditions, including those which may be linked to brain injuries. Under DVA’s Non-Liability Health Care mental health arrangements, members can be seen without the need to prove the condition is related to their service. This includes reservists who have at least one day of continuous full-time service. Defence and DVA are leveraging research of the Five Eyes community, including through regular engagement with the United States’ Department of Veterans Affairs. The Repatriation Commission will continue to engage with the Repatriation Medical Authority on emerging research evidence.
Recommendation 62: Establish a research translation centre for Defence and veteran health care	Agree-in-principle	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Government recognises the unique healthcare needs of the Defence and veteran community. It is also important that research that relates to Defence members and veterans is translated into actionable health care support for the community. The Government notes the work underway in DVA to establish a new research and evaluation partnership model known as the Veteran and Family – Learning and Innovation Network of Knowledge. This will enhance the impact of research and evaluation, promote evidence based practices and contribute to better outcomes for veteran health and wellbeing. This is expected to commence early 2025.
Recommendation 63: Reduce stigma and remove structural and cultural barriers to help seeking	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees to remove structural and cultural barriers in order to remove stigma to help-seeking. ADF culture places significant value on sacrifice and self-sufficiency, in some cases inhibiting members from asking for help and seeking appropriate treatment.
Recommendation 64: Establish an enterprise-wide program to monitor and prevent physical and psychological injury	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees that there would be benefit in establishing an enterprise-wide program to monitor and prevent physical and psychological injury, consistent with the new Work Health and Safety Act 2011 obligations. Defence will build on initial work already underway, including improving its Work Health Safety Management Information System and the establishment of a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Branch.
Recommendation 65: Improve access to, timeliness and quality of mental health screening and use the data effectively	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees that Defence will use data effectively to improve access to, timeliness and quality of mental health screening. The Government will commit to improving mental health screening. Defence will build on the work underway including mental health research underway and efforts to improve health assessments.
Recommendation 66: Where possible, support injured members to be rehabilitated at work, within their home unit	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees that Defence will enhance its support for injured members to be rehabilitated at work, within their home unit, where possible.
Recommendation 67: Align Defence’s clinical governance framework with the national model framework	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees that Defence should align its clinical governance framework with the national model framework. Defence will implement this recommendation, building on the work it has initiated including an expert review into clinical governance, led by the Force Health Protection Principal Consultant to the Surgeon General of the ADF.
Recommendation 68: Strike the right balance between upholding confidentiality and disclosing information when a member is in distress	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees to ensure Defence appropriately adheres to confidentiality requirements, while disclosing necessary information where necessary. The Government will work through any legislative reform changes required to give effect to this recommendation.
Recommendation 69: Improve suicide-prevention training so it is practical, tailored, informed by lived experience and delivered in person	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees that Defence will improve its suicide prevention training. In addition to updating annual training and awareness initiatives, Defence and DVA have commenced suicide prevention programs. Defence is also exploring a Lived Experience Framework to understand how it can safely and formally incorporate lived experience in programs and activities.
Recommendation 70: Revise protocols for responding to suicidal crisis to be in line with clinical best practice	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees that Defence will review and revise its protocols for responding to suicidal crises in line with clinical best practice.
Recommendation 71: Increase the Department of Veterans’ Affairs fee schedule so it is aligned with that of the National Disability Insurance Scheme	Note	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government notes this recommendation for further consideration by the Taskforce. The Government acknowledges the relativity of DVA fees to comparable fees in the health, aged care and disability sectors can have a negative impact on access for veterans. The Government is progressing elements of this recommendation relating to DVA’s Veterans’ Home Care, Household Services and Community Nursing Programs. This has been conjunction with the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority, and the broader work on the care and support economy, including the intended alignment of pricing over time. The Government agrees there is a need to consider veteran health care pricing arrangements and system design. This will help better incentivise providers, simplify administrative arrangements, ensure greater fiscal sustainability of veteran healthcare arrangements, and promote better veteran health outcomes. Aligning the DVA fee schedule with that of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which does not fund medical care, is unlikely to incentivise the proliferation of military-informed veteran friendly general practices that deliver multidisciplinary care and coordinate access within a specialised veteran local care network, including to secondary and tertiary services. Progressing the competitiveness of fees in the context of the wider care and support economy including independent price setting mechanisms consistent with other Commonwealth funded health, aged care and disability services will address parity.
