The Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has thanked past and present Defence members and their loved ones for their important contribution to the inquiry following the closure of submissions.
The Royal Commission received 5,889 submissions during its 27-month public consultation period – including 391 (~7%) received in the final 24 hours up until midnight on Friday (13 October 2023).
About 80% of submissions were from serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel, and their families and friends.
The five most common themes identified in submissions were –
- suicide and suicidal behaviour
- ADF culture, governance and accountability
- mental illness
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs claims and compensation, and
- ADF mental health support and responses
Chair of the Royal Commission, Nick Kaldas, thanked everyone who made a submission to the landmark inquiry.
“This Royal Commission has been greatly assisted by the thousands of submissions that it has received,” Commissioner Kaldas said. “To everyone who shared your deeply personal stories with us, thank you.”
“The experiences you’ve shared have shone a bright light on the cultural and systemic issues that are failing serving and ex-serving ADF members, and their families – as well as the risk and protective factors for suicide and suicidality.”
The final number of submissions could be higher given the Royal Commission will continue to accept submissions by mail which are postmarked prior to Friday’s closing date, while a small number of people have had their requests for a time extension granted after careful consideration of their specific circumstances.
The Royal Commission will continue to read and analyse all submissions over the coming months as it works towards its final report – and developing recommendations to Government which are realistic, fit-for-purpose and implementable.
Commissioner Kaldas reiterated that the Royal Commission is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address a national crisis: the high rates of suicide and suicidal behaviour in Australia’s military community.
“We strongly urge Government and the leadership of the ADF, Defence and DVA to see this inquiry as an opportunity to drive the long overdue change that is required to ensure past and present personnel, and their families, have the support they need and deserve – and to end the senseless loss of life,” he said.
