Table 3.21
.../cont Performance against People Matter Priorities
| Priority |
Performance |
| Continue improvements to ADF health: |
|
- Continue to implement the Defence Injury Prevention Program
|
The Defence Injury Prevention Program continues to be implemented. The program was successfully deployed to the 3 rd Brigade in Townsville, Queensland in February 2004 and preliminary results have indicated a 15 per cent reduction in injuries between March 2004 and March 2005. In October 2004, the program was deployed to the 1 st Brigade in Darwin, Northern Territory. Further deployment of the program at other Defence locations is planned. |
- Continue to implement the ADF Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service
|
The ADF Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service is part of the ADF Mental Health Strategy. Major milestones achieved include:
- training over 500 ADF health and allied health professionals to equip them to conduct interventions;
- improving the understanding of alcohol and drug issues for ADF members through a marketing and information campaign that utilises the ADF Mental Health Strategy website, publications and group presentations;
- piloting an outpatients alcohol treatment program for ADF members who want to manage their own alcohol consumption;
- developing the 'Keep Your Mates Safe Program' that is aimed at peer support and changing the cultural expectation relative to alcohol consumption;
- organising a number of alcohol and drug-related health promotional activities linked to the National Alcohol Campaign; and
- conducting a review of the Alcohol Rehabilitation and Education program with the aim of improving services.
|
- Continue to implement the ADF Suicide Prevention Program
|
The ADF suicide prevention program is part of the ADF Mental Health Strategy. Major milestones achieved in 2004-05 include:
- developing a 30 minute suicide awareness presentation to be given to all ADF members during induction training;
- delivering applied suicide intervention skills training, which is supplied by Living Works (Lifeline Australia). This program includes a two-day interactive workshop, which teaches suicide first-aid and a five-day 'Train the Trainer' component for mental health professionals. To date, 100 Defence personnel have completed the 'Train the Trainer' element; and these people have, in turn, trained approximately 1,000 Defence members to be first aid carers;
- developing a suicide post-event review (postvention) program to minimise the stressful after effects and traumatic impact of suicide or suicide-related behaviour;
- continuing the all-hours Support Line, which is a 24 hour, seven days a week, national confidential crisis support and referral telephone line. A 12-month trial of the support line concluded in October 2004. Use of the line continues while an expansion of the service is considered; and
- ongoing development of a website for the program, which provides members with help numbers, resources such as fact sheets, training information (including the 30-minute suicide prevention training presentation) as well as providing a connection to the regional mental health teams.
|
- Establish a Deployed Health Studies Unit within the new Centre for Military and Veterans' Health
|
The Deployed Health Studies Unit was established in October 2004 within the Centre for Military and Veterans' Health to conduct the Defence Longitudinal Health Study. Work will continue in 2005-06 on a research plan and the development of a data framework for the longitudinal health study. The aim of the study is to establish and test protocols and processes for the long-term surveillance of the health and wellbeing of ADF personnel deployed to overseas operational environments. |
- Commence a health study of personnel deployed on Operation Citadel (East Timor) and Operation Anode (Solomon Islands)
|
Initial work on the East Timor pilot health study commenced in 2004-05. The Solomon Islands health study is expected to commence in the first half of 2005-06. |
- Implement the agreed recommendations of the review of Defence Health Services
|
In late 2003, the Chief of the Defence Force implemented a review of the Defence Health Service. Major General Paul Stevens (Rtd) was appointed to conduct the review and his May 2004 report provided several recommendations for improvement.
One recommendation was the re-establishment of a two-star Head Defence Health Service, which received ministerial approval in January 2005. The selection process for this position resulted in the appointment of an Air Vice-Marshal as the new Head Defence Health Services on 17 May 2005. Defence will examine and implement, where appropriate, the remainder of the recommendations during 2005-06. |