Recommendation 72: Expand and strengthen healthcare services for veterans	Note	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government notes this recommendation for further consideration by the Taskforce. DVA will continue to work with states and territories to improve health services for veterans. Over the last three financial years, the Australian Government has invested $6.84 million in the National Centre for Veterans’ Healthcare at Concord Hospital in NSW. In addition to this, in 2023-24, the Government has spent more than $1 billion on public and private hospital services for veterans and more than $1.4 billion on primary, specialist and allied healthcare. The Government acknowledges that coordinated, multidisciplinary and military informed care is needed for veterans with more complex conditions. Some veterans experience difficulties accessing a health care provider due to a range of factors, including broader workforce issues within the health care sector in certain locations and business decisions by some health providers.
Recommendation 73: Improve military cultural competency in health professions working with veterans	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees to this recommendation. The Government acknowledges the value of building the cultural competency and military awareness of health care providers working with veterans. The Government has extended the Military Veterans’ Psychiatry Training program for a further one year, which aims to improve access to psychiatrists with training in military and veteran mental health by funding military and veteran psychiatry registrar training placements. DVA has collaborated with Medcast Pty Ltd, a health professional education provider, to implement the dedicated Veterans Healthcare eLearning Platform (VETs HeLP), launched on 1 July 2024. The platform provides health professionals access to a range of evidence-based educational resources central to delivering health care to veterans and their families. While the training is primarily aimed at GPs, some of the training resources will also be applicable to a broader range of healthcare providers. DVA recognises the general practice landscape continues to evolve and it needs to be better positioned to understand the needs of providers. To support this, a General Practitioner Advisory Group was established in June 2023, with representation from all key primary healthcare colleges and associations. In the 2023-24 budget the Government tripled the Veteran Access Payment for GPs to provide higher fees for face to face and telehealth GP consultations including home visits. These payments are equivalent to the Medicare Bulk Billing incentive.
Recommendation 74: Clarify the application of the Privacy Act to veterans to determine whether amendments are necessary	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees there is a need for enhanced information and data sharing to improve health, wellbeing and safety outcomes for veterans and their families, and will consider the need for legislative changes to better support these outcomes. DVA should seek legal advice clarifying the application of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (and any other relevant legislation) to veterans and their families in the context of sharing data and information related to health, wellbeing and safety.
Recommendation 75: Conduct an independent review of Open Arms and publish the report	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees to commission an independent review of Open Arms. The Government acknowledges Open Arms’ commitment to ongoing service improvement, and compliance with clinical standards and governance in their current work.
Recommendation 76: Develop a postvention framework with experts and those with lived experience of suicide bereavement	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees to continue the work currently underway to develop a postvention framework with experts and those with lived experience of suicide bereavement. Initial work to implement postvention support across DVA and Defence includes improving DVA’s Adverse Events Analysis and Defence training modules that seek to focus on suicide postvention practices and increased access to postvention bereavement services support.
Recommendation 77: Develop a suite of postvention resources in collaboration with stakeholders	Agree	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees to develop a suite of postvention resources, in collaboration with stakeholders, to support those affected by defence and veteran suicide. DVA’s Suicide Postvention Framework will continue to be developed and will describe the range of postvention activities to be undertaken by DVA and other bodies.
Recommendation 78: Prevent, minimise and treat moral injury	Agree-in-principle	Volume 4: Health care for serving and ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Government acknowledges the negative impacts that moral injury can have on members of the ADF. Defence and DVA will build on existing work, for example, including moral injury considerations in the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Government will continue to explore moral injury in the Australian military population, including conducting and commissioning further research where necessary.
Recommendation 79: Ensure that respect for and recognition of service are embedded throughout Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees that respect for and recognition of service should be embedded throughout Defence and DVA. Defence and DVA will continue to identify and entrench practices that demonstrate respect and recognition for veterans and their families. Defence is examining options to identify ways to better recognise the service of ADF personnel who are transitioning from service.
Recommendation 80: Department of Veterans’ Affairs to take responsibility for supporting members to transition out of the Australian Defence Force	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Government is committed to supporting serving members to have a proactive and meaningful transition journey. The Government has provided additional funding to DVA to commence consultation on transition and wellbeing supports, including the co-design of a new agency focused on wellbeing (Recommendation 87). Consultation will include ways to encourage participation, including in line with the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into Adaptive Sport Programs for Australian Defence Force Veterans.
