The Veterans Yoga Project
Yoga does not cure PTSD. Yoga practices are, however, a valuable complement to professional treatment for PTSD. PTSD is a complex psychological disorder that can be effectively treated with professional evidence-based psychotherapy. Unfortunately, even evidence-based psychotherapies do not work for many Veterans, and leave many other Veterans with residual symptoms. A mindful, embodied yoga practice can help provide relief from some of the symptoms of PTSD, and can help provide the supportive skills that are needed in other psychotherapeutic modalities. Yoga will not eliminate a Veteran’s PTSD symptoms, but it can support and aid in a Veteran’s healing journey.
Yoga has worked so well with many Veterans who are coping with PTSD and other trauma-related psychological difficulties because it brings them back into their body. It helps them sleep more soundly. It helps them transform anger. It helps them rediscover curiosity. It helps them experience love and happiness. It gives them the opportunity to live at their own pace and find their own truth. Veterans with PTSD use yoga as a method to regain control over a nervous system that is always “on edge”, and to regain control over self-destructive behaviors and habits. Since trauma lies in the body, mind, and spirit, we can use a holistic, integrated yoga practice to re-connect with ourselves as we are in the present moment, letting us feel comfortable in our own skin.
The healing effects of ancient yoga practices have begun to receive validation from modern science. Researchers have started to discover the pathways by which the physical postures and movements, meditation, and breathing practices support healing. In fact, many of the techniques used in yoga are strikingly similar to strategies used by clinical psychologists in the treatment of anxiety disorders including PTSD. (Veterans Yoga Project is working on a Virtual Library of resources-check back soon. In the meantime, check out our references page).
Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans Coping with Trauma is an empirically-informed, clinically-tested program consisting of a variety of "tools" that can help connect the mind and body. These practices or "tools" include breathing practices (pranayama), meditation, physical postures and movements (asana), and a specific form of guided imagery/meditation (Yoga Nidra). We invite you to give it a try.
Monday 28 February 2011
Monday 21 February 2011
DFWA MONTHLY UPDATE #257 – 15 February 2011
UPDATE is a monthly news sheet produced by the Defence Force Welfare Association containing current items of interest to the Service and ex-Service community. It is widely distributed to Members of Parliament,
media outlets, senior Service and Public Service Officers and DFWA members.
THE FAIR INDEXATION BILL
On 10 February 2011 the Senate scheduled debate on the Bill proposed by the Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, to index military pensions in line with the Coalition's pre
election commitment. If passed, the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2010 will enable DFRDB (and DFRB) superannuants aged 55 and over from 1 July 2011 to
have their pensions indexed at the higher rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) or the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI).
The debate was delayed and has been rescheduled for debate on 3 March 2011. Unsettlingly, the Government has suggested that this Bill (along with a number of others) is “unconstitutional”, as it involves introducing 'money bills' in the Senate. The disagreement about this rages on between the Houses (s53 of the
Constitution refers) and we shall see what transpires. A hung Parliament can toss up many conundrums !
During debate in the Senate on 10 February, the Greens indicated that they will not support any Bill that puts a burden on the budget without there being a mechanism for funding. Indeed if there is a reluctance to place any further “burden on the budget” then an analysis of the excess earnings of the Future Fund provides a strong argument for affordability at no conceivable extant cost to the “on-book” budget. The Association, in concert with the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association has made representations along these lines, providing an analysis of how the Future Fund could be utilised.
Finally, the Association was disappointed in the advice provided to Senators and MPs by the Parliamentary Library on the Bill in its Bill Digest #55, finding it flawed in many aspects. The Association has issued its own commentary on the Bill and this has been distributed to all Senators and MPs.
We again call upon all elected Senators and Members of Parliament to show their support for the military and veteran community by supporting the legislation, and following up with further legislation to ensure all military superannuants are included. In particular, we call on those independent members who have previously voiced their support for the provisions contained within the legislation, to show their support by voting accordingly.
LIVING-COST RISES OUTPACE INFLATION
The Association welcomes the confirmation in today’s The Age that living-cost indices released by the Bureau of Statistics show the increases facing families, age pension households and welfare beneficiaries have all outpaced the CPI. Working households faced extra costs of 4.5 per cent in the year to December,
age pensioners 3.1 per cent and welfare recipients 4.5 per cent. The CPI grew 2.7 per cent. The bureau says there are different reasons for each group. Age pensioners spend a relatively high proportion of their income on utility bills and fruit and vegetables, both of which shot up in price in the year to December.
