What are the service-related characteristics of the ex-serving ADF males?
On this page:
Where do they live?
What service were they in?
What rank were they?
How long did they serve?
How recently did they leave the ADF?
Why did they leave the ADF?
This section explores the service-related characteristics of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 and the total ex-serving ADF male population (who were alive or had died) during the same time period. The reference date for these service-related characteristics is as of 30 June 2011.
Further detailed information regarding suicide rates by ADF service-related characteristics can be found in the Serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members who have served since 1985: suicide monitoring 2001 to 2019 and the updated annual report is due to be published in November.
Where do they live?
Three in 10 (30%) ex-serving ADF males lived in Queensland in 2011. A further 24% lived in New South Wales and 18% lived in Victoria.
Due to small numbers, only counts and proportions for ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide could be reported for New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
| Number of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Proportion of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Number of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | Proportion of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State or Territory: New South Wales | 22 | 30.1 | 9,053 | 23.9 |
| State or Territory: Victoria | 10 | 13.7 | 6,680 | 17.6 |
| State or Territory: Queensland | 20 | 27.4 | 11,352 | 29.9 |
| State or Territory: South Australia | n.p. | n.p. | 2,759 | 7.3 |
| State or Territory: Western Australia | n.p. | n.p. | 4,292 | 11.3 |
| State or Territory: Tasmania | n.p. | n.p. | 1,286 | 3.4 |
| State or Territory: Northern Territory | n.p. | n.p | n.p. | n.p. |
| State or Territory: Australian Capital Territory | n.p. | n.p. | 1,799 | 4.7 |
| Other territories(e) | n.p. | n.p. | n.p. | n.p. |
| Total ex-serving ADF males | 73 | 100.0 | 37,947 | 100.0 |
n.p. – not available for publication but included in totals where applicable.
Statistics based on small numbers of deaths by suicide should be interpreted with caution and comparisons with other populations should be reported with context.
Notes:
(a) Excludes individuals who were an overseas visitor.
(b) The ex-serving ADF population has been restricted to those who separated prior to 30 June 2011 to ensure the study population had separated from the ADF at the time of the 2011 Census.
(c) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record and died by suicide between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(d) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record, who were still alive or had died (including by suicide) during the study period between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(e) Other territories include the Territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Jervis Bay.
Sources: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS - NDI - DSD 2001–2018 data and ABS MADIP – 2011 Census data (9 August 2011) – Cause of death/Deaths registrations data.
What service were they in?
The ADF has three service branches: the Royal Australian Navy (Navy), the Australian Army (Army) and the Royal Australian Air Force (Air Force). Though uncommon, an individual may move between services over their career. This section describes the last service the person was in at the time of their separation from the ADF (the date at which they left the ADF).
Almost two-thirds (65%) of ex-serving ADF males had separated from the Army, with similar proportions separating from the Navy (18%) and the Air Force (17%). Among ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 7 in 10 (70%) had separated from the Army, almost 2 in 10 (19%) had separated from the Navy and just over 1 in 10 (11%) had separated from the Air Force.
| Number of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Proportion of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Number of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | Proportion of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service: Navy | 14 | 19.2 | 6,635 | 17.5 |
| Service: Army | 51 | 69.9 | 24,807 | 65.4 |
| Service: Air Force | 8 | 11.0 | 6,505 | 17.1 |
| Total ex-serving ADF males | 73 | 100 | 37,947 | 100 |
Statistics based on small numbers of deaths by suicide should be interpreted with caution and comparisons with other populations should be reported with context.
Notes:
(a) Excludes individuals who were an overseas visitor.
(b) The ex-serving ADF population has been restricted to those who separated prior to 30 June 2011 to ensure the study population had separated from the ADF at the time of the 2011 Census.
(c) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record and died by suicide between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(d) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record, who were still alive or had died (including by suicide) during the study period between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
Sources: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS - NDI - DSD 2001–2018 data and ABS MADIP – 2011 Census data (9 August 2011) – Cause of death/Deaths registrations data.
What rank were they?
Rank describes organisational and workforce structures that determine a member’s position, conditions, opportunities and entitlements (such as pay and conditions). The analysis here is based on rank at time of separation. It is presented in two broad groups: Commissioned Officers, and Other Ranks.
Of the ex-serving ADF males, almost 1 in 5 (18%) were Commissioned Officers at time of separation. The majority of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide (92%) held Other Ranks, and only 8.2% were Commissioned Officers.
| Number of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Proportion of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Number of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | Proportion of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank: Commissioned Officer(e) | 6 | 8.2 | 6,949 | 18.3 |
| Rank: All ranks other than Commissioned Officer(f) | 67 | 91.8 | 30,997 | 81.7 |
| Total ex-serving ADF males(g) | 73 | 100.0 | 37,947 | 100.0 |
Statistics based on small numbers of deaths by suicide should be interpreted with caution and comparisons with other populations should be reported with context.
Notes
(a) Excludes individuals who were an overseas visitor.
(b) The ex-serving ADF population has been restricted to those who separated prior to 30 June 2011 to ensure the study population had separated from the ADF at the time of the 2011 Census.
(c) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record and died by suicide between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(d) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record, who were still alive or had died (including by suicide) during the study period between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(e) Ranks that hold leadership and managerial positions, denoted with the rank code prefix ‘O’ (O01 – O10).
(f) Ranks that are involved with general operations, denoted with the rank code prefix ‘E’ (E00 – E10).
(g) Sum of ex-serving ADF males does not equal total as there was 1 ex-serving ADF male (who was still alive) who did not have a recorded rank.
