There is a particular part of our prison populations that seems to have been forgotten, that gets no mention and yet these people who are the ones that need help and support when incarcerated with a unique set of issues that just aren’t recognised.
Those who served in the Armed Forces are already indoctrinated into a routine and can be classed as institutionalised. After this we were prepared to put our lives on the line and if necessary pay the ultimate sacrifice for every single man, woman, and child in Australia.
On the outside within Australia every service member can access free counselling through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs with Open Arms and this is fantastic. The problem lies when a veteran comes to prison: he/she is isolated from this help and, given the strain on mental health within the system, often go without any treatment whilst still suffering traumas either attached to PTSD or even just coping with adjustment outside of the routine of the military.
Prison brings on a whole new set of challenges especially with the daily rivalry and seemingly endless chaos that prison life brings.
It becomes increasingly harder on days such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day as many of us have lost colleagues whilst serving and we are forgotten, often locked in our cells.
We watch the dawn service and the procession from our prison cells, reflecting on our service, but it also brings about a reckoning of what we have done to fail ourselves and bring us into this place.
We are a country that is fiercely proud of its military history and those who fought and sacrificed themselves to make Australia what it is today, but for those of us behind these bars and walls we are a forgotten brood.
Upon release we can go back to talk with counsellors but of course our offending is off limits directly as it is not part of service. It’s part of who we are and we carry a great shame as we feel we have let down not only ourselves and our family and loved ones but our comrades, the country and everything that those who sacrificed themselves for.
Everyone does it hard in prison no matter who we are or where we have come from, let’s not forget those who have served and were willing to sacrifice themselves to make this country what it is.
To all that served I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I salute every single one of you.
You are not forgotten and through the same strength and resolve we showed in service we will battle this war within ourselves and survive these walls as well.
