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Article September 2009
Registration for the Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study, an intergenerational study, is still open. This family study is comparing the health and wellbeing of the children of Vietnam veterans with the health and well being of children of Army personnel who served during 1962-1975 but did not deploy to Vietnam. The participation of family members is essential for the success of the study.
You can register by calling 1800 502 302 or online at www.dva.gov.au/vvfs. Registrations are encouraged from: Randomly selected Vietnam veterans plus their: · Children/step children; · Wives/partners; · Ex-wives/partners; · Siblings, especially brothers; and · Nieces and nephews. Randomly selected Army personnel who served during the period 1962 – 1975 plus their: · Children/step children; · Wives/partners; and · Ex-wives and partners. The members of the study’s Consultative Forum are continuing to encourage registrations from randomly selected participants. The study’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has been established. The SAC is chaired by the study’s Independent Scientific Advisor, Professor Bryan Rodgers. The SAC provides advice on scientific matters related to the conduct of the study including methodology and monitoring progress from a scientific point of view. The SAC will also review the research for accuracy and validity and will be asked to approve the final draft report before it is presented to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs via the Repatriation Commission. Five of the study’s research components are underway with the:
For more information on the study call toll free 1800 502 302 or visit the website: www.dva.gov.au/vvfs.
Bulletin No 8 – August 2009 From the Chair of the Consultative Forum Greetings to all Consultative Forum members. This Bulletin provides you with an update on the Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study as at August 2009. Article for Newsletters An article for use in your newsletters, journals and any publicity on the study is provided at Attachment 1. Registration numbers Registration numbers in the children of control group participants have increased following a letter to all registered control group participants with children which was sent out commencing 20 July 2009. During the period 20 July to 4 August 2009 269 control group children registered for the study bringing the total number in this group to 1648. Current registration numbers are attached below: Research Components Update Progress meetings have been held with the research organisations currently undertaking research as detailed below. Enhance Management (Re-analysis of the Vietnam Veterans’ Sons and Daughters Project) are currently working on a literature review and conducting in-depth analysis into focus group transcripts and the Clinical Audit data. Enhance Management will provide a mid-project report in late August with the final report on target for release in November 2009. TNS Social Research (Children of Vietnam Veterans’ Mortality Study) are currently conducting Stage 1 of the study and have received a total of 5881 forms. Basic demographic statistics from these forms show a total of 15,747 children with 542 (3.5%) of these reported to be deceased. We will continue to send mortality study data forms to participants as they register and this data will be analysed during Stage 2 of the mortality study. Work proposals have been received and evaluated for the next three qualitative research components. Dr Cathy Banwell, Postdoctoral Fellow, National Health and Medical Research Council, ANU, served on the panel with DVA staff for the evaluation of the proposals on 23 July 2009. The following organisations have been selected by competitive tender for these components:
Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) The inaugural meeting of the SAC was held on 6 July 2009. Those in attendance, in addition to the SAC members listed below, included Prof Bryan Rodgers (Independent Scientific Advisor), Dr Graham Killer (Principal Medical Advisor) and Ass/Prof Susan Treloar (Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health). As previously advised, as well as Prof Rodgers and Dr Killer, the SAC members are:
Attachment 1 Article August 2009
Registration for the Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study, an intergenerational study, is still open. This family study is comparing the health and wellbeing of the children of Vietnam veterans with the health and well being of children of Army personnel who served during 1962-1975 but did not deploy to Vietnam. The participation of family members is essential for the success of the study.