Does this mean the consumer price index is a poor guide to living costs? The bureau says it does. It is meant to be a measure of inflation rather than living costs, a very different concept, which is why the bureau produces separate living-cost indices.
The good news for pensioners is they get a choice. Their payments are adjusted twice a year in line with eitherthe CPI, the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living-Cost Index or Male Total Average Earnings, whichever has increased the fastest. For Military superannuants of course there is only bad news!
SENATE QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
On a closely related matter, the Department of Finance and Deregulation continues to drag its heels by its delays in responding to the Questions placed by Senator Humphries on 16 November 2010 on matters relating to the flawed Matthews report and other matters relating to indexation. To date, replies to just one question out of nine have been received, and that over two months after it was due.
REVIEW OF DVA FUNDED ADVOCACY AND WELFARE SERVICES REPORT
The Association will closely examine the Review of Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)–Funded Ex-Service Organisation (ESO) Advocacy and Welfare Services Report which was released yesterday.
Whilst the aims of the review are laudable – ie, to provide a prescribed framework to ensure veterans, war widow/ers and their families have access to quality advocacy, welfare and support services – there may be unexpected consequences that will need close examination.
The Review covered the Building Excellence in Support and Training Program (BEST), Training Information Program (TIP), and the Veteran and Community Grants (V&C) program.
MINISTER’S RESPONSE - RELEASE OF SERVICE RECRDS
The Association was pleased to receive a detailed response from the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel to our concerns about the release of Service Records by the National Archives. The Minister acknowledged that the fairness of a particular decision to release information is not an issue that can be easily
resolved.
Of specific interest was the Minister’s advice that both the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Federal Court have determined that information relating to a person’s professional affairs, including their employment performance, is not considered to be their personal affairs. The Association acknowledges this however suggests that ADF records are, by their nature, more detailed and contain more sensitive and personal information than any civilian employment record would contain!
The Minister also advises that the National Archives policy for the release of deceased members’ medical information is that it will release information unless it contains information about medical conditions that are hereditary and that such release may constitute an unreasonable disclosure of a third party’s personal affairs.
However, the Association wonders whether National Archives officers are medically qualified to make such a decision?
OUR THANKS TO THE ADF
The Association, along with its partners in the Alliance of Defence Service Organizations, expresses its thanks to the ADF for the support provided in the recent natural disasters that have plagued Australia. Once again the true grit of the members of the ADF was on display for the Nation to see and the community owes them a great deal.
We offer our sincere and profound sympathies to all those who were adversely impacted by the disasters.
Media Contacts
Executive Director:
Les Bienkiewicz 0411 444248
http://www.dfwa.org.au/
National President:
David Jamison 0416 107557
media outlets, senior Service and Public Service Officers and DFWA members.
THE FAIR INDEXATION BILL
On 10 February 2011 the Senate scheduled debate on the Bill proposed by the Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, to index military pensions in line with the Coalition's pre
election commitment. If passed, the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2010 will enable DFRDB (and DFRB) superannuants aged 55 and over from 1 July 2011 to
have their pensions indexed at the higher rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) or the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI).
The debate was delayed and has been rescheduled for debate on 3 March 2011. Unsettlingly, the Government has suggested that this Bill (along with a number of others) is “unconstitutional”, as it involves introducing 'money bills' in the Senate. The disagreement about this rages on between the Houses (s53 of the
Constitution refers) and we shall see what transpires. A hung Parliament can toss up many conundrums !
During debate in the Senate on 10 February, the Greens indicated that they will not support any Bill that puts a burden on the budget without there being a mechanism for funding. Indeed if there is a reluctance to place any further “burden on the budget” then an analysis of the excess earnings of the Future Fund provides a strong argument for affordability at no conceivable extant cost to the “on-book” budget. The Association, in concert with the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association has made representations along these lines, providing an analysis of how the Future Fund could be utilised.
Finally, the Association was disappointed in the advice provided to Senators and MPs by the Parliamentary Library on the Bill in its Bill Digest #55, finding it flawed in many aspects. The Association has issued its own commentary on the Bill and this has been distributed to all Senators and MPs.
