as we honor the Fallen we must too remember the brave who've slipped through the cracks too many of our soldiers return from war only to be abandoned when they most need help one man is determined to be their voice you would have to be inhuman not to feel um you know some Trauma from hearing the stories that we've heard over the last 3 years it's been a military Mission like no other do you think we've let our Defense Forces our military down in some respects I think as a society we have uh I think not not nowwhere near enough has been done in the last probably two or three decades to look after them on Anzac day as we remember those who sacrificed so much in war Royal commissioner Nick cdus is also remembering those the military has deserted I've not been able to tell my story I've been ordered to not speak about my situation it was evidence that shocked bullying sexual harassment abuse everybody has their breaking point and unfortunately I found mine you would have heard and I'm sure it's going to impact you some shocking stories in the last 3 years there been one that's kept you awake at night I think there's simply too many I don't think I'd like the single one out committed into evidence one of the most harrowing Reverend Dr Nikki Coleman who was a chaplain in the Royal Australian Air Force she claimed she was indecently assaulted by a colleague her abuser protected by military leadership it is a perfect storm of um factors to enable covering up of abuse the blatant disregard for fairness and what happened to her when she raised a complaint of sex abuse and then was essentially forced out of the organization and quite Dreadful things happened to her and anyone who supported her for cers it was one Horror Story among so many I think one of the lessons that has come out of the roal commission is that perhaps there been a not a whole lot of curiosity on the part of the public and the media about what's happening with our servicemen and women and our veterans on a regular basis the former cop and United Nations investigator has vowed the Royal commission into defend and Veteran suicide will force change the RO commission hopefully has achieved one thing which is to bring these problems out in public to a point where they are now undeniable it certainly did surprise us about the sheer number of people who had been traumatized who thankfully um you know Found the courage to speak up to put their hand up and to come forward and talk to us the inquiry received a staggering 6,000 submissions cus paying tribute to those who shared their socalled lived experience very hard to go back and revisit terrible things that may have happened to you uh and tell your story yet again there is a distinct definite connection between that trauma that people feel and their service it is connected to their service there is no doubt about that now why hasn't that connection been drawn before the raw commission began I I think it's been pointed at many times but has been denied it it is now undeniable the veteran investigator admits there has been push back not directly but there certainly there is a culture within the ADF uh and you can't blame individuals it's been there for decades if not longer one glaring issue the lack of accountability that's the recipe for nothing changing what do you hope the legacy of the roal commission will be the bottom line is we want to have a very real and sign significant impact on the rate of suicide and suicidality both in the serving Community the men and women who are in the organization as well as the veteran Community who are out of it the Commissioners want a watchdog independent of the government set up to enforce their recommendations we think that's essential it is the main recommendation this roal commission will make we can't see any other way of dealing with the problems we could keep doing what we're doing now the result will be the same we must have a way to break that cycle [Music] after the courage of those who gave evidence change has to happen that shouldn't be for nothing should it I know there are cynics who said well you're just a 58th inquiry and nothing will come out of this I don't think that's the case I think we've turned the corner there are some who have had really significant problems and the system has let them down quite badly they' slip through the cracks haven't they have yeah and that's got to stop absolutely yeah we have to do better and hopefully we do the Royal commission will hand down its final report in September