You can register by calling 1800 502 302 or online at www.dva.gov.au/vvfs. Registrations are encouraged from: Randomly selected Vietnam veterans plus their: · Children/step children; · Wives/partners; · Ex-wives/partners; · Siblings, especially brothers; and · Nieces and nephews. Randomly selected Army personnel who served during the period 1962 – 1975 plus their: · Children/step children; · Wives/partners; and · Ex-wives and partners. The members of the study’s Consultative Forum are continuing to encourage registrations from randomly selected participants, particularly the family members mentioned above. The study’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has been established and held its inaugural meeting on 6 July 2009. The SAC is chaired by the study’s Independent Scientific Advisor, Professor Bryan Rodgers. The SAC provides advice on scientific matters related to the conduct of the study including methodology and monitoring progress from a scientific point of view. The SAC will also review the research for accuracy and validity and will be asked to approve the final draft report before it is presented to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs via the Repatriation Commission. Two of the study’s research components are underway. The Children of Vietnam Veterans’ Mortality Study is being undertaken by TNS Social Research and the Re-analysis of the Vietnam Veterans’ Sons and Daughters Project is being undertaken by Enhance Management. Results from these project are expected in November 2009.
Three other research components are about to commence. These include the semi-structured telephone interviews, history of health case studies and in-depth case study of six sons and daughters of the Vietnam war era (the ethnographic study). These research components will provide information to assist with the development of the main survey questionnaire. It is expected results from these components will be finalised in late 2009.
For more information on the study call toll free 1800 502 302.
Australian National Health Study info
http://www.dva.gov.au/health/research/fsp/vv/myth_busters.htm
There is a lot of speculation around the National Health Study into the health and wellbeing of Vietnam Veterans' families. This is one site by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) which dispells many of the myths and rumours that are being generated through scepticism and heresay.
Please click on the link to read the latest from the Department on this vital study.
I will also have several questions I will be asking of the co-ordinator that should be of interest to you. I will post the outcomes when they become available.
ADDITIONAL:
If you are a Vietnam Veteran and have children to another marriage, please convice them to submit their nomination to participate. The information the DVA will use to access the families is what they currently have on record. Therefore, any children/partners from previous relationships may be overlooked, and, as my fieldwork indicates, they are just as much in need of this as any of us are. If you are the child/grandchild of such a Veteran, nominate yourself....
There has been a great deal happening during the last month in relation to the National Health Study into the health and wellbeing of Vietnam Veteran Families. The inaugural meeting for the Consultative Forum (CF) occurred on September 22nd, 2008 in Melbourne. I am fortunate enough to have received an invitation to be on this forum. Naturally I accepted this invitation and attended the said inaugural meeting.
The most significant and pressing issue that arose from the meeting is that we need more participants. If this study is to be the one that “did things right” and “has a real impact” it needs our support and participation. The representative from the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH) stated that they were particularly seeking contributions from families whose parents did not go to Vietnam. This is critical to the study as it provides a base in the mainstream society upon which to compare ourselves to. This group is considered the “normal” group and will be the reference to determine how different we may be. There is also a strong requirement for us to participate too.
There were 10,000 surveys sent out to Vietnam Vets. Approximately 56% have been returned. Although this may seem like a significant proportion, it hardly scratches the surface of the issue as many of these do not consider themselves to be needing any support or assistance, effectively leaving those who do, without a presence in the wider scale of things. Again, the voices of those who do need help is being swamped by those who don’t. This will only lead to another failed study.
The Federal Government has committed $13.8m into this study. It is the largest single amount ever committed to a study of this nature. The minister (Alan Griffin) really wants this study to do what it is intended to do – demonstrate to the government policy makers that the children, grandchildren and partners of Vietnam Veterans struggle daily (or not) with unique issues that are currently being ignored, costing the government millions. Its success is being hindered by an attitude of resistance, bitterness and denial from the Vietnam Veteran community.
The CMVH have established that the only way to get information from the Children of Vietnam Vets is through the Vet themselves. If the Vet doesn’t have faith in the study, they will simply throw the survey away, denying their spouse and children the opportunity to contribute to their own future support. If this continues, the Veteran community will be sending a signal to the government that there are no issues or concerns and their children and grandchildren neither want, nor need any help. This will render any future complaints, issues or grievances mute. In short, the Vietnam Veteran community is cutting its own throat by not putting their personal issues in the past and participating for the sake of their future.
