09 August 2017
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today announced three new appointments to the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Veterans’ Mental Health (PMAC).
Mrs Joy Jenkins, Ms Jocelyn Parsons and Dr Sheralyn Rose will sit on the PMAC and advise the Prime Minister, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and the Government on high-level strategic and complex matters relating to the mental health of veterans and their families.
PMAC met in Canberra today to discuss transition out of the ADF, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report into the prevalence of suicide among current and former members of the ADF and the Government response to the National Mental Health Commission Review of Suicide Prevention Services in the ADF.
“The Australian Government remains committed to doing everything it can to support the mental health needs of current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and their families,” Mr Tehan said.
Mr Tehan said the three new members would bring experience and their own unique perspective to the important job of veterans’ mental health.
“Joy Jenkins is the Partners of Veterans Association representative on the Council and is the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and married to a serving Defence member who is a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. She is a strong advocate of the value of small local associations to support the families of veterans.
“Jocelyn Parsons served for more than 20 years in the Royal Australian Navy and saw operational deployment to the Middle East. Since leaving the permanent forces she has worked as a crisis and emergency response manager across a number of industries and has long been a supporter of veterans.
“Dr Sheralyn Rose has held a variety of positions in consultation, policy formation and senior management over a long career in primary health care. She has a comprehensive background in assessing population health needs, including mental health and suicide prevention programs.”
The three new members will bring the total number of PMAC members to 12. Former Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane AO CSM RANR is chair and Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC, MG the deputy chair.
Members of the Council have been appointed until December 2019. Biographies can be found here. http://www.pmac.dva.gov.au/biographies.htm
Media enquiries:
Minister Tehan’s Office: Byron Vale, 0428 262 894
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Media: 02 6289 6203
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) can be reached 24 hours a day across Australia for crisis support and free and confidential counselling. Phone 1800 011 046 (international: +61 8 8241 45 46). VVCS is a service founded by Vietnam veterans.
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Please see the following files attached:
[Tehan Media Release – New PMAC members.pdf]
Distributed by AAP Medianet
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