Current
Department of Veterans' Affairs
Australia
Operation Life is DVA’s overarching framework for suicide awareness and prevention among the ex-service community (including veterans and ex-service personnel, and their families, friends, colleagues, carers, and civilian members of ex-service organisations).
A core component of the framework is the delivery of face-to-face workshops that aim to increase the ex-service community’s awareness of, and ability to respond to, suicidal behaviour in individuals.
In January 2017, DVA contracted UnitingCare Community (UCC) in partnership with Overwatch Australia and Roses in the Ocean, to develop a new training program that meets the changing needs of the ex-service community. The new program aims to:
AHA was appointed to evaluate the pilot program using a six-phase, mixed-method approach specifically designed to address the key areas of interest:
AHA’s evaluation is scheduled for completion in 2018. Findings and recommendations will assist DVA to determine the future direction of the program and how it might fit into the current suite of suicide awareness and prevention programs delivered to the ex-service community.
Operation Life aims to increase the ex-service community’s awareness of, and ability to respond to, suicidal behaviour in individuals.