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.

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Latest findings

Permanent and reserve males are about half as likely to die by suicide as Australian males

Ex-serving males who separate for involuntary medical have higher rates of suicide than males who separate voluntarily

Ex-serving males are around 24% more likely to die by suicide than Australian males

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

Smoking rates for people who have served in the ADF were similar to those who have never served

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