Female Vietnam Veteran & Civilian Health Register
Check the FVV&CHR
The Female Vietnam Veteran & Civilian Health Register
Click here for...
The registration form (792K PDF)
Contents
- What is the Female Vietnam Veteran & Civilian Health Register?
- Who is eligible to be on the Register?
- What is the purpose of the Register?
- What kind of information is collected for the Register?
- Why should I agree to my information being in the Register?
- How protected is the information I provide?
- Who has access to the Register?
- How is the Register used in research?
- What have been the previous health studies' results?
- How do I get my information on the Register?
- The FVV&CHR overview presentation (9M PPS) provides further information on the Register.
What is the Female Vietnam Veteran & Civilian Health Register?
The Female Vietnam Veteran & Civilian Health Register (FVV&CHR) is a record of Australian women who participated in the Vietnam War in various roles. The Register contains contact details that could be used as a basis for future health studies. It is operated by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on behalf of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. No identifiable information will be given to or accessed by the Department of Veterans' Affairs without your permission.
Who is eligible to be on the Register?
In consultation with veteran representatives (through the Consultative Committee), the following eligibility statement was adopted to account for the diverse activities conducted by women in Vietnam:
The following women who landed in Vietnam or entered Vietnamese waters (were in-country) for a minimum 24 hour period; during or following the Vietnam War to assist Australia's and the Allies' military presence or peacemaking roles or to conduct post-war activities are invited to register on the Female Vietnam Veteran & Civilian Health Register:
members of Australian defence organisations (the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force), including women who were seconded to Allied services;
- members of philanthropic organisations, civilian nursing, medical and surgical teams;
- official entertainers;
- flight attendants;
- administrative personnel;
- war correspondents; and
- women who traveled to Vietnam to support a serving or ill family member.
What is the purpose of the Register?
The information collected for the Register is used to:
- Establish whether the women who participated in the Vietnam War are alive
- Maintain their location and contact details
- Report on their demographics
- Facilitate possible future studies into their health
What kind of information is collected for the Register?
The information includes:
- Name and contact details
- Date of birth
- Organisation, role, service number, tour dates and unit
- Marital status
- Children's names and dates of birth
- Consent to be part of the Register
Why should I agree to my information being in the Register?
Approximately 500 Australian women are known to have been involved in the Vietnam War. The contact details to be collected for the Register will enable these women to be contacted, if necessary, to participate in future health studies. Health studies are important for developing policies to meet veterans' health needs.
The success of future studies for this small group of women will rely upon contribution from as many individuals as possible. The decision to register is yours, of course, but we strongly encourage all those involved in the Vietnam War to agree to being on the Register.
How protected is the information I provide?
All Register information will be held at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and treated with the strictest confidentiality. No information will be disclosed from the Register without your consent. The AIHW is bound by strict confidentiality provisions in its act (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987) and the Privacy Act 1988. Use of the Register is monitored by the AIHW Ethics Committee. Results from the Register (and any future studies) will only be published in a way that is completely unidentifiable and guarantees the privacy of the registrants. Possible future health studies will again seek the consent of the registrants to participate.
Who has access to the Register?
People on the Register can have access to information about themselves.
Selected AIHW staff have access to the Register to keep it up to date.
Researchers may be allowed to use information from the Register in studies that are considered important to the female veteran community, but only if you have agreed to participate in the study, your privacy is guaranteed and the study has been approved by the AIHW Ethics Committee.
How is the Register used in research?
The information collected by the Register may be used to invite female Vietnam veterans and civilians to participate in future health studies that are considered important, ethical and potentially beneficial to these women.
Results from the Register and any future research projects will only be published in a way that is completely unidentifiable and guarantees your privacy.
What have been the previous health studies' results?
The report on the health of female Vietnam veterans, part of the Morbidity of Vietnam Veterans study, was published in 1998.
The female respondents rated their health below that of their community counterparts. However, only 48% of all female veterans participated in the study, mainly because a large number of veterans could not be contacted. This poor response meant that many of the studies' findings were not definitive, and should be interpreted with caution.
The study recommended the development of a register of female Vietnam veterans to expand their profile and enhance any further study of this group.
How do I get my information on the Register?
To participate in the Female Vietnam Veteran & Civilian Health Register (FVV&CHR), click on the registration procedure.