Study digs deep

Volume 48, No. 19, October 19, 2006

LABOUROUS: The Solomon Islands Health Study will look at the long-term health issues for Air Force members who have deployed to areas including Timor-Leste, where CPL John Gregson, from 1CLS, is pictured operating backhoe machinery while deployed on Operation Astute. Photo by CPL Bernard Pearson

THE long-term health issues of Air Force personnel who have deployed overseas will be the focus of a new ADF research project launched this month.

The Solomon Islands Health Study is the first of a number of health studies to be conducted by the ADF over coming months. The research reflects the importance the ADF places on the health and wellbeing of its members, and will focus on aspects of the physical and psychological health of current and past Defence personnel.

The study will form part of the Deployment Health Surveillance Program that will compare the health of veterans of various overseas deployments with members who did not deploy on these operations. Deployments to the Solomon Islands, East Timor, Bougainville and the Middle East will be covered.

The Centre for Military and Veteran’s Health (CMVH), a consortium of the University of Queensland, University of Adelaide and Charles Darwin University, will conduct these studies and will be inviting a random sample of current and former ADF members to participate in the project.

“The result of this research may be new or revised approaches to prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, which can assist the ADF to better understand and deal with the health issues faced by its members,” said CMVH Professor Annette Dobson, head of the DHSP’s Scientific Research Team.

“Following Australian overseas operational deployments since WWII, there has been recognition that the long-term health of deployed veterans is probably worse than their peers in the Australian community.

“Studies undertaken to assess the health status of these veterans have in most cases confirmed this perception.

“Through this research, and with the support of current and former ADF members, we’ll be able to make a real difference to the future capability of Australia’s military but also, importantly, to the health and wellbeing of those who are serving and have served their nation on active duty.

“A key point to remember is that the privacy of Defence personnel participating in the study will be respected at all times and identifiable personal health information will not be passed on to Defence or Department of Veterans Affairs. Also, in no way will the information collected from personnel adversely affect their careers or access to health care or compensation,” she said.

Head of Defence Health Services AVM Tony Austin said the ADF was strongly supportive.

“The DHSP studies will allow us to adopt better methods to prevent ill health and to manage health issues before, during and after deployment,” AVM Austin said.

“This research reflects Defence Health Services’ ongoing commitment to the health and wellbeing of current and former deployed Defence members.”

Invitation packs for the Solomon Islands Health Study are being mailed to past and present Air Force members selected to participate in the project during October.

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