Review into the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force ...

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Chapter 10: Minimising Risk, Managing Incidents and Ensuring the Safety of the Workplace – Recommendations 22-31got to work hard. That’s where a lot of the stigma comes from. If I’m not on a chit and they arethen I’ve got to run fifteen k’s and they just get to tread water in the pool or do something prettyeasy then it’s a bit hard not to be a little bit angry with them and resent them a little bit. So I thinkhaving the management of the restrictions and those that are injured probably helps their causea lot more as well. 35While these actions will have a bearing on stigma, it was apparent from consultations withundergraduates that this is an enduring issue and one which will not change quickly. This is of particularimportance because injury rates are proportionately higher for female undergraduates and therefore theproblem weighs more heavily on them.Undergraduates responded to questions on whether female undergraduates were involved in moreincidents of ‘non-genuine’ injuries by commenting that there was ‘no difference between guys andgirls.’ However, during consultations the use of examples of ‘faked’ injuries most often involved femaleundergraduates, not males. For example, the Audit heard:It’s when you get the girls that play ping pong and they’ve got chronic shin splints, you just go,no! 36It’s the instances where people turn up with a chit to not participate in PT and that night will goplay netball. 37The persistent use of examples with female subjects, suggests that perceptions of females being morelikely to ‘play the system’ and fake injuries has endured. 38 This was recognised in the YOFT femaleHealthy Lifestyles (Gender) brief. Female undergraduates were informed that if they were genuinelysick or injured they should seek help. However, using sickness or injury as an excuse to avoid trainingwould be inappropriate and would result in loss of respect. 39 This focus was not a feature of the YOFTmale Healthy Lifestyles (Gender) brief. 40 The Audit does not take exception to the fact that these issuesare treated differently in the male and female briefs, but rather notes that these gendered differences inperceptions continue to endure.On the whole, the response to eliminating stigma has been comprehensive and the intention of theRecommendation has been met by the actions undertaken. It does appear however that stigmacontinues to exist. The Audit recognises that this type of cultural change will take time. ADFA shouldensure that the new measures are accompanied by ongoing education which continues to address thiscultural shortcoming.Suicide at ADFADuring the 2013 staff induction 41 and YOFT presentations, 42 sessions were held on suicide awarenessat ADFA. The underlying context of the presentation is an attempt to remove the stigma associated withmental health, and encourage undergraduates to seek assistance and support if required. The sessionsdiscussed signs of suicidal behaviour and outlined strategies and supports available.The session was presented by the senior ADFA psychologist who commented that ADFA was one ofthe rare environments where female suicide and attempted suicide rates are higher than for males. 43ADFA’s records indicate that women have been involved in about half of all suicide attempts thatrequired medical intervention over the past four years. 44 Given that women constitute about one-fifth ofthe undergraduate population, this figure indicates that proportionally, women are much more likely thanmen to be involved in a suicide incident at ADFA.122
In the broader ADF, the proportion of women who attempted suicide (0.5%) was about the same asthe proportion of men (0.4%). 45 In the Australian community (where the population is more evenly split)women make up about one-quarter of the number of suicides annually. 46 These figures indicate thatADFA is an area of particular risk for undergraduate women. This is reflected in a staff suicide awarenessprogram. 47This issue is of particular importance at ADFA as undergraduates are at the peak age of onset ofmental health issues. 48 Cultural and environmental factors are critical in managing and responding tothe issues which can be presented by such a population and have a great bearing on the outcome.The Suicide Awareness presentation was interactive and participants were highly engaged. ADFA is tobe commended for its focus and explicit discussion of these issues, for providing information on thesupports which are available and the protocols it has in place in order to respond to such an event.ADFA may, however, consider seeking expert advice as to the timing of this session, i.e. whether it isappropriate for the second day of YOFT training or whether it might be better delivered later in YOFT.Recommendation 31: In order to provide cadets with a range ofsupport options regarding health and wellbeing, sexual or personalabuse and violence, ADFA:a) provide and/or display in plain view in residential andacademic premises, information on key internal and externalsupport services to cadets, including but not limited to theproposed ADFA Toll-free hotline (rec. 24), Women’s HealthServices, Mensline, the Rape Crisis Centre, Lifeline and drugand alcohol counselingb) develop partnerships with key external service providers,including those that are predominantly utilised by women,to ensure that ADFA provides a holistic response to cadets’health, wellbeing and safety needs.Intent of RecommendationThis Recommendation arose after a finding that undergraduates may face barriers in seeking assistanceor reporting incidents of unacceptable behaviour. There was a strong need to provide additionaloptions to supplement existing support avenues which would allow undergraduates to more easily seekassistance internally or externally.Audit Report: Review into the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy • 2013 • 123
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ContentsA Message from the Commissi
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A Message from the CommissionerADFA
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Chapter 1:Audit ApproachThe Report
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Chapter 1: Audit ApproachThe Audit
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Chapter 2: Summary of Audit Finding
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Chapter 3: MethodologyQuantitative
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