Veteran hearing loss and female mental health highlighted at royal commission into veteran suicide – ABC News
A failure to provide hearing-loss care has left former soldiers unable to talk to their grandchildren on what they thought was their last Christmas.
Key points:
Lobbyist Pat McCabe said hearing loss and tinnitus were two of the most claimed-for conditions by veteransDespite this, she said the department would not provide hearing aids She said the gap in the services result…….
A failure to provide hearing-loss care has left former soldiers unable to talk to their grandchildren on what they thought was their last Christmas.
Key points:
- Lobbyist Pat McCabe said hearing loss and tinnitus were two of the most claimed-for conditions by veterans
- Despite this, she said the department would not provide hearing aids
- She said the gap in the services resulted in a decline in veterans’ mental health and had led to a suicide
And some “real duds” of officers in the chain of command were causing mental health issues, especially among young female defence personnel.
These were some of the critical issues raised at the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide in Brisbane on Friday.
Appearing as part of a panel of representatives from veterans’ support organisations, totally and permanently incapacitated (TPI) lobbyist Pat McCabe provided critical insights into the adequacy of the TPI benefits system which was now mainly assisting Vietnam veterans.
Another panellist, decorated Vietnam veteran Michael Von Berg, president of the Royal Australian Regiment Association, raised a variety of concerns about Defence and Veterans Affairs including the dud qualities of some officers.
Speaking in the afternoon session, Ms McCabe said her organisation sought to ensure that the benefits and support services were maintained and not delayed in any way.
She said one issue was the lack of adequate treatment for a hearing loss – a situation that had already led to a veteran’s suicide.
Ms McCabe said hearing loss and tinnitus were two of the most claimed-for conditions in veterans, yet the department would not provide hearing aids over and above what the general population get for their welfare conditions.
“For a TPI not to be able to say goodbye to his grandchildren because he can’t hear them, or his children, is a disgrace,’” Ms McCabe said.
“I have had TPIs on the phone begging to be able to talk to their kids over Christmas because they think it’s their last Christmas. It’s not good enough. It really isn’t.
“Compensation should be compensation, not diminished welfare.”
