The public hearing of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide will inquire into past Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) initiatives to reduce claim times, Defence's management of organisational change and veterans' mental health, when it continues in Adelaide this week.
The Secretary of DVA, Alison Frame, will give evidence about the ongoing effort by the Department to harmonise complex laws governing veterans' compensation and reduce the backlog of unprocessed claims. These were the subject of urgent recommendations in the Royal Commission's Interim Report.
Ms Frame has held the role of Secretary since January this year. Her evidence will follow that of the former Secretary, Liz Cosson AM, who appeared before the Royal Commission in Canberra in April 2022.
The Royal Commission will also hear evidence about the Department's Veteran Centric Reform - Putting Veterans and Families First (VCR) program.
Commencing in 2017, the VCR program was designed to improve services to veterans by boosting digital, telephone and face-to-face experiences, with the overall aim of processing claims more efficiently.
A 2021 report by the Australian National Audit Office found the program had been "largely effective"; however, the program was discontinued in 2022.
The Commission is interested to learn about the rationale for the discontinuation, and whether outcomes for veterans improved as a result of the program.
During the first week of the Adelaide hearing block, the inquiry heard evidence about a lack of training for veteran advocates, the link between physical injury and poor mental health outcomes for ADF members, the failure to implement a Defence Injury Prevention Program and the pressures placed on servicemen and women and their families due to postings.
The Commission also heard evidence from former Navy Clearance Divers about the high level of physical injury in the unit and the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of its members and the failure of the ADF to address significant issues brought to their attention.
The Adelaide hearing will conclude on Wednesday 26 July 2023.
