Australia's Senate report criticises care of peacekeeper veterans

Senate report criticises care of peacekeeper veterans
Sarah Smiles
August 2, 2008
HUNDREDS of mental health disability claims are being made by peacekeepers who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor, a report reveals.

One hundred and five mental health claims have been made from personnel who have served in Iraq; 163 claims from Afghanistan and 1469 from East Timor, Department of Veterans Affairs figures show. The Australian Federal Police has paid out more than $1,300,000 in compensation for claims relating to post-traumatic stress disorder from service in Timor.

The data is contained in a Senate inquiry report into Australia's involvement in peacekeeping operations. It details the increasing complexity and dangers of peacekeeping missions and calls for a white paper to determine government policy in the area.

The report is critical of the Department of Defence and Veterans Affairs' handling of veterans with health problems. It highlights poor medical record-keeping by both departments, which complicates veterans' claims for disability pensions.

Veterans Affairs can provide figures on mental health disability claims from Iraq, Afghanistan, Timor and the Solomons but could not specify to which mental health problems they relate. The report calls for better medical record-keeping and an education program on post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health issues for peacekeepers before deployment. It says peacekeepers are often thrust into complex situations for which they are not well trained. Post-deployment care of personnel can be cursory.
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