Veterans

In the latest 3-year period analysed (2016-2018) the age-adjusted rate of suicide in serving males was 37% lower than in Australian males. Among reserve males it was 47% lower than in Australian males. Between 2007 and 2018 the rate of suicide in ex-serving males who discharged on medical grounds was higher than in Australian males, while among those who discharged voluntarily it was similar.

This report looks at medications dispensed in 2017–18 to contemporary ex-serving ADF members with service from 1 Jan 2001. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of contemporary ex-serving ADF members were dispensed at least one medication subsidised by the PBS/RPBS. After adjusting for age and sex, similar proportions of the contemporary ex-serving population and Australian population were dispensed medications in 2017–18.

Rates of death due to all-causes were generally lower among the ADF populations when compared with rates for the Australian population of the same age. The leading causes of death were similar between ADF populations and the Australian population, but differed by age; among men aged 16-29 and 30-49, the leading causes of death were generally external, whereas leading causes of death among men aged 50 years and over were due to chronic diseases. Suicide, land transport accidents and accidental poisoning, featured prominently as leading causes of death in men aged 16–29 while coronary heart disease, and various types of cancer featured prominently as leading causes of death in men age 50 and over. 

Development of a veteran-centred model: a working paper introduces the veteran-centred model. The veteran-centred model is based on the AIHW’s person-centred model and supports a person-centred approach to understanding the experiences and outcomes of Australia’s veterans. This working paper shows how the AIHW person-centred model can be relevantly applied to the veteran population to support holistic analysis and reporting of veterans’ health and welfare. 

This report examines the incidence of suicide among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel in 2001–2015, and identifies characteristics that may be associated with suicide risk. Ex-serving men aged 18–29 have a higher suicide rate compared with Australian men of the same age. Ex-serving men of all ages who were medically discharged, or discharged in ranks other than commissioned officer, were at higher risk of suicide than their peers.

This in-brief report summarises results on the incidence of suicide among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel using 15 years of data and identifies characteristics that may be associated with risk of suicide. In 2001–2015 there were 325 certified suicide deaths among people with at least 1 day of ADF service since 2001. Of these deaths 166 occurred in the ex-serving population. Ex-serving men aged 18–24 were at particular risk—2 times more likely to die from suicide than Australian men of the same age. Service characteristics that may be associated with the higher rate of suicide in ex-serving men included: involuntary discharge—particularly medical discharge, short length of service (<1 year) and rank other than a commissioned officer.

There is strong and increasing public interest in, and concern about, the incidence of suicide among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. A study undertaken by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare calculates, for the first time, accurate rates of suicide deaths among ex-serving ADF personnel. This fact sheet presents the preliminary results of this analysis for three ADF populations—serving full-time, reserve and ex-serving personnel—and shows the number of suicide deaths for 2001–2014 and the comparative rate of suicide death for 2002–2014 (for men only, as number of women in the study meant valid comparisons were not possible). Further detailed results are anticipated to be released in mid-2017.

Between 1974 and 2000, the Royal Australian Air Force undertook a series of formal Deseal/Reseal (DSRS) programs, alongside informal repair activities, to correct fuel leaks inside the fuel tanks of F-111 aircraft. A number of concerns were raised about health outcomes in personnel who worked on these programs and associated activities. The repair work was suspended in 2000, and a series of inquiries and health studies followed. This report presents the findings of the fourth iteration of a series of studies on mortality and cancer incidence of F-111 DSRS personnel. The report will be a valuable resource for policy makers, program managers and health professionals interested in health outcomes of Australian Defence Force personnel.

In 1977, the Royal Australian Air Force commenced a series of Deseal / Reseal (DSRS) programs on the fuel tanks of F-111 aircraft. These programs were implemented to correct fuel leaks inside the F-111 fuel tanks. A number of concerns were raised about health outcomes in personnel who worked on these programs.This report builds on previous findings from studies on mortality and cancer incidence of personnel who worked on the DSRS programs. The report will be a valuable resource for policy makers, program managers and health professionals interested in health outcomes of military personnel.

This report is the last of four volumes published in this third series of studies on Vietnam veterans.

This report is the first of four volumes to be published and is the first investigation of cancer incidence for male Australian Vietnam veterans from all three branches of the armed forces – Navy, Army and Air Force. The number of females who served in Vietnam were too few for meaningful results in a study of this kind.

This report is the second of four volumes published in this third series of studies on Vietnam veterans.

This report is the third of four volumes published in this study on Vietnam veterans.

This study was commissioned by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and has investigated the incidence rates of cancer among Australian male veterans of the Korean War between 1982 and 1999 and compared these with the incidence rates over the same period for male members of the general Australian population of the same age.

This study investigates mortality rates, both generally and for specific causes of death, among Australian male veterans of the Korean War from their last day of service in Korea to 31 December 2000, and compared these with the corresponding rates for general Australian male population of the same age.

The report presents the findings of a study comparing health care use and expenditure for veterans who hold Gold Cards, with the remainder of the community. The study focuses on the major components of Department of Veterans' Affairs health expenditure - local medical officer services, pharmaceuticals, private and public hospital services.

This report provides medical validations for three conditions of concern regarding the health of Vietnam veterans and their children - adrenal gland cancer in veterans' children, the four main types of leukaemia in veterans and their children, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in veterans. It is the second supplementary report to Morbidity of Vietnam Veterans: Volume 3 Validation Study and responds to a recommendation of that study that 'cancer of the adrenal gland in veterans' children be further investigated and compared to a derived community standard'. Comparisons have also been made for the four leukaemia types to expand on the total leukaemia comparisons from the study, while the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma comparisons are revisions to those included in the validation report. This report further extends the knowledge about the health of Vietnam veterans and their families.

This report provides medical validations for two conditions of concern regarding the health of Vietnam veterans - multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.It is the third supplementary report to Morbidity of Vietnam Veterans: Volume 3 Validation Study and fulfils the recommendation in Volume 1 of the study, the survey of male veterans, that the reported rates of multipe sclerosis and motor neurone disease be validated. This report further extends the knowledge about the health of Vietnam veterans and their families.

Morbidity of Vietnam veterans: suicide in Vietnam Veterans' children, supplementary report 1: a study of the health of Australia's Vietnam veteran community analyses suicide patterns among Vietnam veterans' children highlighting time trends, age and sex distribution, location and method of suicide. It is a supplementary report to Morbidity of Vietnam Veterans: Volume 3 Validation Study which recommended that suicide in veterans' children be further investigated and the result drawn to the attention of the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service. This report extend the knowledge about the health of Vietnam veterans and their families.