Partnering with Defence to Evaluate Mental Health Programs

Evaluation of the Defence Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2018-2023 using a Continuous Improvement Framework Monitoring and Evaluation System

This project aims to support the Department of Defence in its drive for continuous improvement in mental health and suicide prevention activities. This project commenced in late 2020 and will continue for three years.

Mental wellbeing and suicide prevention are issues of national importance, and Defence continues to play a leading role in the national mental health sector. The University of Canberra has partnered with the Department of Defence to evaluate the key mental health programs and activities available to all Defence personnel, including APS staff. The project will provide an evidence base to inform Defence’s next iteration of the future Defence Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy

This project is a leading example of the University of Canberra’s vision of being a civic university in service of its community. The team has handpicked over a dozen experts in mental health, the military, policy and evaluation from across three faculties and two researcher centres to specifically meet the requirements of this nationally significant initiative. Unique features of the method adopted for this project include the latest in collective impact approaches, forty-year future cost-benefit modelling, and system maturity modelling across a complex organisation. Given the importance of mental health and wellbeing, it is expected that the outcomes of this project will make an important contribution to national policy debate for many years to come.