The aim of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was to conduct a review of the scientific evidence regarding whether occupational exposures to jet fuels and specified solvents of most relevance to the military were associated with risks to the reproductive health of women.

The aim of this rapid evidence assessment (REA) was to assess the evidence related to meditation and mindfulness practices (meditation, transcendental meditation, mantra, yoga, and mindfulness) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) in adults.

The two most recent Australian Defence Force Firefighter occupational health research studies are now available.

DVA commissioned an independent Occupational Health Research Studies Review Examining the Occupational Health of Firefighters (October 2017) to assess the current level of medical-scientific evidence for 12 cancers prescribed under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Act 2011 (Firefighters Act), plus melanoma. The review was led by Professor Nicola Fear at King’s Centre for Military Health Research, King’s College London, United Kingdom and consists of three reports:

The study to investigate the health effects of participation in the British nuclear tests in Australia is reported in two volumes.

Volume 1, the radiation dosimetry study, used data from the tests and modelling to estimate the radiation exposure of participants in the tests.

Volume 2 includes: the mortality study, which compared the number of deaths in test participants with that of the general population from the time of the nuclear tests to the end of 2001; and the cancer study, which compared the number of cases of cancer, whether fatal or not, in test participants, with that in the general population from 1982 to the end of 2001, and compared radiation exposure of participants with and without leukaemia.

Final Report for the DVA Lifecycle Review

The mental health Lifecycle Initiatives were implemented as a 2008-09 budget measure. The goals included enhancing psychological resilience among service personnel, improving mental health surveillance, supporting successful transition from defence to civilian life, and providing effective rehabilitation and support. The purpose of the current analysis was to consider the implications of the project outcomes, as well as to examine the usefulness of the lifecycle concept for future policy and program development. This document is a discussion paper designed to raise issues for consideration. It is not intended to provide specific recommendations. 

The Lifecycle Initiative outcomes were reviewed and interviews conducted with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and Defence stakeholders. Key themes were identified and used to guide both a literature review and consultation with overseas military and veteran mental health experts. The material was then integrated for consideration by key DVA and Defence personnel.

As part of the Government response to the 'Independent Study into Suicide in the Ex-service Community', DVA commissioned the Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention to undertake a review of the Operation Life Suicide Awareness workshops to ensure they were evidenced based. DVA accepted all recommendations made in the final report. 

This literature review was funded under the Department of Veterans' Affairs Applied Research Program and conducted by the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention.  The review examined Australian and international sources to determine prevalence and risk factors for suicide and non-fatal suicidal behaviour in serving and ex-serving military personnel.  

Fifty-one Australian and international papers and reports were included in the review.  The review indicated that there is no current research that would allow a comparison of suicide mortality rates between Australian ex-serving personnel and the general community.  However, there is some evidence that Australian Vietnam veterans could be at increased risk of non-fatal suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideation.  Other research suggests that veterans might experience veteran-specific risk factors such as difficulty returning to civilian life and a reluctance to seek help for their problems.  International research, from the United States in particular, provides a different spectrum of evidence.  However, international findings have limited generalisability to the Australian context due to differing military sizes, operational tempo, models of health care, and access to firearms.

The limited number of Australian publications available for review points to the need for high-quality studies that analyse the prevalence of and risk factors for suicide among Australian ex-serving personnel. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Defence, is continuing to explore rates of suicidal behaviour and ideation as part of its Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme.

Suicidal behaviour and ideation among military personnel: Australian and international trends: