The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide concluded with the delivery of its Final Report on 9 September 2024. All enquiries should now be directed to the Attorney-General's Department. See the contact page for more information.

For information about Defence and veteran support services, please see our crisis support information.

Plain English terms of reference

  • Letters Patent
Publication date

The terms of reference set out what the Commissioners can and must investigate.

In general terms, the Commissioners will look into:

  1. Common issues and themes in relation to suicide and suicide behaviour by serving and ex-serving Defence members.*
  2. Risk factors that contribute to suicide by serving and ex-serving Defence members, including pre- and post-service such as:
    1. the recruitment of serving and ex-serving Defence members
    2. whether the branch, service, posting history, or rank of the serving or ex-serving Defence member is relevant
    3. how serving and ex-serving Defence members left the Australian Defence Force for civilian life or moved between service categories
    4. healthcare, wellbeing and support services for serving and ex-serving Defence members, including quality, wait times and outcomes of care
    5. how government departments share information about serving and ex-serving Defence members
    6. how information about the mental and physical health of serving and ex-serving Defence members is reported and kept during and after service.
  3. Culture within the Australian Defence Force, the Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs and how this culture impacts serving and ex-serving Defence members' physical and mental wellbeing.
  4. The role of non-government organisations, including ex-service organisations, in providing services and support for serving and ex-serving Defence members, their families and others.
  5. Ways to protect and help serving and ex-serving Defence members who have experienced suicide behaviour or other high-risk behaviour.
  6. The adequacy of support services available to help families and others who have:
    1. been affected by a serving or ex-serving Defence member's death by suicide
    2. supported a serving or ex-serving Defence member with suicide behaviour or risk factors.
  7. Issues serving and ex-serving Defence members have when they access support services or put in claims through the Department of Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs or other Commonwealth, State or Territory government departments.
  8. Rules and policies about how support services, claims and benefits are managed by the Department of Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and other Commonwealth, State or Territory government departments.
  9. Major risk factors that play a part in suicide by serving and ex-serving Defence members, including:
    1. social and family life
    2. housing and employment
    3. the financial situation of the person.
  10. Anything else that the Commissioners consider may be relevant.

* 'Serving or ex-serving Defence member' means anyone who is currently or has previously been a member of the Australian Defence Force.