Document library

A list of Defence-specific and national, crisis and community services.

This is a guide to the final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The final report has seven volumes and contains 122 recommendations. In this guide, we provide a broad outline of each volume and describe what it contains. This guide is for anyone who wants to understand quickly what is in the final report and find the information they need.

This volume of the final report contains 14 appendices related to the establishment and operations of the Royal Commission, research and quantitative data, details of previous reports and inquiries, and our procedural fairness letters and responses.

Volume 6 of the final report contains three chapters on matters of importance to the whole Defence and DVA ecosystem, and a final chapter in which we recommend the establishment of a new, independent oversight entity with specific responsibility for preventing suicide of serving and ex-serving members.

Volume 5 of the final report contains four chapters on the theme of transition and support for former serving members once they have separated from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) – including support provided by DVA.

Volume 4 of the final report contains nine chapters on the topic of ‘Heath care for serving and ex-serving members’ including the provision of healthcare services by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

This volume of the final report encompasses two distinct themes: Part 3, Misconduct, complaints and military justice (Chapters 8 to 10); and Part 4, Governance and accountability (Chapters 11 to 13).

Volume 2 of the final report contains five chapters on the theme ‘Serving the nation’ in which we look in detail at life in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Volume 1 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide final report includes the executive summary and our 122 recommendations. It also sets out how we conducted our inquiry, describes our trauma-informed approach, and introduces our three commissioners – Nick Kaldas APM, the Hon James Douglas KC, and Dr Peggy Brown AO – and our two assistant commissioners – Bob Atkinson AO PSM and Dr Susan Young.

The Final Report of the Royal Commission is the culmination of three years of inquiry into the suicide crisis in Australia’s Defence and veteran population. It comprises seven volume and nine parts – and contains the Commission’s analysis of complex cultural and systemic issues relevant to suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members. The Final Report also includes 122 recommendations to Government, which form the Royal Commission’s blueprint for real, meaningful and long-lasting reform.