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Acting Commissioner visits Tasmania to hear directly from veteran community

Defence and Veterans' Service Commission

Key Facts:

• The Acting Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner is visiting Tasmania (11-13 May) to hear first-hand issues affecting 18,500 local veterans, serving ADF members and their families.
• Meetings scheduled with ADF personnel, and local veterans and families organisations.
• Visits will discuss progress of Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide recommendations.
• Insights will inform the upcoming Commissioner's Advisory Group, focusing on suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes.
• The DVSC has new legislation commencing from 1 June 2026, with progress reports on the Government’s implementation of Royal Commission recommendations due by February 2027 and December 2030.
• The Government announced the appointment of Ms Penny McKay as the inaugural Commissioner on 7 May 2026.

The Acting Commissioner of the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission (DVSC) is in Tasmania from 11 – 13 May to hear first-hand the issues facing the approximately 18,500 Tasmanian veterans, serving ADF members and their families.

 

The Acting Commissioner will meet with Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel at Angelsea Barracks, Hobart Legacy and with others interested in the work of the Commission. She will also visit the new Veterans and Families Hub, delivered by RSL Tasmania.

 

Acting Commissioner Penny McKay said the meetings are a valuable opportunity to learn more about what support is currently available for Tasmanian veterans, what service gaps exist and how to better engage with veteran families, who are geographically dispersed across Tasmania.

 

It is also an opportunity to discuss the progress of implementation, nearly two years on from the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

 

‘The Royal Commission made 135 recommendations across two reports. They recommended system-wide reforms including military justice, Defence culture, leadership, health care, military sexual violence, transition to civilian life, support for families and the compensation claims process. The extent of progress being made will be felt by our Defence members, veterans and their families. Talking with our veterans, and those who support them, gives us first-hand feedback on their experiences.’

 

The Acting Commissioner's Tasmania visit follows meetings with individual veterans and Defence families, ex-service organisations, and veteran wellbeing and advocacy groups in South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

 

‘Connecting with people who can inform the work of the Commission remains a top priority. Since the DVSC formally commenced in September last year, we have continued to engage with veterans and support organisations – hearing about what’s important to them and what they are seeing, hearing and learning. 

 

‘This has included individual veterans and family members and ex-service organisations with areas of particular interest such as veterans’ arts, total and permanent incapacity, women veterans, military sexual violence, military children and veteran welfare.

 

‘These meetings play a key role in setting DVSC’s priorities, ensuring they are grounded in the real-world experience and needs of our veteran community.’

 

Insights gained will also inform the work of the Commissioner’s inaugural Advisory Group. Once appointed, the Commissioner’s Advisory Group will provide first-hand advice, helping to drive improvements in suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving ADF members.

 

The Commissioner’s Advisory Group will be made up of individuals and family members with lived experience of suicidal distress, mental health and wellbeing in the Defence and veteran community, and suitably qualified professionals with specialist or technical expertise and experience. The selection process for the inaugural Commissioner’s Advisory Group is underway, with appointments expected in June.

 

‘Continuing to meet veterans and support organisations in person is critical to ensuring communities are seen, heard and reflected in the Commission’s priorities. These engagements will remain an ongoing focus as our work evolves,’ concluded Acting Commissioner McKay.

 

 

About us:

The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission is an independent body created as a direct result of Recommendation 122 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. DVSC’s purpose is to oversee the government’s response to the Royal Commission, holding government to account for implementing the recommended reforms. DVSC will be monitoring, inquiring into, and reporting on reforms, and providing advice and recommendations to government on system-wide improvement. Advice is informed by data, research, and the lived experiences of people in the Defence and veteran community.

 

The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2026, DVSC’s new standalone legislation, will commence on 1 June 2026. It will underpin the Commission’s work and includes the appointment of the inaugural Commissioner by the Governor-General. The Government announced the appointment of Ms Penny McKay as the inaugural Commissioner on 7 May. Her five-year term will commence on 1 June 2026.

 

The Act has two key dates for when the DVSC must provide progress reports on the implementation of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission. The first due date is the 5 February 2027. The second progress report will be due by 2 December 2030.  

Contact details:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0473 077 726

8.30am - 5.30pm Monday - Friday