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Military, Veterans' and Emergency Services Personnel Mental Health
The Military, and Veterans’ Mental Health Network promotes interest and expertise in the mental health of military veterans, serving armed forces members, and paid and voluntary serving and ex-serving emergency services personnel.
The Network Terms of Reference [PDF; 91 KB] outline the purpose, responsibilities, membership and governance of the Network.
Our vision
To optimise the quality of life and wellbeing of our military, veterans, and emergency services personnel and their families.
Workforce
To raise, train, and sustain the psychiatric workforce to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our military, veterans and emergency services personnel in Australia and New Zealand.
Education and Research
Promoting collaborative educational content and resources for RANZCP trainees, fellows, and others. To promote and engage in research nationally and internationally to inform and develop the evidence-base around best practice mental health care.
Partnerships
To promote and develop national and international collaborations with research and industry groups to ensure best practice mental health care in MVESP.
Advocacy
To influence and advocate at government, organisational and social levels to ensure wellbeing and occupational longevity for MVESP.
Aims
The Network aims to:
- Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge bi-nationally in relation to the mental health of military personnel, veterans and emergency services personnel.
- Promote and encourage the highest clinical and ethical standards in the delivery of mental health services to military personnel, veterans and emergency services personnel.
- Act as an expert reference group to provide feedback to the College on clinical matters pertinent to these groups.
- Promote and facilitate research relevant to the mental health of military personnel, veterans and emergency services personnel.
- Promote further education and training of psychiatrists and trainees in relation to the mental health of military personnel, veterans and emergency services personnel.
- Assist the College in the preparation of relevant position statements and other memoranda.
- Identify and promote the role of psychiatrists in the multidisciplinary approach to military and veterans’ mental health and the mental health of emergency services personnel and participate in appropriate cross-sector initiatives.
Identify, report and manage risks in accordance with College Policy.
- Recommend models of care that will improve the quality of mental health services delivered to military personnel, veterans and emergency services personnel.
Membership
Membership of the Network is open to all interested College Members, and other interested professionals working in the areas of military and veterans’ mental health and/or the mental health of emergency services personnel.
There are no fees to join the Network.
Join the Network via MyRANZCP [Member log in required]
Non-College members are eligible to join the Network following approval from the Board and on the recommendation of the Network Committee.
Network Committee members
The activities of the Network are led by a bi-national committee, the Military, Veterans' and Emergency Services Personnel Mental Health Network Committee.
The Network Committee reports to the RANZCP Board.
Committee member | Position |
| Dr Jonathan (Jon) Lane | Chair |
| Dr Andrew Khoo | Deputy chair |
| Prof Ed Heffernan | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| Prof Nagesh Pai | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| Dr Diana McKay | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| Dr Duncan Wallace | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| Dr Duncan Roy | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| A/Prof Alex Lim | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| Dr Dan Short | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| Dr Carolyn Nas Jones | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| Dr Megan Gilbert | Member (fellow/affiliate) |
| Dr Simranjit Kaur | Trainee representative |
| Dr Richard Magtengaard | Co-opted member |
| Dr Carmel Cash | Co-opted member |
| Prof Marie Bismark | Co-opted member |
Resources
Podcasts
A Day in the Life of a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Psychiatrist - This episode explores the work of psychiatrists in government, private practice and research for the population of military and veteran personnel in Australia. The conversation covers various specialist fields in psychiatry, including trauma-related disorders, substance abuse and forensic work. A/Prof Jon Lane, Leonie Nowland, Dr Alex Lim and Prof Jenny Firman discuss their experiences in private practice and its unique challenges and opportunities. They also highlight the role of Open Arms, a national counselling service for the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), in providing culturally aware and trauma-informed care.
Upcoming podcasts in 2024:
- Day in the Life of an MVPTP Trainee - Dr Jon Lane, Dr Lauren Schild and Dr Rory Grinsill
- What makes military, veterans' and emergency services personnel psychiatry different? - Dr Jon Lane, Dr Dan Short and Dr Carmel Cash
- Women in Defence and Veterans Psychiatry - Dr Carolyn Nas Jones and Dr Diana McKay
- Findings from the Royal Commission report - Prof Ed Heffernan, Dr Jon Lane and Dr Andrew Khoo
- How to write a good DVA report - Dr Diana McKay
Websites
- Military and Veteran Psychiatry Training Program | RANZCP
- Australian Government – Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Veterans
- Black Dog Institute
- Centre for Deployment Psychology
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- Phoenix Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research
- Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
- The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Mesothelioma & Veterans
Education and Research
- Military and Veterans’ Psychiatry Training Program Resource Booklet – RANZCP MVPTP Projects
- Characteristics of Ex-serving Australian Defence Force Members Hospitalised for Suicidality and Intentional Self-harm – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Bipolar Audit Evidence Synthesis – Phoenix Australia
- Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Continuing Education Resources – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Defining and Measuring Moral Injury: Rationale, Design, and Preliminary Findings from the Moral Injury Outcome Scale Consortium - Yeterian et al
- Mental Readiness for Military Transition Scale (MT-Ready) – Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation
- Military Culture: Core Competencies for Healthcare Professionals – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Military-Civilian Adjustment & Reintegration Measure (M-CARM) – Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation
Contact
The Network Committee can be contacted via memberhelp@ranzcp.org.