Recommendation 81: Department of Veterans’ Affairs to fund a program to support members’ wellbeing during transition to civilian life	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Government is committed to supporting serving members to ensure their transition beyond military life is proactive and meaningful, noting the range of views across the Defence and veteran community relating to transition. The Government has provided additional funding to DVA to commence consultation on transition and wellbeing supports, including the co-design of a new wellbeing agency (Recommendation 87). Consultation will include ways to encourage wellbeing and participation, including recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into Adaptive Sport Programs for Australian Defence Force Veterans.
Recommendation 82: Establish a consistent, locally responsive policy on ex-serving members’ access to bases	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees that a consistent, locally responsive policy on former serving ADF members’ access to bases will be established. Defence is examining its existing base access policies to determine how to best implement this recommendation.
Recommendation 83(a): Commencing 1 July 2025, issue all civilian accreditations for Defence training at the point of completion of the requisite training, rather than at the point of transition from service	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	Recommendation 83 aims to increase opportunities for members to gain civilian qualifications from Defence training and education. Defence should expand the objective of its education and training policies and programs from a sole focus on Defence capability requirements to include member lifetime wellbeing. The Government recognises the benefits of increasing opportunities for members to gain civilian qualifications from Defence training and education.
Recommendation 83(b): Remove arbitrary limits on the number of civilian qualifications that may be awarded to a member in recognition of Defence training they have completed	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	Recommendation 83 aims to increase opportunities for members to gain civilian qualifications from Defence training and education. Defence should expand the objective of its education and training policies and programs from a sole focus on Defence capability requirements to include member lifetime wellbeing. The Government recognises the benefits of increasing opportunities for members to gain civilian qualifications from Defence training and education.
Recommendation 83(c): ‘Fill the gap’ between Defence and civilian training (where an equivalent civilian qualification exists), either by expanding the content of the Defence training course or by funding bridging training for members prior to separation	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	Recommendation 83 aims to increase opportunities for members to gain civilian qualifications from Defence training and education. Defence should expand the objective of its education and training policies and programs from a sole focus on Defence capability requirements to include member lifetime wellbeing. The Government recognises the benefits of increasing opportunities for members to gain civilian qualifications from Defence training and education.
Recommendation 84: Issue separating members with a reference that states their skills, experience and capabilities	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees that Defence will issue separating members with a reference that states their skills, experience and capabilities. Testimonials that detail an individual’s period of service and are intended for use as a reference for prospective employers are a valuable tool for members’ transition. Defence will strengthen its approach to achieve consistency across all Groups and Services when providing testimonials to ADF personnel who are transitioning from permanent service.
Recommendation 85: Develop employment pathways for ex-serving members in public sector agencies	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees that DVA will continue to work with the Australian Public Service Commission and other public sector agencies on improving employment pathways for former serving ADF members, including the VetPaths program. VetPaths provides an employment pathway for veterans into the Australian Public Service to support transitioning, and recently transitioned, veterans to establish an ongoing and meaningful career in the public service. It will be expanded in 2025 with the focus being on increasing agency participation and subsequently participant numbers.
Recommendation 86: Ongoing funding for Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Government agrees that ongoing funding options for Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs should be developed including DVA tenancy opportunities in Hubs, with the planning for the establishment of a new agency in DVA focused on wellbeing (Recommendation 87) and the supports and programs intended in Recommendations 79, 80 and 81.
Recommendation 87: Establish a new agency to focus on veteran wellbeing	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation, as part of its commitment to ensuring service members are supported through their transition out of the ADF. The Government has provided additional funding to DVA to commence consultation on transition and wellbeing supports, including the co-design of a new agency focused on wellbeing.
Recommendation 88: Develop a national funding agreement on veterans’ wellbeing	Note	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government notes this recommendation. The Government acknowledges the important contribution states and territories make to veteran wellbeing, including through the Federal Financial Relations system. DVA and Defence will continue to work collaboratively with jurisdictions to improve supports for current and former serving ADF members, including supports relating to homelessness, incarceration, schooling and health.
Recommendation 89: Establish a national peak body for ex-service organisations	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Government has provided additional funding to DVA to continue consultation with ex-service organisations on the development of a national peak body.
Recommendation 90(a): Remove the service differential for permanent impairment compensation	Does not support	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government does not support the removal of the service differential as it relates to permanent impairment compensation. The Government acknowledges there are differing views in the veteran community about the service differential. It notes that while all veterans, including reservists, are able to access support and assistance for all conditions linked to their service through DVA, the service differential is a long-standing feature of Australia’s support for veterans which sees higher levels of compensation provided for injuries or illness incurred in operational type service.