Another concern I raised at the CF meeting involves the neglect of a significant proportion of families that my own research has identified as being most in need of support. As the CMVH can only gain access to the family through the support and compliance of the Veteran themselves, if the Veteran is deceased, then their remaining partner and children will not be included. This inevitably includes children and partners from previous relationships. Children and husbands (and wives) from previous marriages will therefore also be neglected. However, despite the flaws in the methodology of this study, it is by far the most effective way we have to make our voices heard and establish a legitimate cause to develop better educational, medical, employment and support services for the children, grandchildren and partners of Vietnam Veterans who are aware of the details of daily struggles just to live. If you are a Vietnam Veteran and carry an attitude of bitterness against the government, please, put that aside for a moment and consider the consequences on your children and grandchildren. The outcomes of this study will improve social services for your family for decades to come. Don’t let your gripe hinder your grandchildren’s potential to be great.
I cannot speak for all children of Vietnam Veterans but my personal experience informs me that Vietnam Veterans have every reason to be bitter, resentful and angry at the government for the way they were treated upon their return, and the lack of support from supposed veteran support organisations for many years after their return. I share some of that resentment, however that was then, and this is now. This government has a vastly different political agenda to the one then. Don’t judge the acts of the present by the sins of the past. Doing so will deny the future the chance to be better. My own PhD research is unlocking many mysteries into how PTSD can be inherited. One dominant emerging theme that significantly contributes to its inheritance is lack of emotional expression and explanation from the Veteran to their children. Their children develop confusion, insecurities and dysfunctional emotional responses themselves. By shutting our children out of our emotions and rationalizations, we effectively undermine their sense of identity and wellbeing. Participation in this study will be a small, yet significant step in providing some sense of identity.
I urge all who read this to participate. You can make your contribution via the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website at www.dva.gov.au or phoning your nearest office in your capital city.
Thank you for your time and I hope to share this journey with you.
Registration for the Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study, an intergenerational study, is still open. This family study is comparing the health and wellbeing of the children of Vietnam veterans with the health and well being of children of Army personnel who served during 1962-1975 but did not deploy to Vietnam. The participation of family members is essential for the success of the study.
You can register by calling 1800 502 302 or online at www.dva.gov.au/vvfs. Registrations are encouraged from: Randomly selected Vietnam veterans plus their: · Children/step children; · Wives/partners; · Ex-wives/partners; · Siblings, especially brothers; and · Nieces and nephews. Randomly selected Army personnel who served during the period 1962 – 1975 plus their: · Children/step children; · Wives/partners; and · Ex-wives and partners. The members of the study’s Consultative Forum are continuing to encourage registrations from randomly selected participants. The study’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has been established. The SAC is chaired by the study’s Independent Scientific Advisor, Professor Bryan Rodgers. The SAC provides advice on scientific matters related to the conduct of the study including methodology and monitoring progress from a scientific point of view. The SAC will also review the research for accuracy and validity and will be asked to approve the final draft report before it is presented to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs via the Repatriation Commission. Five of the study’s research components are underway with the:
- Children of Vietnam Veterans’ Mortality Study is being undertaken by TNS Social Research.
- Re-analysis of the Vietnam Veterans’ Sons and Daughters Project is being undertaken by Enhance Management.
- Semi-Structured Telephone Interviews is being undertaken by the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health.
- History of Health Case Studies is being undertaken by Open Mind Research Group.
- In-depth Case Study (Ethnographic Study) being undertaken by TNS Social Research.
For more information on the study call toll free 1800 502 302 or visit the website: www.dva.gov.au/vvfs.
