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 Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme Key Findings is the final of eight reports and two papers comprising the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme. It summarises and consolidates the overall key findings from each of the three interrelated studies that make up the Programme: the Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study, the Impact of Combat Study and the Family Wellbeing Study.

This Programme constitutes a unique and valuable source of information about those who have recently transitioned from Regular ADF service (between 2010 and 2014), those who were still serving in the Regular (full-time) ADF in 2015, and those who have served on contemporary operations.

A further unique component of this Programme is its examination of the mental and physical health of ADF Reservists, in particular Abinitio Reservists who have never served in the Regular ADF.

It is also the first Australian study to specifically examine the impact of military service (not operation specific) and transition on ADF family members (partners, parents and children), whereby data were collected on both the serving member and their nominated family members contemporaneously.

The key findings presented in this report represent an overall summary of the Programme findings and should be considered in the context of prior Australian and international reports on mental health and wellbeing in both military and veteran populations.

The Impact of Combat Report examines the changes over time in the mental, physical and neurocognitive health and wellbeing of participants of the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Prospective Health Study who deployed to the MEAO between 2010 and 2012. It represents the third wave of data collection for this cohort.

This report is part of the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme, which is the most comprehensive study undertaken in Australia on the impact of military service on the mental, physical and social health of serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families. The Programme is made up of three studies, with this report being the sole report under the Impact of Combat Study. The other two studies are the Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study and the Family Wellbeing Study.

The Government greatly appreciates the contribution of the serving and ex-serving members who took the time to participate in the study. Overall, results of the study suggest that the majority of the MEAO deployed cohort is healthy. Rates of psychological and physical symptoms and disorder increased over time in the cohort, however, the substantial majority remained below screening thresholds. 

The Mental health changes over time: a longitudinal perspective report examines the shifts in mental health status over a five-year period (2010–2014) in those who have transitioned out of regular, full-time military service compared with those who remain in the Regular Australian Defence Force (ADF).

This report is part of the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme, which is the most comprehensive study undertaken in Australia on the impact of military service on the mental, physical and social health of serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families. The Programme is made up of three studies, with this report comprising part of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study. The other two studies are Impact of combat and Family wellbeing.

This Mental Health Prevalence Report is the first of eight reports and two papers that comprise the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme (the Programme). The Programme is the most comprehensive study undertaken in Australia on the impact of military service on the mental, physical and social health of Transitioned and 2015 Regular Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families (the study populations).

This report investigates the prevalence of 12-month and lifetime mental disorders, trauma exposure, suicidal ideation and self-reported mental health symptoms among Transitioned ADF members. Comparisons are also made between the self-reported mental health symptoms in Transitioned ADF with 2015 Regular ADF members and where possible, with the Australian Community.

The second report in the Programme, Pathways to Care, tells the next phase in the ADF mental health story by investigating how Transitioned ADF and 2015 Regular ADF members access, use and value mental health care services.

This comprehensive report compares mental health care support in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with world’s best practice and assessed the extent to which the mental health needs of serving and transitioning ADF members were being met.

Independent studies by Professor David Dunt

In addition to undertaking the Independent Study into Suicide in the Ex-service Community, Prof. Dunt was also appointed by the then Minister for Veterans Affairs’, the Hon Alan Griffin MP, and the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, to undertake the Review of Mental Health Care in the ADF and Transition through Discharge.

The review was released on Friday, 1 May, 2009, along with the Government’s response.

Prof. Dunt’s comprehensive report compared mental health care support in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with world’s best practice and assessed the extent to which the mental health needs of serving and transitioning ADF members were being met.

The review highlighted successes and gaps in the delivery of mental health programs and transition services and made 52 recommendations to improve and extend delivery of those services.

The Government’s response (PDF) to a review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Signaller Geffrey Gregg was published on 30 July 2008. The response outlined 15 outcomes to address systemic problems with transition out of the services.

The review of SIG Gregg’s circumstances involved three parts.

Part 1 was an independent inquiry by the Inspector General Australian Defence Force, Geoff Earley AM, which examined SIG Gregg’s Defence Service, including deployment to Afghanistan, and the ADF’s role in transition management at SIG Gregg’s discharge.

Part 2 was undertaken by Mr Chris Doogan AM (former Registrar of the High Court) and examined DVA’s actions in SIG Gregg’s transition management from the ADF, DVA’s handling of his compensation claims and the actions of the Commissioner for Superannuation in administration of SIG Gregg’s claim for military superannuation benefits.

Part 3 of the review was undertaken by Mr Ron McLeod AM (former deputy Ombudsman) to examine the whole-of-government approach to handling the Gregg case.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, and the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, issued a media release about the Government’s response.

This report was funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to assess available literature on the psychological and vocational outcomes of delivering support services to the families of veterans at times of high family stress. The review considered interventions being provided to veterans in Australia, and other English speaking countries who may have similar veteran experiences.  

The literature review was undertaken in the context of the growing body of research and policy evidence suggesting that veterans can be challenged by transition from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) into civilian life, with a consequential direct negative impact on the wellbeing of the veteran and family members. The aim of this literature review was to examine available peer reviewed research regarding the support available to families of veterans in order to inform the establishment of a policy framework.

• The review yielded 34 results, primarily considering the experiences of veterans and their families in the United States. The absence of peer-reviewed literature from New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom highlights that this topic is one that is still in its infancy.
• Overall, studies indicated that family involvement in care was most definitely a contributing factor to veterans achieving positive psychological and interpersonal outcomes. The review noted that younger veterans, in particular, liked the message of family involvement, the use of digital support tools and therapy that accommodated childcare needs.
• While the literature highlights some potential programs which could assist Australian veterans and their families, including online education tools for adults and children, the need for further research in this area is apparent, specifically in the Australian context.

The Review of PTSD Group Treatment Programs was undertaken by the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH) to ensure that services offered to clients of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) were evidence-based and met the needs of both older and contemporary veteran cohorts.

This review came about following a recommendation out of the Independent Study into Suicide in the Ex-Service Community, undertaken by Professor David Dunt in 2009 comprised two phases. The first was a literature review of evidence-based best practice treatment for PTSD.

The second phase critically reviewed PTSD programs offered by providers contracted to DVA. This included the process of referral, the programs themselves, discharge planning and follow-up.

The report offers guidance on the next phase of group treatment programs and DVA will work closely with providers and the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health to ensure treatment programs better met the needs of contemporary veterans. Changes to programs will only be implemented where more effective treatment and improved treatment outcomes for participants will be achieved.

The Physical Health Status Report provides a comprehensive, high-level overview of the physical health and wellbeing of ADF personnel who transitioned between January 2010 and December 2014 and members of the 2015 Regular ADF in connection with several key health outcomes previously found to be of importance among deployed and non-deployed military and veteran populations in Australia and internationally.

This report is part of the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme (TWRP), which is the most comprehensive study undertaken in Australia on the impact of military service on the mental, physical and social health of serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families. The Programme is made up of three studies, with this report comprising part of the Mental Health and Transition Study. The other two studies are Impact of Combat and Family Wellbeing.