- Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Penny McKay will visit Darwin from 17–20 August to meet with veterans, serving ADF members, and support organisations to better understand the priorities of Defence and veteran communities across Northern Australia.
- During the visit, Commissioner McKay will meet with ADF personnel, Defence family support services, ex-service organisations, community representatives, and local government leaders, including at HMAS Coonawarra and the Joint Health Unit for Central Australia.
- The Royal Commission made 135 recommendations covering military justice, Defence culture, health care, military sexual violence, transition to civilian life, and support for families, with the DVSC required to report on the Government's implementation of these recommendations by 5 February 2027.
- The Darwin visit is part of a broader national engagement programme, following meetings with veterans, ADF members, and support organisations across South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales.
- Insights from these engagements will help inform the work of the Commissioner's recently established Advisory Group and ensure DVSC's priorities are grounded in the real-world experiences and needs of the veteran community.
The Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner, Penny McKay, will visit Darwin from 17-20 August to meet with veterans, serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and support organisations as part of the Commission's ongoing engagement across Australia. The visit will provide an important opportunity to better understand the unique experiences and priorities of Defence and veteran communities across Northern Australia, recognising that the challenges facing serving members, veterans and families in the Territory may differ from those experienced elsewhere.
Commissioner McKay will meet with ADF personnel, Defence family support services, ex-service organisations, community representatives and local government leaders during the visit, including meetings at HMAS Coonawarra and the Joint Health Unit for Central Australia.
The Royal Commission made 135 recommendations across two reports. It recommended system-wide reforms across military justice, Defence culture, leadership, health care, military sexual violence, transition to civilian life, support for families and the compensation claims process. The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission (DVSC) will report on the Government’s implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations by 5 February 2027.
“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.” Commissioner McKay said.
The Commissioner's Darwin visit follows meetings with serving ADF members, veterans, Defence families, ex-service organisations, and veteran wellbeing and advocacy groups in South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
“Connecting with people who can inform the work of the Commission remains a top priority. Since the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission (DVSC) formally commenced in September last year, I have engaged with veterans and support organisations across Australia – hearing about what’s important to them and what they are seeing, hearing and learning.”
Insights gained during the visit will also help inform the work of the Commissioner's recently established Advisory Group, which brings together lived and living experience, professional expertise and specialist knowledge from across the Defence and veteran community.
"Independent oversight only works if we hear directly from veterans and families about whether reforms are making a real difference. 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. Engagements like these will remain an ongoing focus as our work evolves.” concluded Commissioner McKay.
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About us:
The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission (DVSC) 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 is 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 DVSC’s work is underpinned by standalone legislation - The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 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 5 February 2027. The second progress report will be due by 2 December 2030.
Find out more: www.dvsc.gov.au
Contact details:
[email protected] / 0473 077 726