Recommendation 90(b): Expand mental health support to all reserve personnel	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to further expanding non-liability health care for mental health conditions to all reserve personnel.
Recommendation 91: Implement combined benefits processing for all initial liability and permanent impairment claims	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees to DVA implementing combined benefits processing for liability and permanent impairment claims where possible.
Recommendation 92: Review claims to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs associated with physical and sexual abuse	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees to commission an independent review of claims associated with physical and sexual abuse and will continue to ensure processes support best practice in the management of cases related to physical and sexual abuse.
Recommendation 93: Fund the Transition Medical Assessment Pilot Program on an ongoing and national basis	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to fund the Transition Medical Assessment Pilot Program, subject to an evaluation of the pilot to ensure its effectiveness. DVA has commenced work on the pilot program, which is supported by Defence who provide referrals for medical imaging and specialist reviews, ongoing provision of office space and Defence IT systems, and assistance with data requests. The model seeks to have Defence and DVA case management staff working together within Defence health facilities to manage the medical transition requirements of members with complex medical conditions in the lead up to their transition date.
Recommendation 94: Improve timeliness and reporting on information-sharing between Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for claims processing	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees to improve the timeliness and reporting of information-sharing between Defence and DVA for claims processing. This work is underway and will be delivered through the Health Knowledge Management System.
Recommendation 95: Support the expanded application of ‘presumptive liability’	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees to expand the application of ‘presumptive liability’, noting the Veterans’ Entitlements Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 has been introduced into Parliament.
Recommendation 96: Ongoing funding for Provisional Access to Medical Treatment	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Australian Government agrees-in-principle to continuing the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment program beyond June 2026. Through this program, eligible veterans who are waiting for their claims to be considered by DVA can continue to receive medical and allied health treatment on a provisional basis for one or more of the 20 most commonly accepted conditions, such as hearing loss. In 2024, the Government extended the program until 30 June 2026, with funding for treatment under the program continuing until 31 December 2026.
Recommendation 97: Consider giving the Veteran Payment to more veterans with physical health conditions	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to consider expansion of the eligibility for the Veteran Payment to further support the financial security of veterans and their families. Veterans claiming physical health conditions already benefit from potential eligibility for the Veteran Payment where they are also claiming a mental health condition at the same time.
Recommendation 98: Strengthen Department of Veterans’ Affairs performance targets for claims processing timeframes, and improve transparency	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to the recommendation. The Government has made significant investments to ensure DVA is better funded and resourced than it has been in three decades. As a result of those investments, DVA has cleared the backlog of unallocated claims identified in the Royal Commission’s Interim Report. The Government has undertaken significant legislative reforms to simplify the legislative basis of support for veterans through the Veterans’ Entitlements Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024. The Government will continue to progress improvements to DVA’s performance reporting, noting DVA now publishes its claims processing times information on its website. A range of business improvement activities are underway aimed at streamlining claims processing activities and improving DVA’s engagement with veterans and the broader veteran community.
Recommendation 99: Improve compensation advocacy by funding professional, paid advocates	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to improving compensation and wellbeing advocacy, including funding compensation advocacy services that are provided at no cost to veterans. DVA has been working with ex-service organisations to consider how advocacy services could be strengthened to benefit veterans and families, including consultation on a national professional association for veterans’ advocates. DVA is currently piloting the Claims Lodgement Assistance program in Western Australia. This pilot embeds experienced compensation staff within Ex-Service Organisation offices (ESOs) to work alongside ESO advocates to provide advice to veterans on DVA entitlements and supports, information to support a claim, and what to expect during the claim process. This program will also assist veterans to lodge compensation claims and facilitate referrals to rehabilitation support through DVA where needed.
Recommendation 100: Improve the transparency, accountability and effectiveness of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs rehabilitation program	Agree-in-principle	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees-in-principle to improve the transparency, accountability and effectiveness of DVA’s rehabilitation program by expanding and publishing its performance indicators. This will be supported by the improved data reporting arrangements recently implemented with national rehabilitation providers.
