For more than a century, women have proudly served in the Australian Defence Force, making a vital contribution to Australia’s defence capability, national security and the veteran community.
Women represent an increasing proportion of the veteran population. As more women serve across a broader range of roles and career pathways, it is essential that policies, services and supports reflect and respond to their experiences.
Australia’s first Women Veterans’ Strategy represents a significant step forward. It provides a coordinated framework to better recognise, understand and respond to the lived experiences of women veterans across service, transition and post-service life.
Developed with extensive input from women veterans, ex-service organisations (ESOs), academia, service providers, government and international counterparts, the Strategy identifies key opportunities to improve outcomes.
The Strategy focuses on six focus areas that will drive coordinated action and reform:
- visibility, identity and inclusion – by strengthening recognition, representation and participation of women veterans
- health and mental health – improving access to gender-responsive healthcare, research and support throughout the veteran lifecycle
- safety, dignity and trust – strengthening safeguards, accountability and support for those affected by abuse, harassment and violence
- economic and employment outcomes – supporting successful transition, workplace participation and long-term economic security
- recognising caring responsibilities – ensuring government systems better understand and respond to the impacts of caring roles, and
- building gender-responsive systems and services – improving data, research, coordination and accountability to support evidence-based policy and service delivery.
The Strategy builds on significant reforms already underway across DVA, including targeted research into women veterans’ health and wellbeing, examination of women veterans’ claims experiences, establishment of a National Longitudinal Study, improvements to veteran advocacy services, and strengthened responses to military sexual trauma.
Together, these initiatives will support a more gender-responsive veteran support system and ensure women veterans are recognised, supported and able to thrive throughout their lives after service.
The Women Veterans’ Strategy can be found here.
Story courtesy of Department of Veterans’ Affairs