Counselling gets boost

DEFENCE members and their families will soon have access to additional psychological counselling services.

This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for ADF members to access the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service (VVCS).

Director of Psychology Colonel Tony Cotton said the memorandum formalised an arrangement that has been in place since 2000.

“Our people are focussed on providing immediate and short-term support to members,” COL Cotton said.

“The VVCS will pick up longer term members within its specific specialist categories.”

Those categories are work-related stress and trauma, acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, critical incident trauma and depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and relationship difficulties.

All serving members, including Reserve personnel on CFTS, all members who are Vietnam veterans, regardless of status, and bona fide families of ADF members are eligible to access the VVCS.

ADF medical officers or psychologists will refer eligible members and their families to the VVCS.

Eligible members and their families will also be able to access VVCS after-hours Veterans Line counselling service.

The ADF’s All-Hours Support Line will also continue to be available to all Defence personnel.

 

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