Women wanted for health study
Examining the impact of serving in conflict zones

By CAPT Sandra Turner
Volume 48, No. 7, May 04, 2006

A new study will examine the impact on women of serving in conflict zones. Our photo shows CPL Ange Jennison at in Pakistan.

Photo by LAC Rodney Welch

THE health and wellbeing of women who have served as peacekeepers is the focus of a new study and volunteers are needed.

Victoria University’s Dr Susan Feldman and Dr Clare Hanlon are looking for 120 women who have served as peacekeepers overseas to measure how well they adjusted to life back home in Australia.

The research will focus on the women’s health and well-being after they have experienced life in an overseas conflict zone.

Albury-Wodonga has been chosen as the location to launch the world-first research on how stress or illness from war zones affects women.

Dr Feldman says this research is needed as more women join the armed forces and take part in peacekeeping and peacemaking roles.

She said: “These peacekeepers have chosen to go to serve in places where they feel that they can make a real difference.

They may have seen human degradation and misery on a large scale; seen dead bodies; or have been in danger of being killed or injured; so often, after returning home, they feel a sense of being let down when other people fail to understand the stresses and strains they have experienced.

“How do they adjust back from overseas service with the military into caring roles at home?”

The project will be in Melbourne and Townsville this month; Brisbane in June; Sydney and Newcastle in July; and Canberra in September.

Dr Feldman said: “The health issues surrounding male Vietnam Veterans have been well-documented – we know about things such as relationship breakdowns and post traumatic stress disorder - but little work had been done specifically with women veterans who have seen conflict as peacekeepers and peacemakers.

“At the moment we don’t know how women cope and this study will help to identify the support services they need to integrate back into their communities on their return.”

The study has been made possible with a $129,000 grant from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The Australian Defence Force Human Research Ethics Committee has cleared the research proposal.

Current and former Service women who would like to take part in the study can contact Dr Feldman on (03) 9362 0332 or research assistant Alison Herron on (03) 9919 1183.

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