MINISTERIAL MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Minister for Defence Personnel launches Defence’s
largest health study
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin, today launched the Military Health Outcomes Program (MilHOP), which will be the most extensive health study to be undertaken by Defence in its Deployment Health Surveillance Program.
Mr Griffin said, “MilHOP is the brand name for the Military Health Outcomes Program which consists of three studies on the Middle East Area of Operations and one study in response to the 2009 Dunt Review to establish a baseline for mental health prevalence in the ADF”.
Costing $12 million over five years, the four MilHOP studies include the Prospective Study, Census Study, the Health and Wellbeing Study and a Mortality and Cancer Incidence Study.
Mr Griffin said, “For the first time, the government and Defence will have the information needed to support the development of evidence-based policy and targeted health programs designed to support Australian Defence Force members and their families cope with the impact of operational deployments.”.
In addition to personnel who will be deploying as part of current operations in the Middle East in 2010 and 2011, more than 25,000 veterans will be invited to participate in the study. Participation in the studies will in no way affect entitlements or benefits now or at any point in the future.
“Consistent with the recommendations to Defence from the 2009 Dunt Review, this study will also seek to establish the prevalence of mental health issues within the Australian Defence Force, and explore issues of stigma and barriers to seeking care,” Mr Griffin said.
MilHOP is a partnership between Defence and the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH), a consortium of the University of Queensland, the University of Adelaide and Charles Darwin University, and is funded by the Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs.
The study is scheduled to be completed by 30 June 2012.
Mr Griffin said, “The health and wellbeing of Australia’s military personnel is a cornerstone of the Australian Government’s defence policies and programs. That is why we have invested heavily into new and improved Defence health initiatives such as $83 million to implement the recommendations of the Dunt Review into mental health, and $155.3 million to enhance ADF Rehabilitation Services”.
Information about MilHOP is available from www.cmvh.org.au/milhop or from the Research Team on 1800 886 567.
Media Contacts:
Sasha Nimmo (Alan Griffin): 0437 863 109
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
