Defence, with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), cares about the welfare of all personnel affected by the Afghanistan Inquiry and remains committed to ensuring current and former serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and their families have access to welfare support, especially those who are vulnerable or at risk.
ADF personnel and their families affected by the Afghanistan Inquiry are supported by their chain-of-command and also have access to a range of other assistance including mental health, medical, legal, pastoral and social work services.
Former serving ADF personnel and their families affected by the Afghanistan Inquiry have access to support from DVA and Defence who provide medical and mental health services, and in some cases, legal support. Please ask for help if you need it.
Key contacts for welfare support are:
| Type of personnel | Support contact |
|---|---|
| Current fulltime serving ADF personnel | Chain of Command or Garrison Health Centres |
| Current part-time serving ADF personnel | Reserve Assistance Program 1300 687 327 |
| Families of ADF personnel | Defence Member and Family Helpline 1800 624 608 |
| Former ADF personnel and their families | Open Arms 1800 011 046 |
| Current APS employees | Employee Assistance Program 1300 687 327 |
| Former APS employees | Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 |
Ex-service organisations also provide a critical role in supporting our people and their families, though they are independent of Defence.
Further comprehensive list of welfare support services is also available.
Welfare support for those impacted by issues relating to the Afghanistan Inquiry (PDF, 601.4 KB)
Types of support
To ensure you have access to the support that best fits your needs, please visit the relevant page below.