Latest news

We are now just under six months away from the date of final submissions, October 13. If you’ve been thinking about telling your story to the Royal Commission, but haven’t yet started that process, I invite you to contact us as soon as possible.

New laws are now in place to further protect the privacy of people who make a submission to the Royal Commission.

In this issue, we hear from Col Watego, a veteran gunner and a First Nations champion, as well as launching the first in our new podcast series, Stories from the Frontline.

In this edition, we hear from Kathryn, a former army nursing officer who is now a DAVLS lawyer, we take a look at our outreach programs around the country and much more.

The ceremonial hearing is on November 26 and will be followed by public hearings from November 29, where people will give evidence.

In this edition, we hear from Louis, a woman who lost her veteran father at a young age, we take a look at our outreach programs around the country and much more.

In this edition, we hear about Yvonne Sillett's experience as an LGBTQI+ person in the defence force in the '80s, we take a look at our outreach programs around the country and much more.

In this edition, we share veterans stories, take a look at our outreach programs around the country and much more.

Our senior military leaders put their weight behind the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Watch the video here.

The Royal Commission is clearly listening and learning and still keen to hear your story.

Chief of Defence Force General Angus Campbell encourages current service member and veterans to share their stories with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The Royal Commission Hearing Block 6 will be held at the Wrest Point Hotel from the 1 August 2022. Registration to attend this hearing is now open.

Rachael Vincent's interview with NT news.

Defence and Veterans Legal Service (DAVLS) lawyers will be in Darwin to provide information-packed seminars and face-to-face advice on Tuesday 19 July.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has announced they will be holding public hearings in Wagga from 28 November 2022.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has announced they will be holding public hearings in Darwin from 17 October 2022.

The Royal Commission has extended the deadline for the public to lodge submissions and seek a private session. Find out more here.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been extended by one year. This week the Attorney-General announced the Royal Commissioners have been given an additional 12 months in which to prepare their final report, which will now be due on 17 June 2024. The interim report remains due on 11 August 2022.

In this edition, we take a look at the services we have provided up to February 2022 and cover DAVLS events in the community as well as much more.

In this edition, we look at recent census data on serving and ex-serving Defence personnel, DAVLS in the community, how the information line has helped you and much more.

Two new factsheets are now available on our website. These cover the options for different ways to have your say to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide, and what happens to your information once the Commission comes to an end.

Press release: New data from a specialist legal service shows more than 200 people have come forward to
seek help telling their story to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in
the first two months since public hearings began.

DAVLS staff will be at the Sydney hearings of the Royal Commission from Monday 14 February.

The information line will be closed on Wednesday 26 January for the Australia Day public holiday

In this edition, we cover the launch of our free resources, talk about our introductory webinar and look back on the first public hearings in Brisbane.

Media release: The Defence and Veterans Legal Service (DAVLS) is a free national service providing independent information and legal advice about taking part in the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which begins tomorrow (Friday 26 November) in Brisbane

The ceremonial hearing is on November 26 and will be followed by public hearings from November 29, where people will give evidence.