TRANSCRIPT
"The ADF has become the employer of choice for bullies and sexual predators. And unfortunately, I was a victim of that, and I saw the worst of people, and then people covering it up."
That's Reverend Dr Nikki Coleman - a former chaplain and military ethicist with the Australian Defence Force [[A-D-F]].
Dr Coleman joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017, and began working with her alleged abuser in 2019.
Her counsel told the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide that she suffered physical and indecent assault without consent, threats of dismissal or disciplinary action for trivial mistakes, and unfair work practices and bullying during her time with the A-D-F.
When she raised her concerns, she was told not share information about what happened.
Dr Coleman ended up taking a medical discharge from the A-D-F, in order to be able to give evidence to the commission.
"For far too long they've covered things up. They actually have pretty good policies for dealing with bullying and sexual harassment and sexual assault, but then they don't use those policies. They have exceptions to the rules, but then everything becomes an exception."
Dr Coleman's experience isn't unique.
One in eight women in the A-D-F self-reported experiencing sexual misconduct, which includes sexual harassment and sexual assault, in the previous twelve months (of 749 respondents to the 2023 Workplace Behaviour Survey).
In the past five years, there's been 795 sexual assaults reported to the A-D-F.
That’s about one every two days.
Royal Commissioner Penny Brown says it's an alarming rate.
"Sexual violence in the military is, in our experience, far more common than it should be. And that has a long lasting impact on anyone who is exposed to it."
And the impact on women's mental health is clear.
The Royal Commission found that the suicide rate amongst all ex service personnel was much higher than the general population.
And whilst ex-serving men are 42 per cent more likely to die by suicide than other Australian men, ex-serving women are 110 per cent more likely to die by suicide than their non-serving counterparts.
Dr Coleman says that's in part due to their treatment within the A-D-F.
"They are more likely to be sexually harassed, sexually assaulted and bullied, and that has a profound impact on their mental health. So these women are the strongest in Australia, and they put up with an enormous amount of pushing themselves to, you know, dare to be great, on ships and around planes and out bush. But everybody has their breaking point, and many of the women have found their breaking point. And I found mine."
Out of the 122 recommendations made by the Royal Commission, 13 related to military sexual violence, unacceptable behaviour, and complaints management.
They include improving understanding the prevalence of sexual violence, clearer definitions and processes for sexual offences, training on sexual misconduct, a prevention program for sexual misconduct, and for a separate inquiry into military sexual violence in the Australian Defence Force.
The commission recommends better workplace protections during sexual misconduct investigations, ensuring alleged victims and abusers have no contact, protecting people who report sexual misconduct against negative career consequences, and that victims and perpetrators aren't posted together after abuse is reported.
Dr Coleman says there are currently negative consequences for those who report abuse.
"Most people don't actually report bullying, sexual harass, and sexual assault in defence because of the way it's handled. For those people who do decide to report it. For some of them, they have a great experience, but for the majority of them, they are ostracised by their workmates there, and they are often actually removed from the situation and the perpetrator is allowed to stay."
The commission recommends improved sentencing rules for sexual offences in the military's courts, a mandatory discharge policy for members convicted of sexual offences in military and civilian justice systems, and that records of convictions in the military and civilian justice systems are shared.
At the moment, the A-D-F does not know how many members have been convicted of a sexual offence in a civilian court.
Dr Coleman says that isn't surprising.
"No, that does not surprise me at all. And part of the reason they can do that is because they're really sneaky. Things that happen outside of ADF, they don't actually tell to their chain of command. There needs to be data sharing in all directions. And likewise, if you're convicted of a serious sexual offense within the ADF, under the Defence Force Discipline Act, the state police aren't advised. So it doesn't preclude you, for example, from getting a working with vulnerable people check."
But the ability for people convicted of sexual offences to serve has come as a surprise to Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh [[kee-o]].
"Certainly it surprises me that that is the case, and I think it's a great concern for anyone, especially those serving in the Defence Force. I know there's some specific recommendations that goes to things that should occur about people who are convicted of those sorts of offences and whether they should continue serving in the Defence Force or not, and we’ll be looking at those recommendations, as we will with all of the recommendations, we'll be taking them very seriously."
Jordyn Gray, founder and director of The Athena Project, an organisation to support veteran victim-survivors of sexual violence, says convicted offenders within the Defence Froce need to be identified.
"What I would like to see is that defence hold people to account and that part of the inquiry, find people who have been convicted of civilian offences such as sexual assault, indecent assault, anything, and essentially see them out of service. They don't deserve a place in service."
The government is currently considering the 122 recommendations made by the Royal Commission and has committed to responding in a timely and methodical manner.
Mr Keogh says the government understands the significance of the issues.
"For victims, they certainly feel that their experience has not been the right one and it hasn't been. And that's what the Royal Commission goes to in much of its, the evidence it heard and what it's included in its Final Report and indeed in its Interim Report back in 2022 as well. We want to make sure Defence is an employer of choice. We want to encourage people to continue to join our Defence Force, and that's why implementing recommendations like those that go to culture and Defence Force is so important."
In the mean time, Dr Coleman says senior leadership in the A-D-F could start by making certain changes.
"Before the government gives a response, there are a couple of things that the senior leaders could do. When decisions come across their table about whether to retain someone who's been found guilty of serious sexual misconduct, they shouldn't have an exception and keep them serving. They should actually have a zero tolerance and have them leave."
And, she says, if the culture of bullying was addressed, sexual violence would decrease.
"If they actually took unacceptable behaviour seriously, that's where it starts. So sexual assault and sexual harassment is really not about the sexual element. It's about showing power and aggression, and if they nipped bullying in the bud, it wouldn't then escalate into somebody feeling like they can go ahead and sexually assault someone."
If you or someone you know wants to talk about sexual assault or harassment, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
For crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, or Soldier On Australia on 1300 620 380.
In an emergency, call 000.
