Defence is committed to ensuring that ADF personnel have access to the right support, at the right time, especially those who are vulnerable or at risk. Defence spends approximately $69 million per year to provide education and awareness programs, and provide access to mental health treatment and rehabilitation programs, for serving ADF personnel.
The current Defence Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2018-2023 incorporates research on mental health, and reflects learnings from previous reviews and inquiries into the mental health of serving and ex-serving ADF personnel.
Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029
Defence will jointly lead the development of the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2024-2029) in conjunction with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The departments will consult widely in the development of the strategy including with mental health experts, researchers, peak associations, federal, state and territory governments, ex-service organisations, current serving and transitioning ADF personnel, current Defence Australian Public Service workforce, and veterans and families to ensure lived-experience is included.
The strategy will adopt a proactive and preventive framework structured around the Defence and DVA aligned wellbeing factors.
The wellbeing factors are:
- health
- social support and connection
- education and skills
- employment
- income and finance
- respect and recognition
- home and housing
- justice and safety
- spirituality.
Resources
Defence Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2018-2023 (PDF, 3.4 MB)