Have your say on DVA’s mental health and wellbeing services
DVA is developing a future model of mental health and wellbeing service delivery to guide how we provide support to current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and families. This will include:
- Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (Open Arms) services – including 24/7 telephone support, SafeZone Anonymous Counselling, counselling (in-centre and outreach), Psychiatric Assessment, group treatment programs, care coordination, peer support, crisis accommodation, mental health and suicide prevention training, Stepping Out Program, and online self-help resources.
- DVA Coordinated Client Support Case Coordination – including Triage and Connect services; Wellbeing and Support Program (WASP); Case Management; Service Coordination; Disability Support Pathway, and Veteran Support Officer program.
- DVA Community Support Advisor services
- DVA funded mental health and wellbeing support programs – including the Men’s Health Peer Education Program, and Trauma Recovery Program, Heart Health Program, Veteran Health Check Program, Anti-Malarial Medications Health Assessment Program, and the Health and Wellbeing Funding Program.
To ensure Australian veterans and families have a voice in the development of the future model, we are conducting a survey and co-design activities.
About the survey
The survey focusses specifically on the experiences of veterans and families who have used any of the services identified above.
We would also like to hear your ideas about improving DVA’s future mental health and wellbeing support services and service delivery.
Information provided via the survey will help us to better understand your service experiences to date, as well as how we can meet the future support needs of Australian veterans and families. We are also working closely with the DVA team planning to develop a new Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Input from the survey will be shared with the team to inform the development of the Strategy in due course.
You will not be required to provide your name or any specific information that identifies you. We have tried to make the questions as general as possible to protect your privacy.
The survey will close at midnight AEST on Monday 24 April 2023
Who can participate?
We want to hear from you if you are aged 18 years or older, are currently using or have used any of the services listed above, and are from either or both the following groups:
- current and former serving ADF members with any length and type of service, including Reservists with continuous full-time service or hazardous service; and
- family members of living and deceased ADF veterans, including spouses/partners, ex-partners, widows/ers, adult children, parents, and siblings of current and former serving veterans.
How to participate
If you meet the eligibility criteria above, and are interested in participating in the survey, please click on the survey link below.
Other ways to contribute
If you have links to the veteran community but have not used the services listed above, or do not want to complete the survey, you are welcome to register your interest in the Review Program via this Latest News story.
We will only use the contact details you provide to inform you about program updates and future opportunities to contribute to the development of the new service delivery model. All information you provide will be stored securely and confidentially. If, after registering, you do not wish to be contacted by the department regarding program updates and future opportunities, please let us know via the email address below.
Questions and feedback
If you have questions about the survey or eligibility criteria, or would like to provide feedback, please email mhwsd.strategic.development [at] dva.gov.au (mhwsd[dot]strategic[dot]development[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au)