The Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to identify and synthesise existing research on older veterans, and their families’ experiences and needs in aged care. The project was commissioned to inform any future improvements to the way aged care is delivered to veterans and to identify gaps in understanding of the needs of older veterans and their families in aged care settings.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned the University of Sydney to identify the client and service factors associated with the Community Nursing program achieving its primary aim of enabling veterans to stay at home as long as possible, avoiding early admission to hospital or residential care. The research purpose was to use the findings to strengthen the program by informing potential program improvements.
Findings from the REA identify strategies to support and sustain healthy behaviours as part of active ageing in Australian veterans. The research suggests that interventions that promote an active physical and cognitive lifestyle not only help prevent and combat mental and physical health decline, they also increase quality of life and well-being in later life for all veterans.
FAQs for the Vietnam Veterans mortality and cancer incidence studies
Overview
The series of studies, commissioned by the Repatriation Commission, was undertaken in response to a recommendation of the 1997 Mortality of Vietnam Veterans: The Veteran Cohort Study, which was to monitor the mortality of Vietnam veterans and repeat the study after 2000.
The first three reports in a series of studies of mortality and cancer incidence in Australian Vietnam veterans were released on September 5th 2006.
A fourth report in the series was released on 26 September 2007.
Each of the four completed reports can stand alone as a complete study. However, the first three volumes should be taken together for a more thorough understanding of the mortality and cancer incidence of this cohort of Australian Vietnam veterans and an Overarching Executive Summary has been produced to assist in understanding . The fourth volume investigates a specific aspect of Vietnam service, that is the exposure to an anti-malarial drug, Dapsone.
The Health Study 2005: Australian Veterans of the Korean War is the third and final study in a series of studies of the health of Australian Korean War veterans. The reports for first two studies, the Cancer Incidence Study and the Mortality Study, were released in 2003. The three studies constitute a major study program of health in this Australian veteran population and represent one of the most comprehensive investigations of health ever conducted in an entire veteran group.
Health Study 2005: Australian Veterans of the Korean War was prompted by recommendations from the first two studies concerning the need for a general health survey of Australian Korean War veterans. The study compared surviving male Korean War veterans with a group of men of similar age who were resident in Australia at the time of the Korean War but who did not serve in Korea.
The study was commissioned by the Repatriation Commission, managed by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and conducted by Monash University.
The aim of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was to examine the evidence to establish whether ageing veterans experience challenges and issues that differ from those of the general population. Also, the factors and interventions that positively affect health and wellbeing outcomes for older people (particularly those from military backgrounds).
The aim of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was to assess the evidence related to outreach services for increasing quality of life, promoting access to services, and increasing functioning and mental health among adults with PTSD, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, alcohol-use disorder, or substance-use disorder.
The 'Veterans’ Advocacy and Support Services Scoping Study' led by Mr Robert Cornall AO was released in December 2018. The aim of this study was to recommend the most suitable advocacy model for Australian veterans and families. You can learn more about this in the Terms of Reference.
The Strategic Research Framework (SRF) sets out the principles, objectives and priorities for DVA to facilitate research and evaluation in areas of special strength or need as identified in priority research areas. Research and analysis help to identify emerging issues facing the veteran and defence communities and their families, and are integral to developing effective departmental policy, shaping service delivery responses, and evaluating programs and pilots.
The health impacts of maternal deployment to an area of operations
The Mothers in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Study identifies health outcomes and psychosocial factors, including resilience, that impact on Australian servicewomen with dependent children who deploy and ways in which mothers could be better supported during and following deployment.