We again call upon all elected Senators and Members of Parliament to show their support for the military and veteran community by supporting the legislation, and following up with further legislation to ensure all military superannuants are included. In particular, we call on those independent members who have previously voiced their support for the provisions contained within the legislation, to show their support by voting accordingly.
LIVING-COST RISES OUTPACE INFLATION
The Association welcomes the confirmation in today’s The Age that living-cost indices released by the Bureau of Statistics show the increases facing families, age pension households and welfare beneficiaries have all outpaced the CPI. Working households faced extra costs of 4.5 per cent in the year to December,
age pensioners 3.1 per cent and welfare recipients 4.5 per cent. The CPI grew 2.7 per cent. The bureau says there are different reasons for each group. Age pensioners spend a relatively high proportion of their income on utility bills and fruit and vegetables, both of which shot up in price in the year to December.
Does this mean the consumer price index is a poor guide to living costs? The bureau says it does. It is meant to be a measure of inflation rather than living costs, a very different concept, which is why the bureau produces separate living-cost indices.
The good news for pensioners is they get a choice. Their payments are adjusted twice a year in line with eitherthe CPI, the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living-Cost Index or Male Total Average Earnings, whichever has increased the fastest. For Military superannuants of course there is only bad news!
SENATE QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
On a closely related matter, the Department of Finance and Deregulation continues to drag its heels by its delays in responding to the Questions placed by Senator Humphries on 16 November 2010 on matters relating to the flawed Matthews report and other matters relating to indexation. To date, replies to just one question out of nine have been received, and that over two months after it was due.
REVIEW OF DVA FUNDED ADVOCACY AND WELFARE SERVICES REPORT
The Association will closely examine the Review of Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)–Funded Ex-Service Organisation (ESO) Advocacy and Welfare Services Report which was released yesterday.
Whilst the aims of the review are laudable – ie, to provide a prescribed framework to ensure veterans, war widow/ers and their families have access to quality advocacy, welfare and support services – there may be unexpected consequences that will need close examination.
The Review covered the Building Excellence in Support and Training Program (BEST), Training Information Program (TIP), and the Veteran and Community Grants (V&C) program.
MINISTER’S RESPONSE - RELEASE OF SERVICE RECRDS
The Association was pleased to receive a detailed response from the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel to our concerns about the release of Service Records by the National Archives. The Minister acknowledged that the fairness of a particular decision to release information is not an issue that can be easily
resolved.
Of specific interest was the Minister’s advice that both the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Federal Court have determined that information relating to a person’s professional affairs, including their employment performance, is not considered to be their personal affairs. The Association acknowledges this however suggests that ADF records are, by their nature, more detailed and contain more sensitive and personal information than any civilian employment record would contain!
The Minister also advises that the National Archives policy for the release of deceased members’ medical information is that it will release information unless it contains information about medical conditions that are hereditary and that such release may constitute an unreasonable disclosure of a third party’s personal affairs.
However, the Association wonders whether National Archives officers are medically qualified to make such a decision?
OUR THANKS TO THE ADF
The Association, along with its partners in the Alliance of Defence Service Organizations, expresses its thanks to the ADF for the support provided in the recent natural disasters that have plagued Australia. Once again the true grit of the members of the ADF was on display for the Nation to see and the community owes them a great deal.
We offer our sincere and profound sympathies to all those who were adversely impacted by the disasters.
Media Contacts
Executive Director:
Les Bienkiewicz 0411 444248
http://www.dfwa.org.au/
National President:
David Jamison 0416 107557
Thursday 17 February 2011
Robert S Buick MM JP - Gallantry award
Last year the Australian government awarded the highest unit gallantry citation to D Company the Sixth Battalion Royal Australian Regiment for its gallantry in the Battle of Long Tan 18 August 1966.
LtCol Smith was awarded the nation’s second highest individual gallant award, the Star of Gallantry, and 2Lts Kendall and Sabben the Medal for Gallantry earlier in 2009.
LtCol Harry Smith SG MC arranged with Her Excellency the Governor General for the investiture of the three officers of their Gallantry Awards and the company members the Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG) and the next of kin of those veterans now dead to be done at Yarralumla.
