- The Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner has launched its Advisory Group, comprising 16 members including veterans, serving Defence Force members, family representatives and subject-matter experts, to inform the Commission's work on veteran and family wellbeing outcomes.
- Adelaide's Ms Hayley Boswell has been appointed as an inaugural member of the Advisory Group. Ms Boswell is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Defence Kidz, Australia's charity supporting military and veteran children and their families through advocacy, education, wellbeing initiatives and evidence-informed programs.
- The Advisory Group's inaugural meeting covered key challenges facing the veteran community, including transition to civilian life, continuity of healthcare, interactions with civilian justice systems, and barriers to help-seeking caused by mental health stigma.
- Current Commission priorities discussed include two ongoing inquiries — into access to information and the Australian Government's response to Royal Commission recommendations — as well as preparations for a forthcoming Military Sexual Violence inquiry.
- Members provided practical insights into veterans' experiences accessing healthcare.
- The Advisory Group reflects the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's vision for independent oversight informed by lived experience, with members emphasising that the experiences of families and those not traditionally represented in formal consultations must remain central to reform efforts.
The Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner has welcomed the commencement of the Commissioner's Advisory Group, bringing together veterans, serving Defence Force members, family representatives and experts from across Australia to help inform the Commission's work to strengthen wellbeing outcomes for veterans and families.
Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner, Penny McKay, said the establishment of the Advisory Group reflects the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's vision for independent oversight informed by lived experience, professional expertise and community insight.
“The Royal Commission made clear that lasting reform requires engagement with the defence and veteran community. The Advisory Group helps ensure the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission (DVSC) remains connected to the real experiences of serving members, veterans and families as we undertake our oversight role," Commissioner McKay said.
"Each member brings unique experiences, expertise and perspectives. Collectively, the Group is providing valuable advice to help the DVSC remain informed by the realities of service life, transition, veteran wellbeing and family experiences."
During its inaugural meeting, the Advisory Group discussed a range of issues affecting the wellbeing of serving members, veterans and families, and the Commission's role in influencing lasting system-wide reform.
Members received an update from the Commissioner on the DVSC's current priorities. These include:
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two in-progress inquiries – the Access to Information Inquiry and an inquiry into the Australian Government's response to the Royal Commission's recommendations
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preparing for the Military Sexual Violence inquiry – due to formally commence later this year, and
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ongoing engagement with the Defence and veteran community.
Members shared insights on emerging challenges facing the veteran community, including:
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support for transition from military to civilian life
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continuity of healthcare, and
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interactions with civilian justice systems.
The Group discussed emerging research and evidence relating to veteran wellbeing, including:
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the important role families play as a protective factor
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the impacts of moral injury
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intergenerational effects of military service, and
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barriers to help-seeking created by mental health stigma.
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The Advisory Group also discussed the Commission's current Inquiry into the Government's Implementation of the 135 Royal Commission recommendations, including consideration of Recommendation 71, which was noted by Government. Members shared practical insights into veterans' experiences accessing healthcare services, including perspectives on the proposed $5,000 cap on allied health services and administrative processes affecting both veterans and healthcare providers.
Adelaide's Ms Hayley Boswell has been appointed as an inaugural member of the Advisory Group. Ms Boswell is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Defence Kidz, Australia's charity supporting military and veteran children and their families through advocacy, education, wellbeing initiatives and evidence-informed programs.
Ms Boswell is a lawyer, veteran spouse and veteran child. A nationally recognised advocate for the Defence and veteran community, Ms Boswell serves on the South Australian Veterans’ Advisory Council and a range of national advisory boards, where she advocates for improved outcomes for Defence members, veterans and their families.
Ms Boswell said she is incredibly proud and honoured to serve on the inaugural Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner’s Advisory Group and to help bring the experiences of Defence and veteran families into this important work.
“Families live with the consequences of service alongside the serving member. Their experiences must be visible when progress is assessed, systems are reformed and decisions are made,” Ms Boswell said.
“There is enormous hope invested in this Commission and an equally significant responsibility to ensure that hope is not misplaced. At our inaugural meeting, Commissioner McKay demonstrated that she understands both.”
The Commissioner’s Advisory Group provides the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner with specialist, technical, professional, lived and living experience advice. The Group is comprised of 16 members, who bring a mix of skills, experience and expertise; twelve appointed members alongside standing representatives from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the National Suicide Prevention Office.
“Our advisory group members are already bringing valuable perspectives on issues affecting serving members, veterans and families,” Commissioner McKay said.
"One of the Commission's priorities is ensuring we hear from a diverse range of voices, including people whose experiences are not always represented through formal consultation processes.”
“The knowledge and perspectives of Advisory Group members will help us identify where reforms are making a difference, where barriers remain and where further action may be needed to improve outcomes for veterans and families," concluded Commissioner McKay.
The inaugural meeting communique, including discussion topics and key areas of focus identified by Advisory Group members, is available here Commissioner’s Advisory Group – Meeting Communique (August 2026)
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About us:
The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner convened the inaugural meeting of the Commissioner’s Advisory Group in Canberra on 7 August 2026. The inaugural meeting communique, including discussion topics and key areas of focus identified by Advisory Group members, is available here Commissioner’s Advisory Group – Meeting Communique (August 2026)
For more information about the Commissioner's Advisory Group, visit www.dvsc.gov.au/research-and-advice/advisory-group
The Advisory Group will meet again in December 2026.
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.
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 DVSC’s purpose is to oversee the government’s response to the Royal Commission, holding government to account for implementing the recommended reforms. The 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.
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