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Review of Mental Health in the Australian Defence Force and Transition Through Discharge
“Professor David Dunt’s comprehensive report compared mental health care support in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with world’s best practice and assessed the extent to which the mental health needs of serving and transitioning ADF members were being met,” Mr Snowdon said. “The review report highlights the successes and gaps in the delivery of mental health programs and transition services and makes 52 recommendations to improve and extend the overall delivery of those services.”
The implementation plan has 10 elements that will provide improved mental health governance and policy, an enhanced mental health workforce, improved mental health training for ADF personnel and providers, enhanced prevention strategies including better research and surveillance, enhanced mental health rehabilitation and transition services, greater involvement of families in the mental health programs and support for ADF members, and better facilities from which mental health services will be delivered. “Defence has formulated a robust implementation plan that will result in the best possible mental health outcomes and transition services for our ADF men and women,” Mr Snowdon said.
“Many of the recommendations can be implemented in the short-term while others will take several years to achieve. This is a significant undertaking and Defence will report regularly to the Government about its progress in implementing the recommendations.” Terms of Reference Terms of ReferenceProf David Dunt Biography
26 June, 2009
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The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, and the Minister for Veterans Affairs’, the Hon Alan Griffin MP, today released Professor David Dunt’s independent Review of Mental Health Care in the ADF and Transition through Discharge report and announced that the Government had accepted the report’s recommendations.
Mr Snowdon said that the Government had accepted the wide-ranging recommendations and that the Department of Defence would now implement them, committing 83M over the next four years to start the program of improving ADF mental health programs and associated services.
“Implementing the report will ensure easier access to best practice mental health services for ADF members. It will also allow preventive activities to be undertaken by staff dedicated to mental health promotion. Multi-disciplinary teams will be created, ensuring holistic care that takes into account family issues. Specialist regional teams will be formed, to address more complex cases and training and a centre for ADF Mental Health established. Innovative on‑line training, e-health and research programs will also ensure broader access to care for ADF members.
