Statement from the Australia College of Mental Health Nurses Royal Commission - DVA - Final Report 9 September 2024
11 September 2024
Re: Royal Commission Final Report into DVA Suicide
As mental health nurses represented by our peak body the Australia College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN), we are saddened to hear again of the distressing and tragic events in DVA occurring over decades. We express our deepest condolences to those mourning the loss of service personnel and the impact on loved ones.
College feedback on the Royal Commission report consists of the following:
Recommendation 67: ACMHN agrees with the sentiment of this recommendation but wishes to be able to contribute its expertise to the alignment of Defence’s clinical governance framework with the national model framework, specifically, but not exclusively, in relation to
(c) establishing partnerships across DVA, civilian healthcare services and specialist facilities for serving and ex-serving members and leveraging these partnerships to respond optimally to the unique needs of each patient.
Recommendation 72: ACMHN wishes to be recognised as part of the solution in the plans to expand and strengthen healthcare services for veterans. In particular, the measures to improve the coverage of specialised veterans’ care, including by:
(a) providing support for primary and allied care providers whose services focus on veterans’ health needs
(b) expanding veteran-specific secondary and tertiary health services
(c) developing additional partnership agreements between DVA and primary health networks.
Recommendations 80 and 81: ACMHN believes its membership, and its credentialed mental health nurses (CMHNs) in particular, can play a key role in supporting members to transition out of the Australian Defence Force.
Recommendation 90: ACMHN recommends that reserve personnel require access to free mental health care and support. CMHNs could work with reservists to supply these services.
Recommendation 93: ACMHN wishes to see members directly involved in rolling out the Transition Medical Assessment Pilot Program on an ongoing and national basis.
CEO of ACMHN, Mr Adrian Armitage commented. “Those defending our country and community should be accorded the right to proper care and services that reflects the dignity, duty and commitment by our military serving and veteran personnel. As mental health nurses, our members work with people who have experienced physical and mental trauma. We acknowledge the traumatic responses including disbelief, panic, fear, uncertainty, and distress, with our mental health nurses recognised as providing safe and respectful clinical care through our specialist skills as a disciplined mental health nurse.”
For crisis support, please contact:
13YARN (24hrs) on 13 9276 to connect with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis support.
Beyond Blue (24hrs) 1300 22 4636
Head to Health (24hrs) 1800 595 212
Lifeline (24hrs) on 13 11 14
For further comment, please contact ACMHN Media, on: (02) 6285 1078 or email [email protected].
TAGS Australian College of Mental Health Nurses press release, mental health nursing