Establishment of the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission

The Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission will provide independent oversight and evidence-based advice to government on reforms to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.

Recommendation 122 of the final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide advised the Australian Government to establish a new statutory entity to oversee reform across the whole Defence ecosystem. The Australian Government agreed to this recommendation in its response to the final report in December 2024.

The Australian Government has taken 2 significant steps to progress this work as a priority:

• the appointment of an interim head of the commission, Mr Michael Manthorpe PSM, on 17 January 2025, to lead on its development and design
• the passing of legislation by the Australian Parliament on 13 February 2025 to establish the commission as a statutory oversight body, to commence on 29 September 2025.

Next steps

Mr Manthorpe will lead a team in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to establish the commission as an ongoing legislated body.

The final design of the commission will take account of extensive public consultations undertaken by the Royal Commission, feedback from public submissions published by the Royal Commission and their advice on how the new entity should operate. Additional opportunities for stakeholder engagement during the establishment of the commission will be available in the coming months.

The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee will review the legislation establishing the Commission and report by 29 August 2025. Mr Manthorpe will work with the Senate and the Government during this period on the review of the legislation prior to its commencement.

Interim head of commission

The Australian Government appointed Mr Michael Manthorpe PSM as the interim head of the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission on 17 January 2025.

Mr Manthorpe served in the Australian Public Service for 37 years, including as the Commonwealth Ombudsman and Defence Force Ombudsman from 2017 to 2021. He worked at Deputy Secretary level in the then departments of education, employment and workplace relations, and in the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and its predecessor agency from 2009 to 2017.

Related resources

• Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide final report
• Volume 6 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide final report outlining the recommended full functions and powers of the new entity.
• Schedule 9 of the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2025 – legislation passed by the Parliament to establish the Commission
• Government’s response to the Royal Commission’s final report

Crisis support services

Suicide Call Back Service

1300 659 467

24-hour counselling service for suicide prevention and mental health. Available via telephone, online and by video chat.

Open Arms

1800 011 046

24-hour mental health support for Navy, Army and Air Force personnel, veterans and their families. 

Defence Member and Family Helpline

1800 624 608

24-hour service providing a range of practical and emotional support programs for families facing emergency or crisis.

Defence All-hours Support Line

1800 628 036

24-hour service for Australian Defence Force members and their families providing help to access military or civilian mental health services.

Lifeline Australia

13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14

24-hour crisis support service. Available via telephone, online and text chat.

Beyond Blue

1300 224 636

24-hour counselling service. Available via telephone, online or email.

1800RESPECT

1800 737 732

24-hour counselling service for sexual assault, family and domestic violence.

Men’s Referral Service

1300 766 491

24-hour counselling, information and referral service for men concerned about their own use of violence or abusive behaviour.

MensLine

1300 78 99 78

24-hour support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence, addiction, relationship stress and wellbeing. Available via telephone, online and by video chat.

13YARN

13 92 76

24-hour national support line for First Nations people in crisis.

QLife Call

1800 184 527 or visit QLife

The QLife phone and webchat service is available 3 pm to midnight every day, providing space for where LGBTQI+ people and their loved ones can talk about anything affecting their lives.