Critical research by the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and the Department of Defence is set to identify and scrutinise the impact of military service to current, ex-serving and family members within the Defence community.
Defence is collaborating with the DVA to conduct the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme with data collection which commenced in June 2015.
The Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme is the largest and most comprehensive study undertaken in Australia to examine the impact of military service on the mental, physical and social health of serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families. The programme was first announced by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs on 11 June 2014 and has received approval from the Service Chiefs.
The Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme consists of three studies:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study;
- Impact of Combat Study; and
- Family Wellbeing Study.
The Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies (CTSS) at the University of Adelaide will lead a team of researchers to complete the Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study and Impact of Combat Study. The Australian Institute of Family Studies will conduct the Family Wellbeing Study.
Up to 50,000 serving (including 5,000 reservists) and ex-serving ADF members, and up to 35,000 family members, will be invited to participate in the Programme. Data collection will be via surveys and some individuals will also be invited to participate in telephone interviews and physical tests, including neurocognitive assessments.
If you are a serving ADF member, have transitioned out of full-time service since 2010, or have a family member who meets this eligibility criteria, you may be contacted to participate.
Data collection will commence in June 2015 and will end in November 2015. The findings from the Programme will improve our understanding of the impact of military service, deployment experiences and the associated health outcomes of serving and ex-serving members and their families, and will be used to develop more effective policy and programmes so that both departments will be able to better meet the needs of contemporary veterans, ADF members and their families. Research such as this is only possible with your support, as we need to know about your experiences and the types of services you and your family need.
If you have not yet been contacted by CTSS and wish to participate, register your details here. Only family members nominated by serving and ex-serving ADF members will be invited to participate in the Family Wellbeing Study.
For more information or to speak to the Study Team, Freecall: 1800 232 904
For the internal DEFGRAM 203/2015 on the DRN/DSN click here.