Young New Zealand Veterans Unaware of Help Ending Up Homeless

Young New Zealand veterans homeless and living on the street
Stuff New Zealand
SHANE COWLISHAW
April 10 2016

While many of the younger soldiers suffer from issues including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they do not consider themselves veterans and are often unaware of the help available to them.

LAWRENCE SMITH / FAIRFAX NZ

Tina Grant says some young soldiers returning home are left out of the system.

Since the Vietnam War, New Zealand soldiers have been deployed on 41 operations to places including Bosnia, East Timor and Afghanistan.

Young New Zealand war veterans are homeless and living on the street as some struggle silently with the trauma of their service.

With Anzac Day approaching many think of older veterans who served during World War II and the Vietnam War, but the bulk of veterans are much younger.

There are about 31,000 veterans in the country, with 20,000 having served in conflicts after Vietnam.

A review of the Veterans Support Act in December could bring changes, with the RSA hoping it could allow New Zealand veterans suffering from chronic PTSD access to specialist care facilities in Australia.
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