In April last year, the Prime Minister announced a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

The Commission will examine systemic issues and common themes in past deaths by suicide.

If you’re a Veteran and would like to share your experience, you can do so through the Defence and Veteran Legal Service. They provide free, independent legal advice and support to anybody considering sharing their experiences with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. They are independent of the Royal Commission.

They can talk to you about how you can:

• share your experiences in a safe way

• keep your experiences and participation in the Royal Commission confidential

• overcome barriers you might face in sharing your experiences.

They can also:

• support you to make your submission

• support you in a private session

• connect you with other services, like counselling, advocacy, and other legal support not related to the Royal Commission.

If you or someone you know needs support during this time, contact Open Arms or Phoenix Australia.