Australia's first mental health and wellbeing program for female veterans and for female partners of veterans to launch

17 Apr 2024

A first-of-its-kind program designed specifically for female veterans and female partners of veterans will launch this month. 

The St John of God Health Care program will provide a safe space where female Australian Defence Force veterans and the female partners of veterans will receive tailored support.

The program is designed to facilitate group participation which can reduce feelings of isolation, increase social support and promote overall psychological wellbeing. The program will also provide childcare and be scheduled at times that fits with their schedule, reducing the barriers that can prevent access to care. 

St John of God Health Care Director of Mental Health Strategy Karen Burns said the program would offer participants a sense of belonging and an opportunity to connect with others with similar experiences and challenges. 

“This also encourages peer support and mutual empowerment through sharing successes, problem solving and progress,” she said. “Witnessing the growth and resilience of fellow group members can inspire individuals to take positive steps in managing their own mental health.”

St John of God Richmond Hospital Exercise Physiologist Kate Harris, who is also the partner of a veteran, said that being her personal experience had been a ‘huge learning curve’. 

“Seeing the mental toll it was taking on him on top of going through a huge life adjustment was devastating and is still something we are navigating,” she said.

Kate said she constantly looks for triggers and is vigilant about situations that could cause her partner stress. 

“I do what I can to shield him,” she said. “All you can do is be there and support them as best you can.”

Kate believes that a program like the Female Veteran and Female Partners of Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Program would have allowed her to set better boundaries to take care of herself. 

“I would have had another support network who understood what I was going through. It may have opened up another support network for my partner as well,” she said.

The new program is run at no cost to participants and acknowledges the unique challenges faced by female veterans and the female partners of veterans. 

Facilitated by trained and experienced female psychologists and other health care professionals, the program will increase connections and coping skills while reducing loneliness and psychological distress. It will enable women to gain confidence in a setting that is tailored specifically for them and their needs, in an environment that is open and welcoming.  

The pilot program will run in Wagga Wagga and Sydney from 29 April 2024 across three days (10am - 2pm with lunch provided) for two weeks. Each program location will be open to up to 10 participants. 

If you’re interested in participating in one of the pilot programs, email [email protected] with your name, contact details and best time to call.  A St John of God Health Care registered psychologist will contact you for a confidential discussion.