Opinion
Supporting GP education for the health of the veteran community
New tools are available for GPs to support their veteran patients, writes the DVA’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jenny Firman.
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide made 122 recommendations for change.
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has shone a light on the unique health challenges military service can present both during and after service.
As Chief Health Officer at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and a GP myself, it also reinforces just how critical it is for GPs to understand veteran needs and the services available to them, so they can guide them on the path to lifelong health and wellbeing.
The Royal Commission’s Final Report was handed down on 9 September.
It made 122 recommendations to address identified systemic risk factors and overarching drivers of suicide and suicidality in serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members.
The Government has committed to act swiftly and we anticipate a response will be issued by the end of the year.
In the meantime, DVA has already implemented a range of improvements to make it easier for GPs to provide high quality care to this unique cohort. These include:
- Greater engagement with the RACGP with the implementation of veteran health content on the RACGP Fellowship curriculum and inclusion of veteran topics in the check gplearning program.
- Reviewing and consolidating DVA’s Compensation Forms, supporting a more streamlined approach and providing greater clarity about what is required.
- Collaborating with Medcast, a health professional education provider, to launch a dedicated Veterans Healthcare eLearning Platform “VETs HeLP” on 1 July 2024. The platform provides health professionals with easy access to a range of evidence-based educational resources to support the delivery of high-quality healthcare to veterans and their families. The platform offers accredited CPD opportunities, including interactive webinars, online case scenarios, and other resources. While the training is primarily aimed at GPs, the training resources are applicable to a broader range of healthcare providers.
- Working with the Primary Health Networks, to provide two national Veteran HealthPathways: Veterans’ Health Assessment and Veteran Referral and Support. These provide GPs a real time guide during their consult with their veteran patient. More veterans’ pathways are due to be released before the end of 2024.
- Developing printable quick guides, giving GPs and other specialists the basics on DVA cards, eligibility, billing, compensation, services and programs.
- Establishing a General Practice Advisory Group (GPAG) with representation from all key primary healthcare colleges and associations. GPAG is pivotal to improving and facilitating engagement and collaboration between DVA and the general practice community.
- Continuing to support psychiatry registrars who wish to train in the Military and Veterans’ Psychiatry Training Program by funding training positions in veteran focused mental health services.
- The addition of information on the DVA website to guide providers when supporting veterans in transition.
Additionally, the Veterans’ Access Payment (VAP) was tripled for GPs who bulk bill patients with a DVA Veteran Card in November last year.
This increase is part of the Federal Government’s 2023–24 investment in DVA and aims to improve Veteran Card holders’ access to GPs. New item numbers are also now available.
DVA has also recently established the position of Chief Psychiatrist, with Dr Jonathan Lane currently acting in this role.
Dr Lane is a veteran, academic, psychiatrist, and works closely with the Chief Health Officer’s GP programs that are being developed and delivered, as well as with Open Arms in both programs and clinical governance.
This multidisciplinary approach to mental health care is complemented by work to embed Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling services into the Australian health system, and inclusion in GP referral pathways.
A new referral system across Tasmania identifies veterans in the state-based mental health intake service and connects them with specialised Open Arms support.
Having Open Arms clinicians working closely with GPs should improve mental health outcomes and ensure we, as clinicians, are working together for the benefit of veterans and families.
We continue to work towards a veteran-ready health sector.
There’s always more work to be done, and more ways we can make it easier for health providers to support DVA clients.
Further improvements will be guided by the Government’s response to the Royal Commission’s Final Report.
On behalf of DVA, I’d like to thank the many clinicians – of all types – who provided statements and evidence to the Royal Commission.
Your stories, personal and professional experiences, guidance and insights will support our efforts to improve the lives of Australian veterans and their families.
I also understand the Royal Commission’s report might cause distress among veterans, their families and those who care for them.
This includes the many clinicians in our community who are veterans or family of veterans themselves.
I’d like to remind veterans and their family members that they can access free counselling and support services through
Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling on 1800 011 046 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Those who’d prefer to remain anonymous, can contact Open Arms Safe Zone Support on 1800 142 072.
Other services are listed on the
mental health support services page of the DVA website.
Dr Jenny Firman is the Chief Health Officer at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
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