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In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Bethany Alvaro speaks with Isaac Ohlin, general manager of policy and services at RSL NSW, about the establishment of the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission – launched on 29 September 2025 in response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (2021).
The pair discuss the commission’s purpose, challenges and impact on Australia’s defence and veteran communities, including:
- The commission’s role in providing independent oversight of the government’s response to more than 100 royal commission recommendations.
- The urgency of addressing veteran suicide, with over 1,800 deaths since 1997, and the need for transparent, systemic reform.
- Barriers to timely action, including the complexity and sensitivity of suicide prevention within the defence ecosystem.
- The importance of cultural and systemic change within the ADF to promote help-seeking behaviour and improve wellbeing.
- The critical transition period for veterans leaving service – identifying gaps in support, responsibility between Defence and the
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and the role of ex-service and community organisations in bridging those gaps.
- Measures of success for the commission, such as progress on recommendations, stakeholder engagement and, ultimately, a reduction in suicidality rates.
- Ways the broader community and employers can support veterans through understanding, inclusion and employment opportunities.
Ohlin concludes that while the commission’s creation is a positive and necessary step, “the hard work is still ahead”, requiring collaboration across government, ex-service organisations and the wider public to deliver meaningful change.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
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