The new Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025–2030 is a welcome step.
Veterans have long battled a complex system, slow services, and a lack of co-ordination.
Any effort to improve prevention, simplify access, and strengthen mental health support deserves recognition.
The strategy and its action plans talk about wellbeing, early intervention, suicide prevention, and stronger community connections.
These priorities reflect the reality faced by Defence members, veterans, and their families, and change in this space is overdue.
But there are gaps that cannot be ignored.
Regional access remains a serious problem.
Veterans on the Central Coast and across regional Australia still face long waits or long drives to reach specialised care.
Digital programs help some, but they risk excluding those without good internet or digital confidence.
There is also heavy reliance on expanding peer support and counselling, yet no clear plan to build the workforce needed to deliver it.
Without new staff and sustained funding, services will remain stretched.
Much of the language is cautious: reviews, explorations, and promotions rather than clear targets or deadlines.
Veterans need action they can see, not just more consultations.
Finally, the importance of community belonging is noted.
Without stronger local connections and the decline of RSL sub-branches, many will continue to fall through the cracks.
This strategy is a start, but unless these shortfalls are fixed, it risks being another well-meaning plan that fails to deliver real change.
Email, Sept 9
Evan Schrei, Niagara Park
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