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Support for carers of contemporary veterans is inadequate: RSL

The RSL says that the level of support for carers of contemporary veterans is woefully inadequate and has called for the government to do more.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson today announced $5 million in funding for research into the mental health of Australian military personnel, but the RSL says the money would be better spent on support services for carers.

Don Rowe, president of the NSW branch of the RSL, describes the payments currently available to the carers of veterans as an 'insult' and said counselling services and respite care need to be expanded.

'We have grave concerns for the way the carers have been treated,' he says. 'As the old saying goes, "who's caring for the carers?" Unfortunately no-one is at the moment.'

'For every younger veteran out there facing a problem, there's a carer. In some cases it's their wives and their spouses, and we've seen cases where it's their mother and father. So we've got to do something to look after them as well.'

Nearly 20,000 Australian servicemen and women have served Australia overseas in the past decade.

On top of physical injuries, veterans groups estimate 50 per cent of those who have served could suffer mental health issues over the next decade.