Women Veterans Policy Forum informs DVA strategy
In March, the annual Women Veterans Policy Forum brought together 42 women who are serving or who have served and to contribute their ideas and insights to the work of DVA.
The forum has been operating since 2016 and provides a platform for women veterans to raise issues directly with the Australian Government and DVA, and to create new channels of communication between DVA and the veteran community.
Across 2 days in Canberra, the forum tapped into the lived experiences and expertise of the community member participants to explore topics of ongoing and emerging significance. It included informative presentations by veteran community organisations about their exciting projects they have in train. Senior DVA staff briefed participants on key new initiatives such as the an Agency focusing on veteran wellbeing and the peak body for ex-service organisations.
There is an invisible bond of service that will forever join us all as women veterans. It’s a sisterhood I absolutely cherish. - Forum participant
Top of the agenda was the development of DVA’s Women Veterans’ Strategy (see Vetaffairs December 2024).
Building on the ideas from the forum and the national gender equality strategy, Working for Women, DVA believes it’s important that we investigate where women veterans are missing out on vital supports, explore what more can be done at every point to address this, and improve their experience and outcomes during service, transition and beyond.
Women veterans are a vitally important and growing cohort in the veteran community. There is no doubt they face issues accessing support services in a system traditionally designed for men. The experience of women veterans is different, as highlighted during the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
There are many strong, intelligent, capable women who are advocating for the needs of women veterans. We are stronger together. - Forum participant
Participants for this annual, solutions-focussed, co-design event are chosen through expressions of interest. Forty per cent of those attending this year were new to the forum. Joined by DVA Secretary Alison Frame, they took the opportunity to share the big challenges and opportunities facing women in the veteran community, worked together to develop solutions, and provided unique perspectives on work of supporting women veterans.
DVA uses the information and insights garnered at the Women Veterans Policy Forum to directly inform our policy and programs and the ongoing improvement of DVA supports and services. The ideas that have emerged from the forum will help DVA identify key areas for change and ultimately ensure that we better serve the entire veteran community.
My experience and service matter. Together we can make and influence change. - Forum participant