The G-G agreed but this important and significant event was stymied by the Chief of Defence and Defence Department. The government refused to approve the transport arrangements for members from their place of residence to Canberra and return.
The veterans, and those of the veteran community who were aware of this refusal, were angry and disappointed. There is still no date when the veterans will be awarded with the UCG emblem and Harry Smith will have his Star of Gallantry pinned to his chest during a function at Maryborough early March by his local federal Member of Parliament..
Today I have received two phone calls from Long Tan veterans who are again spitting chips because the Australian government flew detained illegal entries from Christmas Island to attend the funeral for those who tragically died when the boat they used from Indonesia was shipwrecked on Christmas Island late last year. I accept and applauded this humanitarian service but I too am not happy with the CDF and Defence Department refusing war veterans their honour they are also entitled to.
They could not understand how, or why, their government would approved the cost for non citizens to attend a funeral yet deny this nation’s war veterans transport to Canberra to received Gallantry awards from the Governor General.
Robert S Buick MM JP
24 Mountain Ash Drive
Mountain Creek 4557 Qld
07 5452 5890
strait8@bigpond.com
LtCol Smith was awarded the nation’s second highest individual gallant award, the Star of Gallantry, and 2Lts Kendall and Sabben the Medal for Gallantry earlier in 2009.
LtCol Harry Smith SG MC arranged with Her Excellency the Governor General for the investiture of the three officers of their Gallantry Awards and the company members the Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG) and the next of kin of those veterans now dead to be done at Yarralumla.
The G-G agreed but this important and significant event was stymied by the Chief of Defence and Defence Department. The government refused to approve the transport arrangements for members from their place of residence to Canberra and return.
The veterans, and those of the veteran community who were aware of this refusal, were angry and disappointed. There is still no date when the veterans will be awarded with the UCG emblem and Harry Smith will have his Star of Gallantry pinned to his chest during a function at Maryborough early March by his local federal Member of Parliament..
Today I have received two phone calls from Long Tan veterans who are again spitting chips because the Australian government flew detained illegal entries from Christmas Island to attend the funeral for those who tragically died when the boat they used from Indonesia was shipwrecked on Christmas Island late last year. I accept and applauded this humanitarian service but I too am not happy with the CDF and Defence Department refusing war veterans their honour they are also entitled to.
They could not understand how, or why, their government would approved the cost for non citizens to attend a funeral yet deny this nation’s war veterans transport to Canberra to received Gallantry awards from the Governor General.
Robert S Buick MM JP
24 Mountain Ash Drive
Mountain Creek 4557 Qld
07 5452 5890
strait8@bigpond.com
Thursday 10 February 2011
Government to replace medals lost in natural disasters
Directorate of Honours and Awards
Government to replace medals lost in natural disasters
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, today announced that the Government will relax the policy on replacement of Australian Defence Force (ADF) medals so that medals lost during the Queensland and Victorian floods, the impact of Cyclone Yasi and the fires in Western Australia can be replaced.
“Government policy for many years has been medals can only be issued to the ADF member who earned them,” Senator Feeney said.
“This usually means that medals cannot be replaced if they are lost or destroyed after the ADF member has died.”
Where medals are lost in natural disasters, however, this policy may be relaxed. This was done following the Victorian bushfires in 2009.
“While the Government is committed to maintaining the integrity of our system of military honours and awards, there are circumstances in which the Australian community rightly expects us to show greater flexibility in implementing the existing policy. I believe this unprecedented series of natural disasters is one of those circumstances,” Senator Feeney said.
“I have therefore decided that ADF medals may be reissued to the next of kin or other appropriate relative of deceased ADF members, if the medals have been lost or destroyed in the current natural disasters. Family members who have, in the course of these natural disasters, lost the medals of loved ones, may now make application for replacements.
“Unfortunately, however, only medals dating back to the First World War can be replaced. Medals for conflicts prior to this war are no longer in production.”
Applicants should use the application form and statutory declaration located on the Defence Honours and Awards website at: www.defence.gov.au/medals
Completed applications should be submitted to: Directorate of Honours and Awards
Department of Defence, PO Box 7952, Canberra BC, ACT 2610. Enquiries may also be directed to Defence Honours and Awards toll free on 1800 111 321.
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