Mission and vision

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (RCDVS) Defence Implementation Program’s mission is to prevent Australian Defence Force (ADF) and veteran suicide by promptly implementing the government agreed RCDVS recommendations and additional complementary reform initiatives.

The Program vision is to ensure all Defence personnel understand and actively seek to meaningfully address the factors that lead to suicide and suicidality in the Defence and veteran community.

Governance

The Program is overseen by the Chief of the Defence Force and a Implementation Program Board.

Scope

Defence is responsible for 54 recommendations and a jointly responsible for a further 23 recommendations with Department of Veterans’ Affairs and other agencies. The Program Board expects to have considered all Reform Management Plans (a Program governance document that outlines the plan for implementation) for each recommendation by the end of 2025.

Approach

Defence listened carefully to the lived experience expressed by witnesses during Royal Commissions hearings and commenced work on key areas highlighted by the Commissioners. As a result many of the Reform Management Plans build upon work that was already underway in Defence.

Defence is working closely with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as we undertake reforms.

External oversight

The independent Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission will monitor and assess our implementation of the government response. The Commission was established on 29 September 2025 and is overseen by the Acting Commissioner, Ms Penny McKay.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet established the RCDVS Implementation Taskforce which provides advice to the Government regarding whole-of-Government implementation.