Veterans’ Advocacy and Support Services Scoping Study: A modern professional sustainable service for Australian Veterans and their families
Summary: In response to the several recommendations outlined above, the Department has committed to undertaking this Scoping Study to examine the: range of advocacy and welfare services currently provided by both volunteers and paid professionals from the ex-service community, government and the legal sector; current challenges in and barriers to accessing entitlements and services and the impact they have on veterans’ wellbeing; needs of different veteran cohorts for professionalised advocacy support and the potential benefits to each cohort; different models for professionalised advocacy both within Australia and overseas to determine the most suitable model so veterans have: » a sustainable, consistent and reliable advocacy service which is scalable based on demand » an efficient and effective service to assist them to access their entitlements so they can focus on more important things, such as rehabilitation and their civilian life » a level of service, which at a minimum, is comparable in quality and value with other cohorts accessing government entitlements » a service based on their needs, irrespective of age, which adequately protects their interests, and » access to advice on why their claim was unsuccessful and options for appeals; governance and quality frameworks available to deliver performance driven, professionalised advocacy and service models, including recommending the most appropriate frameworks and any partnerships required to achieve this outcome; roles and responsibilities of traditional, new and emerging stakeholders within the veterans’ advocacy sector as it stands and under any future model, articulating the value and contribution of those roles and responsibilities in professionalising veterans’ advocacy; costings for all models considered, and time frames and strategy for implementation including: key milestones, risks, change management and transitional considerations
Abstract: The U.S. Army’s Ask, Care, Escort (ACE) suicide gatekeeper training has been the annual requirement for all personnel since 2009; however, this training has never been formally evaluated. The present study evaluated three updated versions of ACE: a training for Army leaders (ACE-Suicide Intervention), a training for basic combat trainees (ACE for Basic Combat Training and One Station Unit Training), and a standard training for all personnel (ACE for the Force). Self-report surveys measured pre- to posttraining changes in objective and subjective knowledge and stigma, as well as preparedness, self-efficacy, and likelihood to engage in gatekeeper behaviors. Implementation outcomes, such as training acceptability, suitability, and usability were also assessed. Across these evaluations, participants reported that knowledge and gatekeeper behaviors significantly improved from pre- to posttraining. Implementation metrics revealed a high degree of acceptability and relevance for all three ACE trainings. Overall, the findings of these evaluations suggest important changes in key suicide prevention outcomes following the ACE suite of trainings. Further longitudinal assessment is needed to establish the full effectiveness of gatekeeper interventions in the Army.