DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 292/10
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Defence response to The Weekend Australian article Soldiers’ despair
confronts Defence’
Defence acknowledges the content of the Preliminary Study for the Military Health
Outcomes Program (MilHOP) Survey and has already investigated and/or resolved
many of the issues raised by the respondents over the 19 year period considered by
the Preliminary Study.
Defence’s highest priority is the health and well-being of the men and women who
serve in the ADF.
The individual responses highlighted in the article are the participants’ personal
perceptions and do not necessarily reflect the full context of the issues raised. The
article includes a number of errors as follows:
o
No Australian soldier has died as a result of an alleged drug overdose in
Afghanistan. An Australian soldier, Private D, remains in a serious condition
and is being closely monitored, however his clinical condition has improved.
Private D is being supported by his family and the ADF at home in Australia.
o
There is no evidence to support the suggestion that addiction to prescription
drugs and an underground trade in illicit substances and sex is widespread. As
a result of concerns raised some time ago, a comprehensive fatigue
management program is in place to support RAAF aircrew deployed on
operations.
o
This article gives the impression that the surveys were altered because of the
responses provided in the Preliminary Study and focus groups. This is not the
case. The specific intent of the Preliminary Study and focus groups was to use
the responses provided to assist design of the most useful questions to ask in
the MilHOP survey in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of
psychological health issues in the ADF.
o
The article suggests that the Dutch assistance to provide emergency
evacuations only includes wounded personnel. The ADF and our coalition
partners treat the recovery of both wounded and deceased personnel as
critically important. However, in all circumstances the tactical situation will
determine how to best achieve evacuation.
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
The Preliminary Study and MilHOP survey form part of a broader Defence
commitment to improve health care, particularly mental health care, for ADF
members.
The ADF has taken the findings in the Preliminary Study seriously. Defence’s priority
has always been the welfare of our men and women and the research was undertaken
to better understand the mental health impact on personnel serving on operations and
to use the outcomes to improve our procedures and support mechanisms.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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