Overview

Veterans—current or former serving members of the Australian Defence Force—and their families are an important population group for health and welfare monitoring. The unique nature of Australian Defence Force service promotes protective factors that can lead to improved health outcomes but also exposes members to risk factors that may lead to poor health during and after their military service.

Latest findings

In 2016 to 2018 the age‑adjusted rate of suicide in serving males was 37% lower than in Australian males In 2016 to 2018 the age‑adjusted rate of suicide in reserve males was 47% lower than in Australian males Ex-serving males who discharged from service voluntarily had similar rates of suicide to Australian males Men 18–34 who ever served in the ADF are less likely to be current or former smokers than those who have never served Ex-serving males who discharged from service on medical grounds had higher rates of suicide than Australian males Smoking rates for people who have served in the ADF were similar to those who have never served As at 30 June 2017 there were an estimated 165,000 veterans who were DVA clients In 2014–15, 9 in 10 people who have served in the ADF had consulted a GP in the last 12 months In 2015, 20% of ADF personnel who discharged between 2010 and 2014 had a university degree In 2009–2010, one-quarter of former ADF peacekeepers reported being very socially isolated while deployed In 2015–16, 9% of DVA hospitalisations for male patients aged 55 and over were for anxiety disorders

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Highlights

78% of peoplewho have served in the Australian Defence Force rated their health as excellent, very good or good in 2014–15,
There were an estimated 641,000living Australian veterans as at 30 June 2018
Ex-serving menaged under 30 had a suicide rate 2.2 times that of Australian men the same age, in 2014–2016
Rates of deathfrom all causes are generally lower for serving, reserve and ex-serving men and women than for the Australian population
The most commonreason for transitioning from the Australian Defence Force was ‘impact of service life on family’ in 2015
Around two-thirdsof Department of Veterans’ Affairs payment recipients aged 55 and over have disability
Over 176,000eligible veterans and dependents received a payment from Department of Veterans’ Affairs in 2016–17
The suicide ratein 2002–2016 was 18% higher among ex-serving men than all Australian men, after adjusting for age