Support to implement Recommendations 14 and 25 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has engaged the Australian Human Rights Commission (Commission) to help implement two key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s (Royal Commission) Final Report.

These are:

• Facilitating a targeted consultation process on the draft Terms of Reference for a future inquiry into military sexual violence (Royal Commission Recommendation 25)
• Researching the prevalence and effects of sexual trauma in the ADF and improving responses to support victim-survivors (Royal Commission Recommendation 14).

We will support this work in a timely and respectful way, ensuring the voices and experiences of those affected are heard and considered in a trauma-informed way.

Royal Commission Recommendation 25: Targeted consultations for draft Terms of Reference for an independent inquiry into military sexual violence

The Royal Commission recommended that the Australian Government commission an independent expert inquiry into military sexual violence in the ADF. The Australian Government has agreed to an independent inquiry.

It is anticipated that the inquiry will undertake consultation with relevant peak bodies, universities, publicly funded research organisations and government departments. Trauma informed consultation with serving and ex-serving victim-survivors of sexual violence may be undertaken where appropriate. The inquiry will not be able to resolve individual cases.

The Commission has been asked to lead early, targeted consultation on the draft Terms of Reference. These consultations will inform the Australian Government’s development of the independent inquiry’s final Terms of Reference.

Who will the Australian Human Rights Commission consult with?

• To enable the inquiry to commence in 2026, consultations will take place until end of January 2026.
• To ensure the safety and wellbeing of victim-survivors, the Commission will not accept individual or public submissions.
• To ensure the perspectives of victim-survivors are included, the Commission will carry out targeted consultations with specialist sexual violence and other services who work closely with victim-survivors.

Royal Commission Recommendation 14: Understand the prevalence and effects of military sexual trauma and improve responses to support victims

The Commission will lead research into military sexual trauma. This work aims to better understand how prevalent this trauma is, its impacts, and how support for victim-survivors can be improved.

We will build on existing research and data, including work already done by Defence and the Royal Commission. We will consider related national efforts, such as the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children and the National Survey into Sexual Harassment in Workplaces.

Our work on Royal Commission Recommendation 14 will be finalised in early 2027. All data collection and research will follow strong ethical standards.

For support, please consider the following:

ADF All-hours Support line

• 1800 628 036
• Visit ADF

Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling

• 1800 011 046
• Visit Open Arms

Other services can be found here.

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