VETERANS across Australia will have improved access to consistent, military-aware mental health support with the launch of the Federal Government’s new Suicide Prevention Framework – the first national model of its kind.
Developed in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, the Framework brings together expertise from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), suicide prevention organisations, health professionals, researchers and Defence.
Its aim is to create a “no wrong door” pathway so veterans can receive reliable, high-quality help wherever they reach out.
RSL Queensland Deputy CEO – Veteran Services, Troy Watson, welcomed the announcement, saying the Framework was a step in the right direction.
“We’ll now take time to work through the detail to understand how this may influence the support we provide.”
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the Framework reflected the Government’s commitment to act on the Royal Commission’s findings.
Mr Neumann said he hoped local ex-service organisations – including RSL Queensland, Mates4Mates, RSL Sub Branches, Ipswich Legacy and Wounded Heroes – would be able to use the Framework in their daily work.
The Framework was shaped through consultation with veterans, bereaved families, carers, clinicians and service providers.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said the Framework built on expert knowledge and supported a more unified system.
National Suicide Prevention Office Director Michael Cook said the initiative represented a major step forward in whole-of-government efforts, combining best-practice suicide prevention with the specific needs of veterans.
Lifeline Chief Research Officer Anna Brooks said the Framework marked a transformative shift.
“It recognises the unique nature of military service and its ongoing impact on wellbeing,” she said. “This ground-breaking approach layers veteran-specific care on top of broader suicide prevention efforts.”
