On ANZAC Day, we pause as a nation to remember the courage, sacrifice and service of Australian and New Zealand Defence Force members — past and present. It is a day of reflection, respect and remembrance, honouring those who have served on the frontline and acknowledging the lasting impact of service on individuals, families and communities.
At Aurora Healthcare, ANZAC Day also invites us to reflect on how we can meaningfully support those who continue to live with the effects of military service.
For many Veterans and currently serving Defence members, the experiences of service extend well beyond deployment. Exposure to conflict, trauma, high‑pressure environments and repeated stress can have profound and long‑lasting effects on mental health and wellbeing.
While some individuals transition from service without ongoing difficulty, others may experience challenges such as post‑traumatic stress, anxiety, depression or emotional distress — sometimes emerging months or years after service has ended. These experiences are deeply personal and often complex, requiring specialised, trauma‑informed care.
Across the Aurora Healthcare network, our hospitals provide specialist mental health services designed to support people living with trauma‑related conditions, including Veterans and ADF personnel.
Through evidence‑based inpatient programs, our multidisciplinary teams support individuals experiencing service‑related and complex trauma. Care is delivered within therapeutic environments that prioritise safety, dignity and respect, recognising the importance of trust and collaboration in recovery.
Treatment may include a combination of individual therapy, group‑based interventions and skills‑focused programs, tailored to each person’s needs and stage of recovery. Our approach is grounded in trauma‑informed principles, acknowledging lived experience while supporting stabilisation, insight and longer‑term wellbeing.
Aurora Healthcare works in partnership with referrers — including GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and Defence‑linked health providers — to ensure Veterans and service members can access appropriate levels of care when needed.
Our role within the broader mental health system is to provide specialist inpatient support when higher‑acuity or structured intervention is required, while promoting continuity of care with community‑based services before and after admission. This collaborative approach recognises that recovery is often gradual and supported best through coordinated, stepped care.
Central to our care is respect for the individual and recognition of the unique experiences that shape them. For Veterans and Defence personnel, maintaining dignity, choice and autonomy within care is essential.
Aurora’s teams are mindful of the cultural aspects of military service and the importance of creating environments that feel safe, supportive and respectful. Care is delivered with sensitivity to service history, identity and personal values, ensuring treatment is both clinically appropriate and person‑centred.
On ANZAC Day, we remember those who served, those who sacrificed and those whose lives were changed by service. At Aurora Healthcare, we honour that service not only through reflection, but through our ongoing commitment to providing specialised mental health care for those who need it.
By supporting Veterans and currently serving members with trauma‑informed programs, and by working closely with referrers and communities, we aim to contribute to recovery, wellbeing and respect — long after the uniform is put away.
Lest we forget.
