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.
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.
Military and Veteran Psychiatry Training Program (MVPTP)
The RANZCP is supported by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to fund training posts in health services that serve Australian defence force personnel. The Military and Veteran Psychiatry Training Program is open to current RANZCP trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs).
View the list of current MVPTP training posts.
Resources
NZCP Psych Matters podcast episodes
- A day in the life of a Department of Veterans' Affairs psychiatrist
- A day in the life of a military and veteran psychiatry trainee
Network member research
- Bipolar Audit Evidence Synthesis - Phoenix Australia
- Defining and Measuring Moral Injury: Rationale, Design, and Preliminary Findings from the Moral Injury Outcome Scale Consortium - Yeterian et al
If you or someone you know has been involved in research in this area, please contact memberhelp@ranzcp.org with your research so that we can share it with the Network.
External resources
- VETs HeLP – elearning platform helping providers help veterans – Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- Phoenix Australia
- Centre for Deployment Psychology
- Characteristics of Ex-serving Australian Defence Force Members Hospitalised for Suicidality and Intentional Self-harm - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Veterans
Contact
The Network Committee can be contacted via memberhelp@ranzcp.org.
