Australian Politics Forum - Royal commision into ADF suicides

Brian Ross

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Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides
Reply #45 - Jun 28^th, 2022 at 3:41pm

Veteran Affairs or as it used to be known, Repatriation Department was far better than the VA in the US. Organised first after WWI it oversaw the rehabilitation of veterans, basically at no expense to them. It's real heyday was after WWII and that flowed on to Korea and Vietnam veterans. Today, it is sadly in decline with penny-pinching governments which have shut down and sold off the former specialist hospitals and centres. It once did good work with military veterans. Today it suffers from the idea of "mainstreaming" veterans, putting them into the civil health system and basically ignoring them. My brother used to work on the Admin side and he had numerous stories to tell. Roll Eyes

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Jake Winker Frogen

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Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides
Reply #46 - Jun 28^th, 2022 at 3:44pm

Brian Ross wrote on Jun 28^th, 2022 at 3:41pm:

Veteran Affairs or as it used to be known, Repatriation Department was far better than the VA in the US. Organised first after WWI it oversaw the rehabilitation of veterans, basically at no expense to them. It's real heyday was after WWII and that flowed on to Korea and Vietnam veterans. Today, it is sadly in decline with penny-pinching governments which have shut down and sold off the former specialist hospitals and centres. It once did good work with military veterans. Today it suffers from the idea of "mainstreaming" veterans, putting them into the civil health system and basically ignoring them. My brother used to work on the Admin side and he had numerous stories to tell. Roll Eyes

Interesting.

The same process sort of occurred in the USA.

After World War II GIs got all sorts of benefits, the greatest the GI Bill which gave them free university.

Then it slowly got pared back and after the defeat in Vietnam became a fun house of irrationality.

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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #47 - Jun 29^th, 2022 at 4:09pm Abuse at all ranks in the services, Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide hears
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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #48 - Aug 9^th, 2022 at 1:19pm Diagnosed with PTSD and depression, ex-serviceman William considers himself one of the 'lucky' ones
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Belgarion Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 5310 Gender:	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #49 - Aug 9^th, 2022 at 4:21pm Brian Ross wrote on Aug 9^th, 2022 at 1:19pm: Diagnosed with PTSD and depression, ex-serviceman William considers himself one of the 'lucky' ones Someone with something good to say about Vet Affairs. That must put him in a minority. Seems this bloke is ashamed of himself, which must make the problem worse.
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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #50 - Aug 10^th, 2022 at 7:13pm The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is about to hand down a big report. Here's what it has heard
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Belgarion Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 5310 Gender:	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #51 - Aug 10^th, 2022 at 7:59pm Brian Ross wrote on Aug 10^th, 2022 at 7:13pm: The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is about to hand down a big report. Here's what it has heard While the ABC article is predictably sensationalist, I will be very interested in what the report has to say.
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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #52 - Aug 11^th, 2022 at 1:42pm Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide calls for end to claims backlog, shares 'dismay' at 'limited' government action
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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #53 - Oct 17^th, 2022 at 12:32pm Royal commission into veteran suicides to commence hearings in Darwin this week
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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #54 - Oct 19^th, 2022 at 7:37pm Royal Commission into Defence Suicide hears from veteran Justin Huggett, who says members aren't properly treated
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Belgarion

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Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides
Reply #55 - Oct 19^th, 2022 at 8:29pm

Brian Ross wrote on Oct 19^th, 2022 at 7:37pm:

Royal Commission into Defence Suicide hears from veteran Justin Huggett, who says members aren't properly treated Roll Eyes

Playing devils advocate here, I note this statement: Mr Huggett told the commission he went on to hide his injury to avoid being moved to lighter duties. ....
This is a fact of life in the ADF, people hide injuries and illness to avoid being removed from the unit or through a perception of being labelled a malingerer, only to have it bite them on the arse years later.
   As for a reluctance to spend money on proper treatment, I don't know what the Army does but I know that when I saw the MO about a mark on my back he checked it out and sent me to a Macquarie Street specialist for a second opinion.
   I never saw a reluctance to provide treatment by any RAN medical personnel on cost grounds.
   I hate to say it, but among the many genuine cases I think there are also a number who are jumping on the 'veterans' bandwagon purely for personal gain. Sad

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"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

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Brian Ross

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Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides
Reply #56 - Oct 19^th, 2022 at 9:49pm

Belgarion wrote on Oct 19^th, 2022 at 8:29pm:

Brian Ross wrote on Oct 19^th, 2022 at 7:37pm:

Royal Commission into Defence Suicide hears from veteran Justin Huggett, who says members aren't properly treated Roll Eyes

Playing devils advocate here, I note this statement: Mr Huggett told the commission he went on to hide his injury to avoid being moved to lighter duties. ....
This is a fact of life in the ADF, people hide injuries and illness to avoid being removed from the unit or through a perception of being labelled a malingerer, only to have it bite them on the arse years later.
   As for a reluctance to spend money on proper treatment, I don't know what the Army does but I know that when I saw the MO about a mark on my back he checked it out and sent me to a Macquarie Street specialist for a second opinion.
   I never saw a reluctance to provide treatment by any RAN medical personnel on cost grounds.
   I hate to say it, but among the many genuine cases I think there are also a number who are jumping on the 'veterans' bandwagon purely for personal gain. Sad

I think he is referring to post employment. I have never had a problem either. I once cracked several teeth and after I left the army I needed treatment. It was all arranged by my civvie dentist. It helped that he was ex-dental corps so understood the system and charged the Army for my treatment.

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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #57 - Oct 21^st, 2022 at 7:55pm Indigenous veteran Professor Brad Murphy tells Defence Suicide Royal Commission mental health stigma remains a barrier
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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #58 - Oct 25^th, 2022 at 7:51pm Parents of Darwin-based soldier Tom Halloran tell veterans suicide royal commission of 'punitive culture' and bullying before 22-year-old's death
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Brian Ross Moderator Offline Representative of me Posts: 39593	Re: Royal commision into ADF suicides Reply #59 - Oct 26^th, 2022 at 4:51pm Indigenous veteran Paul Walker tells royal commission into defence suicide his time in the army 'tore him apart'
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