Help at hand

Editorial: Nadine Lyford

Photography: Grant Condon

Help at hand

A 1000-kilometre trek across Victoria was the starting point for police veterans to be provided with much needed support.

The aim of the 2018 Head to Head Walk was to increase awareness and raise funds to improve the mental health of police veterans. The result was Police Veterans Victoria, a notfor-profit organisation that is making in-roads by providing support and counselling for police veterans and their families experiencing mental health issues.

One of the strengths of Police Veterans Victoria is the 62 veteran peer support officers who are themselves police veterans, as is the executive officer, David McGowan.

“There has always been a strong ethos within Victoria Police that we look after our own, which was the beginnings of Police Legacy and the Retired Peer Support Officers. But what about the many police who leave well before retirement, and are carrying the weight of their experiences? This organisation is here to support them,” Mr McGowan said.

Police Veterans Victoria has already made progress, with more than 200 police veterans reaching out for support in their first 12 months of operation.

“The feedback from veterans has been one of almost relief that there is someone they can speak to who understands what they are going through. And they do understand, because they’ve had similar experiences during their own careers,” Mr McGowan said.

Clinical advisor and program co-ordinator Rebecca Lynch said they received several calls following the deaths of Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Josh Prestney and Constable Glen Humphris, who were killed by a truck on the Eastern Freeway in Kew in April 2020.

Support service Police Veterans Victoria executive officer David McGowan, veteran peer support officer John Stubbs and clinical advisor and program co-ordinator Rebecca Lynch.

“One veteran in particular left a voice message and I could hear the deep sadness in his voice,” Ms Lynch said.

“I returned his call and sent a text message but didn’t receive an answer. I was determined to get hold of him because I knew if he had picked up the phone once, surely, he could do it again. And he did.

“He was clearly very deeply affected by the tragedy and very troubled. In the face of such grief I didn’t know what to say, but we bumbled our way through. Towards the end of our conversation he said ‘you have no idea what this call has meant to me’.”

Money raised by Police Veterans Victoria is used to maintain and improve their essential support services. This includes training courses for their dedicated staff and volunteers, and resource material.

But more help is needed to achieve Mr McGowan’s ambitious vision of Police Veterans Victoria providing a service where veterans feel a sense of belonging and where they can receive benefits similar to what defence veterans receive.

“Every dollar we raise is accounted for and invested in building sustainable benefits for our veterans and their families. There is no more noble cause than to help those in need,” he said.

To make a donation to Police Veterans Victoria, visit the policeveteransvic.org.au website.

Get in touch

Visit: policeveteransvic.org.au

Email: contact@policeveteransvic.org.au

Call: 0436 854 858