Current Research Projects
Last updated
DVA has a wide range of research projects underway.
In late 2026 we will update this page to include DVA’s 5-year Research and Evaluation Strategy, which will guide our research projects out to 2030. This strategy will be accompanied by annual work plans, which we will also publish here, to give veterans, families of veterans and researchers visibility of the research and evaluation projects the department is undertaking, or planning to undertake.
Current projects
| Project name | Summary | Lead Research Organisation/s |
|---|---|---|
| Serving and ex-serving ADF members who have served since 1985: Suicide Monitoring Annual Report* | The ninth annual update monitoring suicides among permanent, reserve, and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members. The population of ADF members under consideration are those who served between 1985 and 2023. | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) |
| Australian Defence Force (ADF) Members Families – Data Analysis Project* | This project aims to develop a better understanding of family members who provide unpaid assistance to veterans living with a core-activity assistance need and how their demographic, health and wellbeing outcomes compare with other family members of veterans. | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) |
| Australian Defence Force (ADF) Transition Outcomes – Data Analysis Project* | The purpose of this data analysis project is to develop a better understanding of the health and wellbeing of members that are transitioning from or have already transitioned from the Australian Defence Force. The analysis will be quantitative based on existing data assets available to the project team including PLIDA and VHD. | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) |
| Gender Analysis of Australian Veterans’ Legislation | This project aims will review the Commonwealth veterans’ legislation to identify language, assumptions and structures that may affect women veterans’ equitable access to DVA services. The project will assess whether DVA’s three primary legislation and related frameworks, including Statement of Principles (SoPs) and impairment tables inadvertently embed gender bias and/or create barriers to equitable access to services and supports for women veterans. | Australian National University (ANU) |
| Health and Care Needs Prior to Residential Aged Care: A Qualitative Analysis | The study aims to deepen understanding of the health care needs of older veterans, war widow(er)s and families before entry into aged care. It will identify key health, psychosocial, and system-level factors shaping care needs and decision-making in the five years before entry to residential aged care of older DVA clients and thefamily members who care for them. | Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health Australian Institute of Health Innovation |
| Peer-Led Seeking Safety: Translating an evidence-based practice model for veterans' support organisations | This project seeks to conduct a formative evaluation of the translation and implementation of the group format, Peer-Led Seeking Safety practice model within Open Arms. | Gallipoli Medical Research |
| Analysis of the Australian veteran cohort and DVA clients' data in the 45 and Up study | An exploratory analysis on risk factors and health outcomes of 45 and Up Study participants who are DVA card holders, and/or have been a member of the Australian Defence Force, to understand potential health service needs and inform service planning. | Sax Institute |
| Dissemination of the Translation and Wellbeing Research Programme & Moral Injury Outcome Scale study findings | This project will develop an academic journal manuscript and summary posters of research findings to improve the visibility of these important research studies within the research and veteran communities. | Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health |
| Strength in Transition: Exploring the Health and Wellbeing Experiences and Needs of Women Veterans in Australia | This project seeks to better understand the health and wellbeing needs of women veterans in Australia, both during and after transition from the Australian Defence Force. A review of the available literature will be undertaken as well as qualitative research with women veterans to better understand their health and wellbeing experiences. | Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health |
| Defence and veteran families’ wellbeing factors data strengthening project | This project will conduct a structured search, quality assessment, and synthesis of available data sources to develop wellbeing measures across the domains of the DVA wellbeing framework. The project will identify future data-improvement opportunities, as well as baseline reporting on family demographics and wellbeing based on currently available data. | Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) |
| Understanding and improving responses to suicidality to DVA clients: a data linkage study* | This project is seeking to examine the incidence of suicidality, individual characteristics, and health pathways for a cohort of Australian veterans using linked data. | University of Queensland |
| Guidance on the use of medicinal cannabis in the treatment of Chronic Pain in veterans | Development of clinical guidance for healthcare providers regarding the use of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain in veterans, along with relevant client education material. | University of New South Wales (UNSW) |
| Foundations for Family and Domestic Violence reporting among military personnel and veterans | The project aims to lay the groundwork for monitoring trends in domestic family violence use among ADF personnel and veterans through ongoing data analysis. It will also ensure that methods for data use are informed by a deep understanding of military cultural and organisational contexts, as well as veteran-centric systems. | Monash University |
| Neurocognitive Effects of Repetitive Low-Level Blast Overpressure Exposure in Humans – A Rapid Review | A series of rapid reviews focused on the emerging literature on low-level blast overpressure exposure and the established literature on the assessment and treatment of all-cause neurocognitive impairment. | University of New South Wales (UNSW) |
| Australian Defence Force (ADF) Firefighters’ Cancer and Mortality Data Update Study* | A repeat study that is directly comparable to the 2013 Defence Firefighters’ Health Study, expanding the years of observation to analyse the long-term health outcomes of participants through data linkage to the latest death and cancer datasets held by the AIHW and allow comparisons with the Australian general population. | Monash University |
| Elevate Study | A follow up study of individuals who participated in the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme and registered high levels of mental health symptoms and/or distress. | Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health |
DVA research is guided by the Privacy Act 1988, the Australian Privacy Principles and the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
* These projects have a waiver of consent in accordance with the Guidelines under Section 95 of the Privacy Act 1988, approved by the Departments of Defence and Veterans' Affairs Human Research Ethics Committee (DDVA HREC) and/or the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Ethics Committee. For further information, visit DVA Research and Privacy.