Dear Prime Minister



For many weeks I have been involved with Michael Handley creator of REDSIX Peer-to-Peer Application for Suicide and with these engagements to assist Defence Veterans indicating Self Harm and our In Service Experience and Post Service Advocacy work with Defence Veterans, can see a pattern of events that lead to Self Harm and would like to outline some of this to you.



Abandonment, Helplessness, Depression Personal Loss, Financial Struggle, Physical Loss, Family Breakdown, Transition from Defence are some of the areas where individuals may choose to Self Harm.



Being supported by Veteran Affairs now for over 20 years watching my Colleagues and Peers deploy in and out of War Zones and being discharged medically myself due to a parachuting accident I have seen the changes to the Veteran Affairs ACTs and Processes, more so since the return of our Defence Personnel from more recent conflict and similar to the changes progressed by our generation of Vietnam Veterans on return and their Relentless fight for services that we rely on today.



The outstanding changes that Veteran Affairs has implemented with the Veteran Payments to allow funds for Defence Veterans applying for Veteran Affairs entitlements to support them during the claim process as well as the Non-liability acceptance. Now the work being carried out by Stephanie at Open Arms with their Crisis Accommodation and new Call Out teams working in conjunction with the ESO groups and building stronger Self Harm support services day-by-day I have yet to see our National Media outlets promote these new services, to help inform our Defence Veterans of the professional services available.



Details in the 2014 ESO Mapping Project indicated 19.4 billion dollars going into our ESO Veteran space and now 5 years on we have more ESO groups increasing the yearly charity commitment to Veteran Help we are yet to see certain areas of services provided. The mapping project with the time available and the funds committed gave a clear indication of Veteran Location ,Population an Age but did not include an overlay of all ESO groups regionally and the Funds Generated Regionally for comparison to Population, Location and Age Statistics of the National Veteran Community. (See Att.)



As the suggestions of a Royal Commission into Veteran Affairs and Suicide are circulated.. I ask for you to consider the cost comparison to a





Prime Ministers Initiative to provide





1. Veteran Homeless Transition facilities in each State Capital and Major Regional areas to Transition Homeless Veterans into existing State Government Housing options and supported by existing State Government Resources.





2. Family Court Mediation for Defence Veterans suffering PTSD which under the present system can separate the Family and breakdown it's Unity.





3. Look at the options of providing in each State Capitals and in Major Regions, Veteran Hospitals large enough to co-locate Veteran Services for Ease of Access and providing ample Commercial Space for the Services. ( The Government owns existing land at Greenslopes, Brisbane, Queensland)





4. Prime Ministers Recognition of Service through the implementation of National Recognition of individuals Killed in Action, Killed in Service, Wounded in Action and Injured in Service. (the last category identified in prior suicide study as being a high percentage of individuals that self harm and the department of Veteran Affairs have a review underway) see Att.





5. A complete Report of our National Charity Commitment and Revenue Comparison regionally with current and prior Veteran Population, Location and Age Data giving Transparent Regional Efficiency.









There are many Details,Studies and Data recent and prior available and the money spent on a Royal Commission would only outline these details once again.



If money is to be allocated from National Budget for a Royal Commission will there be enough funds in the future to address the findings of a Royal Commission or could that be addressed now from Existing Data and Funds.







For Your Consideration









Andrew Sloane

Veteran Advocate

0408987170



Volunteer Treasurer

Australian Artillery Association