Bulletin No 8 – August 2009 From the Chair of the Consultative Forum Greetings to all Consultative Forum members. This Bulletin provides you with an update on the Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study as at August 2009. Article for Newsletters An article for use in your newsletters, journals and any publicity on the study is provided at Attachment 1. Registration numbers Registration numbers in the children of control group participants have increased following a letter to all registered control group participants with children which was sent out commencing 20 July 2009. During the period 20 July to 4 August 2009 269 control group children registered for the study bringing the total number in this group to 1648. Current registration numbers are attached below: Research Components Update Progress meetings have been held with the research organisations currently undertaking research as detailed below. Enhance Management (Re-analysis of the Vietnam Veterans’ Sons and Daughters Project) are currently working on a literature review and conducting in-depth analysis into focus group transcripts and the Clinical Audit data. Enhance Management will provide a mid-project report in late August with the final report on target for release in November 2009. TNS Social Research (Children of Vietnam Veterans’ Mortality Study) are currently conducting Stage 1 of the study and have received a total of 5881 forms. Basic demographic statistics from these forms show a total of 15,747 children with 542 (3.5%) of these reported to be deceased. We will continue to send mortality study data forms to participants as they register and this data will be analysed during Stage 2 of the mortality study. Work proposals have been received and evaluated for the next three qualitative research components. Dr Cathy Banwell, Postdoctoral Fellow, National Health and Medical Research Council, ANU, served on the panel with DVA staff for the evaluation of the proposals on 23 July 2009. The following organisations have been selected by competitive tender for these components:
| Tier Component | Organisation/Institution |
| Tier 1 (a) Semi-Structured Telephone Interviews | Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH, UniQuest) |
| Tier 1 (d) History of Health (Case Study) | Open Mind Research Group |
| Tier 1 (e) Ethnographic Study | TNS Social Research |
- Professor Ilan Katz (Social Policy Research Unit, The University of NSW);
- Dr Paul Jelfs, (Assistant Statistician, Social Analysis and Reporting Branch Australian Bureau of Statistics);
- Dr Lyndall Strazdins (Fellow, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University); and
- Professor Elizabeth Waters (Jack Brockhoff Chair of Child Public Health, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne).
Attachment 1 Article August 2009
Registration for the Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study, an intergenerational study, is still open. This family study is comparing the health and wellbeing of the children of Vietnam veterans with the health and well being of children of Army personnel who served during 1962-1975 but did not deploy to Vietnam. The participation of family members is essential for the success of the study.
You can register by calling 1800 502 302 or online at www.dva.gov.au/vvfs. Registrations are encouraged from: Randomly selected Vietnam veterans plus their: · Children/step children; · Wives/partners; · Ex-wives/partners; · Siblings, especially brothers; and · Nieces and nephews. Randomly selected Army personnel who served during the period 1962 – 1975 plus their: · Children/step children; · Wives/partners; and · Ex-wives and partners. The members of the study’s Consultative Forum are continuing to encourage registrations from randomly selected participants, particularly the family members mentioned above. The study’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has been established and held its inaugural meeting on 6 July 2009. The SAC is chaired by the study’s Independent Scientific Advisor, Professor Bryan Rodgers. The SAC provides advice on scientific matters related to the conduct of the study including methodology and monitoring progress from a scientific point of view. The SAC will also review the research for accuracy and validity and will be asked to approve the final draft report before it is presented to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs via the Repatriation Commission. Two of the study’s research components are underway. The Children of Vietnam Veterans’ Mortality Study is being undertaken by TNS Social Research and the Re-analysis of the Vietnam Veterans’ Sons and Daughters Project is being undertaken by Enhance Management. Results from these project are expected in November 2009.
Three other research components are about to commence. These include the semi-structured telephone interviews, history of health case studies and in-depth case study of six sons and daughters of the Vietnam war era (the ethnographic study). These research components will provide information to assist with the development of the main survey questionnaire. It is expected results from these components will be finalised in late 2009.
For more information on the study call toll free 1800 502 302.
Australian National Health Study info
http://www.dva.gov.au/health/research/fsp/vv/myth_busters.htm
There is a lot of speculation around the National Health Study into the health and wellbeing of Vietnam Veterans' families. This is one site by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) which dispells many of the myths and rumours that are being generated through scepticism and heresay.
Please click on the link to read the latest from the Department on this vital study.
I will also have several questions I will be asking of the co-ordinator that should be of interest to you. I will post the outcomes when they become available.
ADDITIONAL:
If you are a Vietnam Veteran and have children to another marriage, please convice them to submit their nomination to participate. The information the DVA will use to access the families is what they currently have on record. Therefore, any children/partners from previous relationships may be overlooked, and, as my fieldwork indicates, they are just as much in need of this as any of us are. If you are the child/grandchild of such a Veteran, nominate yourself....
