New home for Darwin veterans under way in wake of Royal Commission recommendations

The Territorys’ 10,000 veterans will soon have access to vital support through a new hub. It comes as the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide delivers its recommendations.

WORK is well under way in Stuart Park on a new support services centre for the Territory’s almost 10,000 Defence Force veterans.

Service organisation Mates4Mates will operate the Veterans’ and Families’ Hub after having great success with its Palmerston location where they assist current and former Australian Defence Force members with service-related injuries and mental health.

Mates4Mates general manager Emma Whitehead said the new hub would be a one-stop-shop and add additional services to the organisation’s Darwin portfolio, including a rehabilitation gym.

“The rehabilitation gym will allow us to offer exercise rehab for our clients,” she said.

“The two buildings are going to be quite different.

“This Stuart Park site is a lot larger so we’ll be able to engage with more service organisations to offer psychology services and other broader health and wellbeing services.”

Minister Veteran Affairs Matt Keogh, Member for Solomon Luke Gosling, and Emma Whitehead at new Mates4Mates site. Picture: Monique Van Der Heyden

Mates4Mates first came to the Territory last year with a $5m Commonwealth Government grant and its own $500,000 contribution.

Federal Minister Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the site was expected to be operating by early next year and will go a long way in assisting the Northern Territories veterans.

“Making sure our veterans have access to well co-ordinated services to support them in their journey from defence service into civilian life is very important,” he said.

Minister Veterans Affairs Matt Keogh, Member for Solomon Luke Gosling, and Emma Whitehead at new Mates4mates site. Picture: Monique Van Der Heyden

It comes after the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its interim report on August 11.

The prevalence of suicide among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members is “something that should concern us all”, the commissioners wrote.

“Each death by suicide, each life lost, has profound effects on family, friends, colleagues and the wider community,” the report says.

“This interim report makes a limited number of recommendations about urgent and immediate issues, as well as a range of preliminary observations.”

When the report was dropped Mr Keogh said it is vital the recommendations were “addressed as a priority”.

“We will now look into implementing these recommendations that have been made,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the rate of veteran suicide in Australia is a national tragedy and it is a rate that is significantly higher than across the general Australian population.

“It is devastating that Australia has lost more serving and former serving personnel to suicide than it has lost through operations over the last 20 years in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

The Commission Chair Nick Kaldas said the remainder of the inquiry would focus on suicide prevention and wellbeing, the role and support of families, ADF culture and transition to civilian life.

“We will continue to listen, consult and learn. We want to ensure this Royal Commission’s legacy is a vast improvement in the welfare of serving and ex-serving members of the ADF and their families,” Commissioner Kaldas said.

“We want all current and former Defence personnel to go on to live long, happy and meaningful lives.”