Overview

Veterans—permanent, reserve and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF)—and their families are an important population group for health and welfare monitoring. The unique nature of ADF service promotes protective factors that can lead to improved health outcomes but also exposes members to risk factors that may lead to poor health during and after their military service.

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Latest findings

The majority (78%) of male veterans rate their health as good or better

Around 1 in 5 males, regardless of whether they have served or not, have a mental or behavioural condition

Male veterans share similar exposure to several health risk factors compared with males who have never served

Permanent and reserve males are about half as likely to die by suicide as Australian males

Ex-serving males who separate for involuntary medical have higher rates of suicide than males who separate voluntarily

Ex-serving males are around 24% more likely to die by suicide than Australian males

Highlights

78% of peoplewho had ever served in the ADF rated their health as excellent, very good or good in 2017–18.
As at 30 June 2021there were over 189,500 veterans with an accepted disability, equating to 72% of the DVA treatment population.
Over 133,000eligible veterans or dependents received income support from Department of Veterans’ Affairs in 2020–21.
The suicide ratein 2002–2019 was 24% higher for ex-serving men than the Australian population.
As at 30 June 2021DVA estimated there were about 613,000 living Australian veterans who have ever served in the ADF, either full-time or in the reserves.
Ex-serving menaged under 30 had a suicide rate around 1.6 times that of Australian men the same age, in 2002–2019.
Rates of deathfrom all causes are generally lower for serving, reserve and ex-serving men and women than for the Australian population.