There has been a great deal happening during the last month in relation to the National Health Study into the health and wellbeing of Vietnam Veteran Families. The inaugural meeting for the Consultative Forum (CF) occurred on September 22nd, 2008 in Melbourne. I am fortunate enough to have received an invitation to be on this forum. Naturally I accepted this invitation and attended the said inaugural meeting.
The most significant and pressing issue that arose from the meeting is that we need more participants. If this study is to be the one that “did things right” and “has a real impact” it needs our support and participation. The representative from the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH) stated that they were particularly seeking contributions from families whose parents did not go to Vietnam. This is critical to the study as it provides a base in the mainstream society upon which to compare ourselves to. This group is considered the “normal” group and will be the reference to determine how different we may be. There is also a strong requirement for us to participate too.
There were 10,000 surveys sent out to Vietnam Vets. Approximately 56% have been returned. Although this may seem like a significant proportion, it hardly scratches the surface of the issue as many of these do not consider themselves to be needing any support or assistance, effectively leaving those who do, without a presence in the wider scale of things. Again, the voices of those who do need help is being swamped by those who don’t. This will only lead to another failed study.
The Federal Government has committed $13.8m into this study. It is the largest single amount ever committed to a study of this nature. The minister (Alan Griffin) really wants this study to do what it is intended to do – demonstrate to the government policy makers that the children, grandchildren and partners of Vietnam Veterans struggle daily (or not) with unique issues that are currently being ignored, costing the government millions. Its success is being hindered by an attitude of resistance, bitterness and denial from the Vietnam Veteran community.
The CMVH have established that the only way to get information from the Children of Vietnam Vets is through the Vet themselves. If the Vet doesn’t have faith in the study, they will simply throw the survey away, denying their spouse and children the opportunity to contribute to their own future support. If this continues, the Veteran community will be sending a signal to the government that there are no issues or concerns and their children and grandchildren neither want, nor need any help. This will render any future complaints, issues or grievances mute. In short, the Vietnam Veteran community is cutting its own throat by not putting their personal issues in the past and participating for the sake of their future.
Another concern I raised at the CF meeting involves the neglect of a significant proportion of families that my own research has identified as being most in need of support. As the CMVH can only gain access to the family through the support and compliance of the Veteran themselves, if the Veteran is deceased, then their remaining partner and children will not be included. This inevitably includes children and partners from previous relationships. Children and husbands (and wives) from previous marriages will therefore also be neglected. However, despite the flaws in the methodology of this study, it is by far the most effective way we have to make our voices heard and establish a legitimate cause to develop better educational, medical, employment and support services for the children, grandchildren and partners of Vietnam Veterans who are aware of the details of daily struggles just to live. If you are a Vietnam Veteran and carry an attitude of bitterness against the government, please, put that aside for a moment and consider the consequences on your children and grandchildren. The outcomes of this study will improve social services for your family for decades to come. Don’t let your gripe hinder your grandchildren’s potential to be great.
I cannot speak for all children of Vietnam Veterans but my personal experience informs me that Vietnam Veterans have every reason to be bitter, resentful and angry at the government for the way they were treated upon their return, and the lack of support from supposed veteran support organisations for many years after their return. I share some of that resentment, however that was then, and this is now. This government has a vastly different political agenda to the one then. Don’t judge the acts of the present by the sins of the past. Doing so will deny the future the chance to be better. My own PhD research is unlocking many mysteries into how PTSD can be inherited. One dominant emerging theme that significantly contributes to its inheritance is lack of emotional expression and explanation from the Veteran to their children. Their children develop confusion, insecurities and dysfunctional emotional responses themselves. By shutting our children out of our emotions and rationalizations, we effectively undermine their sense of identity and wellbeing. Participation in this study will be a small, yet significant step in providing some sense of identity.
I urge all who read this to participate. You can make your contribution via the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website at www.dva.gov.au or phoning your nearest office in your capital city.
Thank you for your time and I hope to share this journey with you.
