ADF spells ‘disruptive’ life for struggling members
The Australian Defence Force chief says he is "committed to doing better" by families who have been let down by the failures of the military.
veterans affairs
Veterans on ‘last legs’ as system fails to ensure help
Veterans are frustrated with the time taken to deal with complaints and the lack of mental health services, a senator has told an inquiry into defence suicides.
Fury over Anzac Day rock concert prompts event shift
Plans to hold a rock concert in Sydney's Domain have been dashed after veterans criticised the decision as inappropriate and organisers look for an alternative.
Once-forgotten WWI veterans honoured a century later
World War I veterans who did not die on the frontline but suffered from "shell shock" after returning home will be commemorated for their sacrifice.
Decorated soldier to lead Repatriation Commission
The federal government has appointed retired Australian Defence Force officer Kahlil Fegan to a key role in overseeing military veteran support.
Premier likens veteran help to taking out bad insurance
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is calling for a nationally consistent approach to supporting veterans as individuals face major barriers to getting help.
Family puzzle in nationwide quest to lay digger to rest
Ashes and mementos of a digger delivered anonymously to an RSL branch have sparked a nationwide call for relatives to finally lay the former soldier to rest.
Defence suicide royal commission progress revealed
A new report shows the federal government's progress on the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's urgent recommendations.
Vietnam veterans thankful for closure 50 years on
Australia's Vietnam veterans say they have received closure 50 years after the nation ended its involvement in the conflict.
Australia pays tribute to Vietnam veterans, 50 years on
The nation has marked the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of soldiers.
No apologies as defiant Roberts-Smith returns
Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith says he is weighing up appealing a devastating court ruling after he was found to have committed war crimes.
Roberts-Smith broke moral and legal rules, judge finds
SAS veteran Ben Roberts-Smith committed multiple war crimes including murder while deployed in Afghanistan, a Federal Court judge has found.
Roberts-Smith resigns from GM role at Seven Network
The Australian War Memorial Council is considering the future of public displays featuring Ben Roberts-Smith's equipment, as he resigns from the Seven Network.
Former soldier’s towering presence absent judgement day
Ben Roberts-Smith was nowhere to be seen when a court ruled the recipient of Australia's highest military honour had disgraced his nation.
Media herald Roberts-Smith finding critical for justice
Journalists have welcomed the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation findings as a win for justice and democracy, amid calls to strip the SAS veteran of his medals.
Australians honour defence personnel, past and present
More than 100 years since the Gallipoli landings, thousands have gathered at dawn services across the country to remember Anzac troops.
Australian flag lowered at home, abroad for Anzac Day
As those who died in service to the nation are remembered there are calls to improve the treatment of veterans, especially from the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Thousands attend Anzac services across Queensland
Crowds have gathered in the thousands across Queensland to mark the 108th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.
Darwin commemorates WWII bombing anniversary
Dignitaries and locals have gathered in Darwin to remember the day WWII air raids killed more than 250 people in the largest attack ever on Australian soil.
Tasmanian RSL clubs pull plug on pokies
RSL clubs in Tasmania will no longer have pokies machines from mid-2023 over concerns for vulnerable veterans and their families.
Veterans hubs make a home in the regions
Veterans say connection and comfort are key as the first federally-funded hub opens on the NSW south coast to support the 20,000-strong defence community.
Back to battle for ex soldier seeking help
A former soldier has told an inquiry her efforts to get support from veterans' affairs felt like she never left the battlefield.
Ecstasy for ex-soldier to help ease trauma
Ex-soldier James Geercke has described how military training left him with lasting physical and mental injuries, with little support from Veterans Affairs.
Injured veterans to get extra $1000 a year
Injured military veterans will soon receive an extra $1000 a year and hundreds of support staff will be hired to process their claims.
Veterans commission shifts focus to Darwin
Life at the Northern Territory's strategically significant military bases will be a new focus of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Recruit standards linked to risks in ranks
Lowered entry standards for military recruits have been linked to increased rates of physical and mental health issues among defence personnel.
Urgent action for veterans focus of report
A Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is due to deliver its much-anticipated interim report after months of confronting evidence.
Jacqui Lambie to speak at veterans inquiry
Long-term veterans advocate and senator, Jacqui Lambie, will on Friday give evidence at a royal commission examining suicide among ex-service personnel.
ADF ‘must target Indigenous mental health’
Mental health support for First Nations personnel can be improved through targeted mechanisms, the veterans royal commission has been told.
Inquiry told of need for ‘circuit breaker’
The former chair of a taskforce addressing abuse response within the ADF says a "circuit breaker" is needed to fix the closed nature of Defence.
ADF members betrayed by abuse: inquiry
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been told ADF members felt betrayed by abuse within the ranks after enlisting.