Sources: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS - NDI - DSD 2001–2018 data and ABS MADIP – 2011 Census data (9 August 2011) – Cause of death/Deaths registrations data.
How long did they serve?
Length of service describes the time between joining the ADF and separation. This report presents, length of service in three groups, ranging from less than 1 year to 5 years or more.
At the time separation, the most common length of service for both the total ex-serving ADF male population and those who died by suicide was 5 years or more (62% and 44% respectively).
Ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide were more likely to have served less than 1 year (26%) compared with the total ex-serving ADF male population (15%).
| Number of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Proportion of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Number of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | Proportion of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length of service: < 1 (years) | 19 | 26.0 | 5,591 | 14.7 |
| Length of service: 1 – <5 (years) | 22 | 30.1 | 8,818 | 23.2 |
| Length of service: 5 or more (years) | 32 | 43.8 | 23,538 | 62.0 |
| Total ex-serving ADF males | 73 | 100.0 | 37,947 | 100.0 |
Statistics based on small numbers of deaths by suicide should be interpreted with caution and comparisons with other populations should be reported with context.
Notes:
(a) Excludes individuals who were an overseas visitor.
(b) The ex-serving ADF population has been restricted to those who separated prior to 30 June 2011 to ensure the study population had separated from the ADF at the time of the 2011 Census.
(c) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record and died by suicide between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(d) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record, who were still alive or had died (including by suicide) during the study period between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
Sources: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS - NDI - DSD 2001–2018 data and ABS MADIP – 2011 Census data (9 August 2011) – Cause of death/Deaths registrations data.
How recently did they leave the ADF?
The time between separation from the ADF and 30 June 2011 is presented in three groups ranging from less than 1 year to 5 years or more.
The most common length of time since separation for both the total ex-serving ADF male population and those who died by suicide was 5 years or more (57% and 45% respectively).
| Number of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Proportion of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c) |
Number of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | Proportion of total ex-serving ADF males(d) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of years since separation(e): < 1 | 10 | 13.7 | 3,765 | 9.9 |
| Number of years since separation(e): 1 – <5 | 30 | 41.1 | 12,706 | 33.5 |
| Number of years since separation(e): 5 or more | 33 | 45.2 | 21,476 | 56.6 |
| Total ex-serving ADF males | 73 | 100.0 | 37,947 | 100.0 |
Statistics based on small numbers of deaths by suicide should be interpreted with caution and comparisons with other populations should be reported with context.
Notes:
(a) Excludes individuals who were an overseas visitor.
(b) The ex-serving ADF population has been restricted to those who separated prior to 30 June 2011 to ensure the study population had separated from the ADF at the time of the 2011 Census.
(c) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record and died by suicide between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(d) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record, who were still alive or had died (including by suicide) during the study period between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(e) The period between separation date and 30 June 2011.
Sources: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS - NDI - DSD 2001–2018 data and ABS MADIP – 2011 Census data (9 August 2011) – Cause of death/Deaths registrations data.
Why did they leave the ADF?
The reasons that ADF members separate from the ADF are categorised into three broad groups: voluntary separation, involuntary medical separation and involuntary other separation.
The separation point used in this report reflects full separation from the ADF, that is, when a member is no longer permanent or reserve. Separation reason is therefore the recorded reason for leaving the last engagement with the ADF. Due to a change in the way the reasons for separating the ADF were recorded during 2002, analysis in this report is presented only for ADF members who left between 1 January 2003 onwards to 30 June 2011.
Just over 2 in 5 (42%) ex-serving ADF males separated voluntarily and nearly half (49%) separated involuntarily. Of those who separated involuntarily, about 1 in 9 (12%) did so for medical reasons and 1 in 3 (37%) for other involuntary reasons.
Values based on small numbers of deaths have been suppressed in order to maintain data confidentiality, and/or avoid publishing statistics of low reliability.
| Number of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c)(d) |
Proportion of ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide, 9 Aug 2011 - 31 Dec 2018(c)(d) |
Number of total ex-serving ADF males(e) | Proportion of total ex-serving ADF males(e) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Separation reason(f): Voluntary separation | 18 | n.p. | 12,028 | 42.3 |
| Separation reason(f): Involuntary separation - Other involuntary separation | 21 | n.p. | 10,556 | 37.1 |
| Separation reason(f): Involuntary separation - Involuntary Medical separation | 20 | n.p. | 3,265 | 11.5 |
| Separation reason(f): Total involuntary separation | 41 | n.p. | 13,821 | 48.6 |
| Separation reason(f): Other reasons | n.p. | n.p. | 2,582 | 9.1 |
| Total ex-serving ADF males with a separation reason | n.p. | n.p. | 28,431 | 100.0 |
n.p. – not available for publication but included in totals where applicable.
Statistics based on small numbers of deaths by suicide should be interpreted with caution and comparisons with other populations should be reported with context.
Notes:
(a) Excludes individuals who were an overseas visitor.
(b) The ex-serving ADF population has been restricted to those who separated prior to 30 June 2011 to ensure the study population had separated from the ADF at the time of the 2011 Census.
(c) Proportions for ex-serving ADF males who died by suicide are not publishable due to risk of identification with small numbers in the “Other reasons” group.
(d) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record and died by suicide between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(e) Includes individuals who were alive at the time of 2011 Census and had a Census record, who were still alive or had died (including by suicide) during the study period between 9 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 inclusive.
(f) Due to a change in the way reasons for separating the ADF was recorded during 2002, analysis is presented only for ADF members who left between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2011.
Sources: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS - NDI - DSD 2001–2018 data and ABS MADIP – 2011 Census data (9 August 2011) – Cause of death/Deaths registrations data.