A profile of veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA

Nearly half (49%) of veterans in HILDA

were aged 65 years and older. This older cohort was larger than seen among people who had never served in the ADF (20%).

1 in 6 older veterans

(aged 65 years and older; 16%) had severe or profound disability. This was higher than those who had never served in the ADF of the same age (9.0%).

89% of veterans in HILDA

were ex-serving, while 11% were current serving.

Analysis of self-reported data from Wave 21 of HILDA indicated that the profile of people who had ever served in the ADF (herein referred to as ‘veterans’) was notably different from people who have never served in the ADF. This was the case across many different characteristics discussed throughout this report.

Service characteristics

  • Over half of all veterans in the HILDA data set (57%) had served in the regular service, 34% in the Reserves, and 8.9% had served in both.
  • Most (89%) veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA were ex-serving ADF members, while 11% were current serving members.

Figure 2: Veterans within Wave 21 HILDA data, by service characteristics, 2021–22

The bar charts shows propotions of veterans in either Regular, Reserves or Regular and Reserves, and proportions in Current-serving and Ex-serving. Findings show  that 57% of veterans had served in the regular service, and that 89% of veterans were ex-serving.

Age and sex characteristics

  • Nearly half of all veterans in the HILDA data set (49%) were aged 65 years and older. This older cohort was more than twice as large as that seen among people who had never served in the ADF (20%).
  • Most (89%) veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA were male. This was nearly twice as large as the proportion of males among people who had never served in the ADF (47%). 

Figure 3: Age and sex distributions within Wave 21 of HILDA, by ADF service status, 2021–22

The bar charts show proportions of veterans population distributed by age and by sex. Findings show that veterans were more likely to be aged 65+, and more likely to be male, than the broader Australian population.

Individual characteristics

For information regarding the subgroups discussed in this section, see What veteran subgroups did we explore?

Overrepresentation in veteran subgroups

Compared with people who had never served in the ADF, veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA were more likely to:

  • not be in the labour force1(53%, compared with 33% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • live outside of Major cities (29% in Inner regional areas and 19% in Outer regional and remote areas, compared with 23% and 8.8% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • be in poor general health2(18%, compared with 11% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • have any disability (50%, compared with 31% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • have severe or profound disability (9.2%, compared with 4.0% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • live as a couple family without children (46%, compared with 26% of people who had never served in the ADF).

However, most of the above findings appear to be influenced by age. Most notably, the overrepresentation of veterans not in the labour force disappears when comparing age-specific rates, suggesting the finding is likely explained by most veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA being 65 years and older. The increased likelihood of having any disability or living as a couple family without children only holds true for veterans aged 45 years and older, while the increased likelihood of being in poor general health only holds true for veterans aged 65 years and older.

For more information regarding age-specific rates and comparisons of overrepresented characteristics in the veteran cohort, see Supplementary Table 1.3 accompanying this report.

Underrepresentation in veteran subgroups

Compared with people who had never served in the ADF, veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA were less likely to:

  • be employed full-time (37%, compared with 44% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • be employed part-time (8.0%, compared with 21% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • be in poor mental health2 (16%, compared with 20% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • be in high or very high psychological distress3 (16%, compared with 25% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • live in a couple family with dependent children (19%, compared with 33% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • live as a single parent (5.4%, compared with 10% of people who had never served in the ADF).

However, most of the above findings appear to be influenced by age. Most notably, the underrepresentation of veterans living as a couple family with dependent children disappears when comparing age-specific rates, suggesting this finding is likely explained by most veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA being 65 years and older. The decreased likelihood of being in poor mental health or in high or very high psychological distress only holds true for veterans aged 18 to 44, while being employed part-time or living as a single parent only holds true for veterans aged 18 to 64.

For more information regarding age-specific rates and comparisons of underrepresented characteristics in the veteran cohort, see Supplementary Table 1.3 accompanying this report.

Similarities between veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA and people who had never served in the ADF

Within Wave 21 of HILDA, veterans and people who had never served in the ADF were similarly likely to:

  • be unemployed (2.3%, compared with 2.9% of people who had never served in the ADF) 
  • be in financial stress (11%, compared with 10% of people who had never served in the ADF)
  • live alone (16% compared with 13% of people who had never served in the ADF).

Figure 4: Profile of Wave 21 HILDA respondents, by individual characteristics and ADF service status, 2021–22

The bar chart shows proportions of veterans subgroups such as DVA client status, labour force status, financial stress, remoteness area, state or territory of residence, general and mental health status, disability status and family type. Australian population proportions are also shown. Findings show there were significant differences in the profile of veterans compared with the broader Australian population across most subgroups explored.

 

Why did we explore the overall profile of veterans in Wave 21 of the HILDA survey?

Characteristics like age, sex, employment, income, geography, health, family structure and the type and nature of military service performed can all influence a veteran’s social connectedness, in turn affecting  their health and wellbeing outcomes. 

Understanding the profile of veterans within Wave 21 of the HILDA survey assists in identifying any over- or under-representations of these subgroups within Australia’s veteran population. This may enable the identification of veterans who are at an increased or decreased risk of issues with social connectedness.

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