172.Shining a Light:Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope & Healing

On this week’s Military Life Podcast Episode, Dr Peggy Brown, one of the three commissioners tasked with leading the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, speaks about the release of the lived-experience book Shining a Light: Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope & Healing.

The trauma-informed book, authored by journalist Patrick Lindsay AM, showcases the lived experience of suicide and suicidal behaviour of serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members and their families.

These experiences, which have been at the heart of the Royal Commission during its inquiries, were bravely and generously shared through submissions and evidence.

Commissioner Brown and I also speak about;

- What motivates and fuels her to get up every day and work toward making a difference as one of the Commissioner’s heading the 58th inquiry examining veteran suicide.

-What she thinks needs to happen to ensure the outcomes of this Royal Commission are different and that some significant change occurs.

-What the Commissioners learnt about defence and veteran families.

-Her concern around Defence Families Australia being in caretaker mode for 12 months and working at 65% capacity at such a critical time.

-Why it was important to encourage those with varied experiences and not just those who have been impacted by suicide to step forward and be heard.

-Her frustration at the amount of work she believes Defence still needs to do to support families.

-Thoughts around transition and what is needed to make it a better experience for veterans and their families with better outcomes.

-What has happened following the release of the Royal Commission’s Interim Report, which made 13 urgent recommendations?

-The proposed new entity to follow the Royal Commission and what the commissioners envision that new entity being responsible for.

-How the everyday current serving ADF member and those in leadership positions connect with the findings of the Royal Commission and understand how they can be part of the change.

- What happens when the final report is handed down in September 2024, and who determines whether the responses and the changes are good enough or what the veteran community needs?

 

*The establishment of the Royal Commission was the product of tireless advocacy by a determined group of individuals with lived and living experience of suicide and suicidality in a military context.

Over the past three years, the Royal Commission has received 5,889 submissions, published 1,011 submissions, received 6,662 phone enquiries, held 886 private sessions, heard 346 witnesses at hearings, and had over 164,000 Livestream views.

Together with Commissioners Brown, Kaldis, and Douglas’s final report, due to be handed down in September, it is hoped the ‘Shining a Light’ book will help drive real and lasting change and lead to a greater understanding of the sacrifices made by those who defend our country, our ADF members and their loved ones-Us.

If you would like to read the ‘Shining a Light’ book, follow the link below to access it for free. A variety of publicly available information regarding the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide can also be accessed via the website.

https://defenceveteransuicide.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/shining-light

https://defenceveteransuicide.royalcommission.gov.au/

*TRIGGER WARNING- There is some discussion of suicide in this episode. If this episode brings anything up for you, please contact FREE ADF mental health service Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or, in case of emergency, call 000.