Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide that may be upsetting or triggering for some listeners. Resources and support are available and listed at the bottom of the show notes below.

In this episode of Community Matters Nicky talks with Lachlan Stevens, Director Founder and Veteran, about the importance of “a sense of purpose” and the work he is doing to support veterans transition out of military life and into fulfilling opportunities after serving their country. With 78 veterans each year taking their life in Australia – this is literally lifesaving work.

Having served Australia on two tours in Afghanistan Lachlan acknowledges both the loss of members of his own units in the line of duty and the trauma of losing even more upon returning home to suicide. Lachlan shares about the mental health challenges he experienced, and the need for better coordinated veteran support across the community as well as the value of mentors in the community who support veterans to make a successful transition.

Lachlan details his work with Walk with us Kokoda and how he uses the Kokoda Trail to help veterans consider what their future looks like on the other side of their military service. “There is this projection that we care for veterans but that is not manifesting in terms of action and that is where I get a lot of my motivation for doing what we do at a grass roots level, at a community level” explains Lachlan, “that is what Walk with Us Kokoda tries to achieve.”

Lachlan and Nicky also discuss employment opportunities for veterans and leveraging qualities of loyalty and service to create the sense of purpose that is needed to support veterans through valued roles. The opportunity for making your organisation “veteran friendly” is explored.

Lachlan provides words of encouragement gained through lived experience “Passion is infectious”, he says, in acknowledging members of the Illawarra community, like local legend Graham Lancaster, who have supported him on his journey.

Resources:

• Walk with us Kokoda - Walk With Us Kokoda
• Raising the Bar Foundation - Raising the Bar Foundation
• The Man Walk - About The Man Walk - Where The Journey Started
• His Boy Elroy – His Boy Elroy – N.B. Free coffee and cake for veterans Tuesdays and Thursdays. Saturday gym program + Bar Stool Brothers Mens Mental Health Barstool Brothers – His Boy Elroy

Veteran and Mental Health Support Links:

• RSL NSW - Find Help | RSL NSW
• Open Arms - Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling
• Lifeline - Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:
"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/