Our work in response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

On 9 September 2024, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its Final Report, which is available on the Royal Commission's website (along with useful resources to help people understand and read the document) and the Australian Parliament House website.

The Report comprises more than 3,000 pages of evidence, commentary and findings across 7 volumes.

The Report seeks to highlight the scale, contributing risk factors and overarching drivers of suicide and suicidality. It acknowledges that suicide and suicidality of serving and ex-serving members of the ADF is a multifaceted problem.

The Final Report represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for meaningful change.

A total of 122 recommendations have been made to address identified systemic risk factors and overarching drivers of suicide and suicidality in serving and ex-serving ADF members.

The recommendations are largely directed to Defence and DVA; as well as other agencies separately or in combination with Defence and DVA.

The Government will take some time to appropriately consider the recommendations and provide the whole-of-Government response.

DVA, working in partnership with Defence, will make every effort to address suicide and suicidality among our serving and ex-serving ADF personnel. 

Find out more about DVA’s work in response to the Royal Commission through the links below.