There are an estimated 25,000 Veterans in Western Australia – many of them younger Veterans who face emerging challenges. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 West Australians have deployed to overseas conflicts since 1999. Research and clinical experience has found that military personnel will be changed because of exposure to high-risk environments.
The facts speak for themselves:
- From 2001 to 2017, the age-adjusted rate of suicide in ex-serving men was 18% higher than in Australian men, over the same period, the age-adjusted rate of suicide among ex-serving women was higher than that of Australian women.
- Approximately 5.3 per cent of Australian Veterans who left the Australian Defence Force (ADF) between 2001 and 2018 experienced homelessness, which equates to 5,767 Veterans, 1.9% higher than that for the general population.
- At 30%, the Veteran unemployment rate in Western Australia is five times’ the civilian unemployment rate, and 19 per cent of working Veterans are underemployed.
Please help RSLWA raise essential funds to support our Veterans and their families.