Townsville decision right move for Defence personnel

AUGUST 15, 2016: The Australians who have served in our armed forces have given their all in service to their country, and they deserve more assistance with the particular pressures they face as a result of that service.So I welcome the announcement that Townsville will be a key focus region in the Government’s Defence mental health and employment initiatives.One area where assistance is needed is seeking employment after leaving the ADF, and these are individuals who have developed skills and leadership qualities that would be valuable to any business.Another crucial area of support needed is mental health services.A dedicated Suicide Prevention Trial site for ADF members and ex-service personnel will be established in Townsville, and PM Malcolm Turnbull will host the first Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Initiative in November to find ways for business to better use the skills of veterans and assist former Defence personnel transition to civilian employment.The Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Initiative will bring business leaders and veterans face-to-face so we can develop ways to effectively utilise this talent pool.I encourage business leaders in Townsville to think about the skills offered by our veterans and how they could use them.Improving post-service opportunities for our Defence personnel is good for the economy, good for individual businesses and good for veterans.In relation to mental health services, the choice of Townsville for a dedicated Suicide Prevention Trial site for ADF members and ex-service personnel is an important move.One suicide is one too many and our community must address mental health issues together.As Townsville is home to Lavarack Barracks and a large ex-service community, it’s an ideal location to establish an ADF Suicide Prevention site.The Government has also tasked the National Mental Health Commission with reviewing the suicide and self-harm prevention services available to veterans and Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.We've committed an additional $192 million to tackle mental health challenges across our community and $46.4 million is specifically for veterans and Defence personnel to access free mental health treatment.A review will improve our understanding of mental health challenges and lead to better treatment for our veterans and the wider community.This is an issue right across our community and a particular issue with our veterans. All of us need to be more aware of the challenges of mental illness and the debt we owe to our service men and women.