DVA Protocol
Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran
Suicide
Introduction
On 08 Jul 21, the Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison MP announced
that the Governor-General of Australia, His Excel ency, General David
Hurley AC DSC (Retd), has signed the Letters Patent, official y establishing
the Royal Commission in Defence and Veteran Suicide (the
Royal
Commission).
The fol owing slides wil provide a high-level description of the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (the
Department) Protocol for action
during the Royal Commission.
The full version of the Protocol can be found LINK.
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What does this mean for the Department and
you?
• Throughout the Royal Commission, the Department remains committed to supporting veterans and their families through the delivery of
our services. We must however, also ensure that our responses and engagement with the Royal Commission are
timely, accurate,
comprehensive and
transparent. This is why we have established a Royal Commission Taskforce, independent to business as usual (BAU)
activities.
• It is important that al staff understand how the Department wil assist with the Royal Commission’s work and how staff may contribute to
the Department’s response, how to engage with veterans, families and other stakeholders, and importantly, understand what supports wil
be put in place during this time.
• The Protocol wil be updated as require and communicated to staff.
• Our
FAQ guide wil provide more information about the Royal Commission and its impact on the Department, including operational
information.
• Al staff need to read and understand this Protocol. To assist our staff’s overal understanding of the Royal Commission and the
Department’s involvement, a number of resources wil be established and communicated to staff as and when available.
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Protocol for support and response to
the Royal Commission
What does this mean for staff?
Roles, Responsibilities and Authority
FAS DVA (RCT)
Senior Executive
Taskforce
Legal
Business areas
Staff
•
Report and engage on •
Work with FAS DVA
•
Col aboration,
•
Responsible for
•
Provide point of
•
Work in support of the
Departmental support
RCT to ensure timely
facilitations and
external engagement
contact for DVA RCT
Taskforce and FAS DVA
and complete
coordination of
with AGD
RCT on all matters and
•
Engage with each FAS
responses
responses to the Royal
•
Respond to requests
requests for
and CHO on
Commission
•
Responsible for
from DVA RCT in
information
anticipated business
•
Provide urgent
preparation of
timely, comprehensive
impacts
direction and guidance •
All DVA
Department
manner
•
Are required to
communications and
submissions and
comply with any
•
How divisions will
•
Provide information
media associated the
Departmental witness
lawful direction given
assist Department’s
as required, to FAS
the Royal Commission
statements for
by a member of the
response
DVA RCT
provision to the Royal
Taskforce or executives
•
Work with business
Commission
•
Impacts or additional •
Raise issues and risks
areas to manage
•
Action as a priority,
resources
to FAS DVA RCT
Department’s
•
Provide clearance of
any RFI or assistance
requirements
response and support
all documents to be
from the Taskforce
to the Royal
provided to Royal
Commission.
Commission
•
Keep Secretary
informed of work of
the Royal Commission
and the Department’s
involvement
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Responsiveness
The
Taskforce is responsible for the
management, coordination, internal consultation
and
preparation of responses to the Royal Commission.
In order to assist the Taskforce, the following must occur:
•
Al staff are to make responding to requests from the Taskforce as
highest priority,
unless otherwise advised by the Secretary or DVA FAS RCT.
•
All FAS provide a minimum of one dedicated staff member within each line area to
assist the Taskforce at short notice
• At least one main POC and one alternate POC must be identified for each affected
business area
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Records management, confidentiality and privacy
All staff are required to:
•
Comply with the Department’s Record Management Policy
•
Not destroy any document or record - consult Records Management Section
•
Comply with any notices issues by Departmental staff or National Archives of Australia
•
Only access information where directed or authorised
•
Understand a system will be in place to record and audit access by staff to information or
documentation concerning the Royal Commission
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Code of Conduct
Inform yourself of the requirements under:
• Section 13
Public Service Act (APS Code of Conduct)
• Paragraphs 12 to 17 of the
Australian Public Service Commissioner’s
Directions 2016
Compliance
All staff (APS or otherwise) are to comply in full with all protocols,
policies and operating procedures in relation to the work of the
Taskforce or Royal Commission.
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Staff Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our staff is important and crucial to the
Department’s ability to provide services in support to veterans and
their families.
A Staff Wellbeing Plan has been developed and available HERE.
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Document Outline