Defence and Veterans' Service Commission
DVSC
29 September 2025 – present
Independent statutory agency providing oversight of the defence and veterans' service systems with a focus on suicide prevention and wellbeing, established in response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
How it came into existence
Began operating on 29 September 2025 under provisions enacted by the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025, implementing a central recommendation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (final report September 2024), with Penny McKay as Acting Commissioner.
Legislation: Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Act 2026 (earlier, Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025)
Changes during its life
- 1 June 2026The Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Act 2026, proclaimed on 30 April 2026, commenced and replaced the earlier provisions, strengthening the Commission's independence; Penny McKay began a five-year term as the inaugural Commissioner appointed by the Governor-General.
Main functions
- Independent oversight of defence and veteran suicide prevention and wellbeing
- Monitoring and evaluating defence and veterans' support systems
- Inquiring into and reporting on deaths by suicide of serving and ex-serving members
- Monitoring implementation of the Royal Commission's recommendations
- Recommendations to government on systemic improvements
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Defence.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Defence
- Accountable authority
- Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner – Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Act 2026 section 13(3)(b)
- ABN
- 87 842 103 934
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 30 June 2026 to the latest release (30 June 2026))
- Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Act 2026 (Federal Register of Legislation)