International Conference 2024 | Social Work Supporting Military Members and Veterans

The 10th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health (ICSWHMH) was held in November 2024 in Melbourne. This significant event in successfully brought together social work professionals, researchers, educators, and students from around the world to discuss and share the latest developments in the field of social work in health and mental health.

Recording 1

Navigating the Transition From Military to Civilian Life: Global Perspectives from the International Military Social Work Consortium

Presenter: Ms Karen Green (Australia, QLD)

The transition from military to civilian life presents challenges and opportunities for service members and families, requiring adjustments in identity and culture. This period significantly impacts the health and well-being of military personnel and families worldwide. The International Military Social Work (IMilSW) Consortium, established in 2019, promotes the crucial role of Military Social Work (MilSW) in supporting individuals during this transition, addressing the unique challenges posed by military life. This paper examines MilSW support across 13 nations (IMilSW Consortium nation members) highlighting both similarities and differences in military-to-civilian transition support.

A key finding is the variation in integration between military and veteran care systems. In countries like the US, UK, and New Zealand, MilSW involvement is limited, while South Africa, Canada, Ireland, and Australia exhibit moderate integration of service. In contrast, the Netherlands and Denmark have highly integrated systems. Countries with conscription, such as Israel and Finland, benefit from robust public health systems, reducing the need for dedicated veteran services. The paper calls for future research to explore how MilSWs can leverage their advocacy expertise to better support life course transitions. It also suggests that incorporating MilSW content in university curricula would enhance the field’s capacity to address complex transitions.

Recording 2

Veteran Wellbeing: Insights into Help-Seeking and Access to Social Work Health Services

Presenters: Mr Andrew Prevett (Australia, SA) & Dr Emma Rush (Australia, NSW)

This session will explore a key 2023 study that investigates the influence of military culture on Australian veterans’ help-seeking behaviour and their pursuit of injury recognition with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The research highlights that military service exposes individuals to high trauma risks, resulting in manytransitioning veterans suffering from service-related health conditions. Despite ongoing efforts to address military culture, stigma surrounding health issues, particularly mental health, continues to deter veterans from seeking help and limits their access to essential social work services.

The study, drawing on data from 150 injured veterans receiving advocacy support through the Returned and Services League of Australia, reveals that veterans experience significant delays before seeking help—averaging 19.9 years after leaving service. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how entrenched military attitudes affect veterans’ access to healthcare, discover significant sex-based differences in help-seeking behaviour, and learn how these issues contribute to delays in obtaining crucial support services. This session is essential for anyone involved in veteran care, social work, or advocacy, offering practical insights to improve support strategies and outcomes for veterans.