President/Chair/Secretary's Overview
Dr Neil Johnston, President of the Repatriation Commission, Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs
Programs of care, rehabilitation, compensation, income support, commemoration and defence support services are critical to the ongoing health and well-being of those who have served in the defence of our nation. The Department of Veterans' Affairs has a vision of excellence in service delivery and continues its commitment to assisting members of the veteran and defence force communities gain access to their entitlements in compensation and health care.
DVA continues to recognise the rapidly changing environment we face. Externally, there are new conflicts, the communities we serve are changing and our support for them is under increasing public scrutiny. Within the Department, we will need to continue improving our efficiency, our staff profile will continue to evolve and new legislation will have an impact.
A new chapter in service provision
After some five years of sustained and complex effort the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) was given Royal Assent on 27 April 2004. The new legislation brings together the best elements of the Veterans' Entitlements Act (VEA) and the Military Compensation and Rehabilitation Scheme to create a single scheme for all Australian Defence Force (ADF) members who are injured or who lose their lives during future service.
All claims relating to injury, disease or death due to service in the Australian Defence Force on or after 1 July 2004 will be dealt with under the new Act. The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 and the Military Compensation and Rehabilitation Scheme will continue to provide coverage for service prior to 1 July 2004 and will therefore be administered for a very long time to come.
Consultation has been a major focus in developing the new scheme, with the veteran and defence communities providing input to the draft legislation. A number of changes to the new scheme were made as a result. Key ex-service organisations continue to be involved with implementation of the new scheme.
The new Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission is responsible for the regulation and administration of the MRCA. It comprises the three members from the Repatriation Commission, and additional members nominated by the Ministers for Defence and Employment and Workplace Relations.
The new scheme has resulted in the need for the provision of information and training to a diverse range of stakeholders, including the ADF and their families, our staff and various ex-service and defence community organisations. DVA continues to deliver an information program that provides all stakeholders with timely, appropriate and accessible information about the new scheme.
New Repatriation Commissioner
With the support of the Department, the Repatriation Commission delivers compensation and health benefits and is charged with meeting Australia's commitment to care for those who have served our nation in wars, conflicts and peace operations.
During the past year, Rear Admiral Simon Harrington replaced Major General Paul Stevens as the veterans' representative on the Repatriation Commission.
MAJGEN Stevens served with distinction on the Commission at a time when the Gold Card was extended, and when veteran partnering with private hospitals and Veterans' Home Care were introduced. MAJGEN Stevens left the Commission with the gratitude and best wishes of staff and the veteran community.
Government's response to the Clarke Report
The Department provided assistance and backup to the Clarke Review of Veterans' Entitlements, and, after a process of consultation with ex-service organisations (ESOs), prepared detailed submissions to Government on policy options arising from the recommendations of the Clarke Report.
Following the Government's adoption of various recommendations within the report, the Department — again in close consultation with ESOs — arranged for the progressive implementation of these initiatives. Implementation required the drafting of detailed legislation. The development of new administrative procedures and phased implementation will be completed by early 2005.
Partnerships
The Centre for Military and Veterans' Health (CMVH), based on a collaboration between the Defence Health Service, DVA and a consortium of pre-eminent universities and their allied teaching hospitals, was established in 2003–04. One of its key objectives is to provide a cost-effective national base of expertise in military health to maintain and enhance the health, fitness and deployability of the Australian Defence Force. This will enable the CMVH to provide an additional research capability for both Defence and DVA.
The Department continues to see our partnerships with the Department of Defence, external providers and other stakeholders as vital to delivering on the Government's commitment to the veteran and defence force communities.
The introduction of the new Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 will require that we work closely and openly with these communities to ensure that the legislation and policy and MRCA administration are developed in an integrated way.
IT transition
The implementation of the transition of DVA's computing infrastructure to the MetaFrame environment has been a significant undertaking during the last two years involving a large number of staff, particularly from DVA and IBM GS, but also from Citrix, Optus, NSC and Avaya.
Transition impacted on every member of the Department and it is to the credit of all staff that they were patient and helpful as the project team worked through the rollout and its associated challenges. It is pleasing to know that everyone involved in the process was totally committed to achieving the best outcome for DVA. I would particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of the South Australian State office which served as the pilot site for the new system.
The Department will need to continue with its IT development program to maximise the benefits that IT can provide for efficient and best-practice service delivery. Development focus is now being directed to a more integrated approach to IT support across business areas and enhanced capability for electronic service delivery.
Working for the Future — challenges for DVA
During 2003–04, the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health completed a study entitled Pathways to Care. The research findings present a picture of the health care seeking behaviour of those veterans with mental health conditions, across age groups and from metropolitan, rural and remote locations. Research findings from the study will assist the Department in developing better strategies to inform veterans about mental health care options and improve access to mental health care.
The Repatriation Commission developed and released a consultation paper inviting ex-service organisations, health providers and other interested organisations to comment on a range of reforms that will enable the Department to strengthen assessment, treatment and continuity of care and improve access to a broader range of mental health care for veterans.
Following consideration of the comments received in response to the paper, the Commission will work with the veteran community and providers to offer a better mix of hospital and community-based mental health services. This will include improving referral and linkages particularly between specialist hospital-based services and community-based providers, including the Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service and primary health care providers.
DVA and our people
Enterprise Agreements
DVA has continued to work towards improving work life balance for staff. DVA's Enterprise Agreements offer improved flexibilities and enhancements in leave arrangements. In addition, the agreements provide attractive remuneration arrangements.
National Learning Strategy
The National Learning Strategy (NLS) provides strategic direction and business-focus for learning activities and processes in the Department. In 2003–04, good progress was made in developing modules for business management skills, leadership (see below) and client service skills. The drivers for these include:
- business priorities and goals, including future business directions;
- the need for a skilled and mobile workforce; and
- maintenance and continuous improvement of our current service levels.
The allied National Training Strategy for compensation and income support processing has been in place for several years and continues to be expanded to meet specific training requirements for staff working in those areas.
National Leadership Development Program
A second round of the National Leadership Development Program was implemented in 2003–04 to develop the skills and attributes of DVA's present and future leaders. It builds on the previous success of this program and makes extensive use of DVA's leadership qualities and behaviours — CREATE — that were developed in 2002–03. It has three components — the Leadership Skills Program, the Leadership Fundamentals Program and the Leadership Forum. The programs that have been run to date have provided practical outcomes for individuals and for DVA.
Workplace Injury Prevention and Management Strategy
Implementation of the Workplace Injury Prevention and Management Strategy (WIPMS) is crucial to preventing and reducing workplace injury and illness in DVA. It will provide long-term benefits to employees, as well as making sound business sense. WIPMS includes training, education and policy and practice reviews in workplace health and safety.
In 2003–04, WIPMS implementation started with an emphasis on policy and practice reviews and consequent training and education. As WIPMS is a long-term strategy, measurable outcomes are not expected in the immediate future. However, DVA expects that it will provide the vehicle for reductions in the social, individual, financial and resource costs of workplace illness and injury.
In closing
This is my last Annual Report as Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The Commission and the Department have a proud record of achievement in recent years, not least for continued excellence in service delivery to veterans, ex-service personnel and their families. The deliberations in 2003–04 on the Clarke Report and the framing of the new legislation for the MRCS provide a solid and well-informed foundation for Government, the Repatriation Commission, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, the Department and the veteran community in the conduct of their affairs in coming years.
- Dr Neil Johnston
- President of the Repatriation Commission
- Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission
- Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs