The fact that this could happen after all the palaver by the government and the DVA  about improving the processing and implimentation of care for wounded personel shows that they are full of it.  

Fifth-generation serviceman injured, traumatised and abandoned

by the military...

 

Sean Parnell  The Australian < http://www.theaustralian.com.au/ > January 23,  2010  

ANDREW Bird has dealt  with the victims of Taliban torture in Afghanistan, the worst of natural  disasters in Pakistan, human failings in the Solomon's and the constant threat  of death on repeat deployments to Iraq.

Through the worst of it, this fifth-generation  serviceman felt he had the Australian Defence Force behind him. Indeed, as an  army media officer, he often had the best soldiers, top brass, diplomats and  politicians alongside, and ordinary Australians there for the ride, too, given  they would see his authorised footage and photos.

But leaving Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital two  years ago, head bandaged and throbbing, Major Bird could not have felt more  alone. Having sustained serious ear trauma in a helicopter depressurisation in southern Afghanistan, Major Bird had just undergone surgery that would save his balance, but not the hearing in one ear, nor prevent the ringing in the  other ear.

This once proud officer found himself facing medical discharge, with the early symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and no one in the army to help him through.
"All through that, mate, army was f . . . king missing in action," Major Bird, 34, told The Weekend Australian this week.
"I came out of hospital, head in bandages, and had  to get a taxi back to my apartment. The bloody taxi driver had to help me up to my apartment -- it was a f . . king disgrace."

Spending so much time overseas and being constantly  on call fractured Major Bird's personal relationships, and he found no  military structure to fall back on. Unable to recover his health, or his  usefulness to the army, Major Bird was eventually shunted off to the  Department of Veterans Affairs to consider his care and financial needs. Six  weeks ago, his promising career came to an end.

As revealed this week, a decade of conflict has seen the DVA accept liability for 9134 injuries and illnesses from 3884 personnel as a result of their time in East Timor, Afghanistan and  Iraq.

The Rudd government has emphasised its commitment  to the continued health and wellbeing of the troops and is expected to push  through improvements this year.
But for Major Bird, building a new life on the Gold Coast, change could not come soon enough.

Last Updated on Thursday, 04 March 2010 20:32