An Indigenous Navy veteran says the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has failed to address stigma around mental health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans.
Professor Brad Murphy OAM, who now runs a veteran-focused GP clinic after serving in the Navy as a leading senior medic, on Friday gave evidence before the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
The commission is halfway through two weeks of hearings in Darwin, the first since it handed down its interim report with 13 recommendations.
He told the commission the stigma attached to seeking help for mental health issues remained a "huge impediment" to caring for Indigenous veterans.
"We've worked so terribly hard over the years to remove stigma associated with mental health," Professor Murphy said.
"No matter how much we've tried, we have failed to whatever level in this regard.
"Having [Indigenous veterans] actually reach out, or having family or community that are strong enough and well resourced to actually reach out on their behalf is a significant challenge."
More 'transition' support for veterans needed
Professor Murphy told the commission more support was needed for members transitioning out of service and back into civilian life.
He said many members leaving the ADF were left disconnected from their sense of family and belonging.
"Indigenous culture is very much about family and my own experience and certainly my understanding of military culture is of family," Professor Murphy said.
"So if you don't help people transition at the end of their time then what you're effectively doing is a form of genocide because suddenly they're disconnected, they're divorced.
"All their family no longer exists."
He said fostering deeper connections, especially among Indigenous members, could help alleviate the sense of disconnection.
Professor Murphy is also a member of the military and veteran health chapter of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
He told the commission GPs need to be better educated in how to support veterans navigate the complicated Medicare and veterans' compensation systems, and that rebates for veteran care need to be increased.
"We could have amazing systems in place, but if your general practitioner and their team are not resourced and educated in how to engage with the veteran population then we are surrounded by missed opportunities."
