This report overviews and contextualises the Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study methodology, describes the study populations and presents the key findings from the first two technical reports of the Study, Mental Health Prevalence and Pathways to Care. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study is one of three studies that comprise the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme.

The aim of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was to examine the evidence to investigate the physical and mental wellbeing benefits veterans achieve through participating in sporting activities and whether these benefits are linked to the type of sporting activity being undertaken.

The aim of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was to examine the evidence to investigate the physical and mental wellbeing benefits veterans achieve through participating in sporting activities and whether these benefits are linked to the type of sporting activity being undertaken.

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 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 aim of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was to: 1) examine the scientific literature for evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to promote self-managed physical activity in service veterans and/or their dependants; 2) assess studies that compared the effectiveness of ‘stepped-down’ models of PA self-management to ‘usual care’ controls and; 3) identify key behaviour change techniques that have been used in these studies to successfully promote physical activity change.

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.

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.