Sixteen-member panel begins advising on veteran wellbeing
A 16-member veteran advisory group has started work with the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission, including three members from Western Australia.
The Commissioner’s Advisory Group includes veterans, serving Defence Force members, family members and subject experts from across Australia. It is designed to inform the commission’s oversight work and strengthen wellbeing outcomes for veterans and their families.
Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Penny McKay launched the group on 25 August 2026. She said the body reflects the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s call for independent oversight shaped by lived experience, professional expertise and community insight.
McKay said the royal commission made clear that lasting reform requires engagement with the defence and veteran community. She said the new group would help keep the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission connected to the experiences of serving members, veterans and families while it carries out its oversight role.
Health, transition and justice issues raised
At its first meeting, members received updates on current commission priorities and two inquiries already under way. They also discussed preparations for a Military Sexual Violence inquiry due to begin later in 2026.
The group examined several problems affecting veterans and families. Those included transition from military to civilian life, continuity of healthcare, contact with civilian justice systems and mental health stigma that can stop people from seeking help.
Members also gave practical feedback on veterans’ access to healthcare services. That included views on a proposed $5,000 cap on allied health services and on administrative processes that affect both veterans and healthcare providers.
According to McKay, each member brings different experience and expertise. She said the group is expected to help the commission stay informed about service life, transition, veteran wellbeing and family experiences.
The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission did not identify the three Western Australian members in the announcement. It also did not give a date for the inaugural meeting or name the two inquiries in progress.
The commission has framed the advisory body as a way to keep independent oversight tied to the day-to-day realities facing current personnel, former service members and their families. No schedule for future meetings was given on 25 August 2026.
