Why the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is only one piece of the puzzle

DVA employees aren't hired based on their understanding or personal experience with veterans, which inevitably leads to frustration and anger when veterans feel misunderstood while seeking help. How can they possibly know how to communicate with the veteran community if they've never met a veteran? Why don't we bring together DVA staff and local veterans over a cup of coffee so they can begin to understand each other?

We also need the government to change the exclusions that apply to the insurance industry. We all know that insurance companies like to find new and creative ways not to pay out on policies, leaving countless grieving families without life insurance payouts following the suicide of a veteran.

It is well-established that veterans are plagued by PTSD following their service, and the lack of support available to deal with this leads many to self-harm or end their own lives. PTSD is an accepted medical condition just like any other that a person could be diagnosed with – so why is the government allowing insurance companies to deny claims as though these families aren't plagued by real illness?

The same goes for superannuation funds. When an ADF member joins the military, they don't have the option of choosing a private fund as is enshrined in law for all civilians. Despite this, when push comes to shove and the Military Super Benefits Scheme is asked to pay out for a case involving veteran mental illness and suicide, they deny claims in much the same way as insurance companies do.

We are leaving veterans and their families out to dry, emotionally and financially. We fail to support them in life and death, leaving them more isolated than ever before as they attempt to pick up the pieces.

By overlooking the spouses and children of veterans, we do yet another disservice to the ADF community.

Just as we should respect the contributions that veterans have made to our country, we should acknowledge the sacrifices made by ADF families: the spouses who relocate so their partner can be posted where needed, the children who don't get to see their mum or dad as much as they'd like, and the family unit that is often separated for months at a time.

Despite this integral role that families play in the military community, they are not offered the same support as veterans. This is true even though many spouses of PTSD-afflicted veterans experience secondary PTSD themselves. When we don't address the health and well-being of all involved, we simply create a system that enfranchises itself to put added stress and trauma onto ADF families.

Families are an integral part of the puzzle here – and as we all know, you can't see the bigger picture when you don't have all the pieces.

This is where the Royal Commission missed an important opportunity to understand the essential role that defence families play and the serious impact it can have on their lives. To care for the veteran and defence community, there needs to be respect and acknowledgment for the myriad of roles played by men, women, and children. The picture is not complete without this part of the puzzle.

While the Royal Commission is a great start, these systems are proof that we are exposing ADF members to inherent risk without holding up our end of the bargain. Just like any other industry, the military has a duty of care to those who dedicate their lives to supporting it. The government shouldn't be an exception to this rule.

When the Royal Commission findings are announced in September, we'll hopefully gain further insight into what is needed to better care for the health and well-being of the veteran community. One thing is for certain: we have a long way to go when it comes to caring for Australia's heroes.