Recommendation 101(a): Enable veterans to choose their rehabilitation provider and to self-manager their budget for approved household assistance on an opt-in basis	Note	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government notes the recommendation to enable veterans to choose their rehabilitation provider and to self-manage their budget for approved household assistance on an opt-in basis. This recommendation will be further considered by the Taskforce. The Government notes that changes were introduced in June 2024 that enabled veterans to have more choice and agency to tailor their rehabilitation plans. Under existing programs, veterans are able to choose their household service providers, general practitioner, specialist and allied health provider, as well as access public hospitals, and choose from over 500 DVA-contracted private hospitals and day procedure centres.
Recommendation 101(b): Reimburse veterans for travel costs to see their preferred healthcare providers	Agree	Volume 5: Transition, DVA and support for ex-serving members	The Government agrees to legislative reform to reimburse veterans for travel costs to see their preferred healthcare providers. Changes proposed in the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 will harmonise access to, and funding for, expenses incurred in undertaking travel for treatment.
Recommendation 102: Implement and improve upon the Defence Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Family and Domestic Violence	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees with this recommendation. Defence will continue to improve the extant Defence Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Family and Domestic Violence. Elements of this recommendation have commenced. Defence will release its Action Plan supporting the Defence Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Family and Domestic Violence by the end of 2024, incorporating elements of this recommendation.
Recommendation 103: Improve the support, communication and services provided to Defence families	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees that Defence will continue to improve the support, communication and services provided to Defence families. Defence will continue to review its suite of family support programs and initiatives available to Defence families, including services that support partners and children of ADF personnel. Defence is reviewing the Defence Member and Family Helpline data to better understand issues and trends. Defence has designed a framework to evaluate outcomes, including the efficiency and effectiveness of all current and future Defence Member and Family Support initiatives. Defence is evaluating and re-designing program data collection methods to align with outcomes. Significant work is underway to ensure Defence communicates with members and their families in a trauma-informed way, and that families have access to the right information at the right time in their family’s service journey. Defence Member and Family Support is developing a new public facing portal to increase communication and access to information for families. Defence will seek consent from registered family members to communicate with them directly on supports and services tailored to their military lifecycle needs and interests, further reducing barriers to information access in a timely and efficient manner.
Recommendation 104: Improve the profile, resourcing and impact of the Defence Family Advocate	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees to consider the profile, resourcing and impact of the Defence Family Advocate. This will be informed by further detailed analysis of administrative processes and support required for the Defence Family Advocate to fulfil its responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
Recommendation 105: Improve coordination with coroners and the National Coronial Information System	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes this recommendation, which the Taskforce will consider further in consultation with other relevant stakeholders. The Government supports greater cooperation between coroners and improved coronial data sharing, but notes the complexity to implementing this recommendation, including that states and territories are responsible for coronial matters. The Government will engage with states and territories on practical solutions to improve coordination with coroners and the National Coronial Information System.
Recommendation 106: Establish a suicide database of serving and ex-serving members	Agree-in-principle	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees-in-principle to establish an appropriate database for the purpose of suicide monitoring and reporting, with the Taskforce to consider options for implementation. This will include considerations with respect to the collection, management and sharing of data. Defence and DVA are working closely with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to develop an approach to collect data relating to suicide monitoring and reporting. The Government notes the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare will continue to collect Defence and veteran suicide data, and publish annually.
Recommendation 107: Establish the National Veterans’ Data Asset	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes this recommendation for further consideration by the Taskforce. The Taskforce will consider and develop options for Government consideration on ways to efficiently and effectively improve veterans’ data collection and management to improve understanding of deaths by suicide and provide better support to veterans and their families.
Recommendation 108: Ensure that all relevant jurisdictions and entities regularly provide data to the National Veterans’ Data Asset	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes this recommendation for further consideration by the Taskforce. The Government acknowledges the important role of states and territories in supporting veterans’ health and wellbeing, and will continue to work collaboratively across jurisdictions including on data use and sharing and associated governance arrangements.
Recommendation 109: Defence to report annually on its progress towards data maturity	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees that Defence will report annually to the Minister for Defence on its progress toward data maturity. Defence will leverage the whole-of-government Data Maturity Assessment Tool to monitor and manage its maturity uplift.
Recommendation 110: Review Defence’s data assets and address issues with their quality, management, integration and use	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes this recommendation. Defence will review its data assets and address issues with their quality, management, integration and use. Defence will consider how to best implement this recommendation taking into account reform already underway with Defence’s Enterprise Resource Planning Program.
Recommendation 111: Achieve a ‘gold standard’ rating for Defence datasets related to suicidality and suicide	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes this recommendation. The Government agrees Defence should manage its datasets in accordance with best practice and seek to set the highest standard for data management. Given the complexity of Defence’s data sets, further work will be required to improve the quality, management and integration of data consistent and effectively across the Defence enterprise.
Recommendation 112: Include data on suicide and suicidality in the enterprise-wide Defence data catalogue	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees that Defence should include data on suicide and suicidality in the enterprise-wide Defence data catalogue. This work will be prioritised under the Defence Data Strategy 2.0.
Recommendation 113: Ensure commanding officers access and use quality data for continuous improvement of wellbeing metrics	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes this recommendation for consideration by the Taskforce. The Government agrees Defence should ensure commanding officers have access to, and use of, available quality data for continuous improvement of wellbeing metrics. This recommendation will be considered by the Taskforce, including existing Privacy Act obligations and in the context of further work required to respond to recommendations 19, 26, 68, 106 and 107 of this report.
Recommendation 114: Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to prioritise research into veteran health and wellbeing, and publish their workplans	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees to prioritise research into veteran health and wellbeing, and publish relevant Defence and DVA research workplans. Defence is developing a framework and proposal in collaboration with Monash University to deliver a list of published evidence on the health of serving ADF personnel over the last twenty years. This will improve access to, and use of, current and previous research relating to ADF and veteran health and wellbeing. DVA is developing a new research and evaluation partnership model (Veteran and Family – Learning and Innovation Network of Knowledge (VF-LINK)) to enhance the impact of research and evaluation, promote evidence-based practices and contribute to better outcomes for veteran health and wellbeing.
Recommendation 115: Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to publish their research into veteran health and wellbeing	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees that Defence and DVA should, subject to appropriate review, publish their research conducted into veteran health and wellbeing. Based on the work related to Recommendation 114, Defence will publish the synthesis and catalogue of this research to also enable the identification of research gaps.
Recommendation 116: Improve the quality, evaluation, translation and sharing of research findings	Agree-in-principle	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Taskforce will consider and present options to implement the recommendations related to research and data, including to improve the quality, management and sharing of research findings to enhance the impact of research and evaluation, promote evidence-based practices and contribute to better outcomes for defence and veteran health and wellbeing. DVA centralised its research and evaluation functions into a Research Evaluation and Data Division in April 2024.
Recommendation 117: Establish an expert committee on veteran research	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees to establish an expert committee on veteran research, comprising experts with specialised knowledge in military and veterans’ affairs, health care, rehabilitation, and family support and lived experience. The Committee will support the efficient and effective implementation of the Government response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations related to research and data.
Recommendation 118(a): Continue the exsting Census question on ADF service in 2026 and in future censuses	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees to ask the ABS to continue the existing Census question on ADF service in 2026 and in future censuses.
Recommendation 118(b): Direct the ABS to include an additional question on year of separation for ex-serving members in the Census	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes part (b) of the recommendation. While the ABS has finalised the topic recommendations for the 2026 census – and the Government has accepted those recommendations – Government will work with the ABS to explore the use of existing data sources that could meet the intent of this recommendation. The Government will make representations to the ABS to emphasise the value of rich data on the veteran population for its consideration in future Census rounds.
Recommendation 119: Improve understanding of veteran health by adding questions to Australian Bureau of Statistics surveys	Agree-in-principle	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government agrees-in-principle to this recommendation. The Government agrees to direct the Treasury and the ABS to improve the understanding of veteran health by adding questions and changing the samples of ABS surveys.
Recommendation 120: Increase funding for research into veteran health and wellbeing	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes this recommendation for further consideration by the Taskforce. The Department of Health and Aged Care and the National Health and Medical Research Council will consider priority-driven research grant opportunities focused on veteran health and wellbeing. The Taskforce will consider and present options to enhance research into the health and wellbeing of serving and ex-serving ADF personnel, including in the context of other recommendations on data and research.
Recommendation 121: Enable research into the health and wellbeing of Defence families	Note	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The Government notes this recommendation for further consideration by the Taskforce. The Taskforce will consider options to enhance research, including in the context of other recommendations on data and research.
Recommendation 122: Establish a new statutory entity to oversee system reform across the whole Defence ecosystem	Agree	Volume 6: Families, data and research	The creation of the Defence and Veterans' Services Commission has implemented Recommendation 122 as agreed by Government. You can learn more about the DVSC on this website (dvsc.gov.au).