In just a few days, Miranda Van Hooff, GMR’s Research Lead (Military Families), will set off on a big adventure—trekking the Kokoda Track in support of the life-changing work of Trojans Trek. We sat down with Miranda to hear what’s driving her to take on this challenge, and how it connects to her research into veteran mental health and the wellbeing of Defence families.

Miranda, what inspired you to take on the Kokoda Track, and what does it mean to you personally as someone connected to the veteran community?

Taking on the Kokoda Track is deeply personal for me. As a Navy spouse, I’ve stood beside my husband Curtis during the latter stages of his military career — and have seen the highs and lows. He is currently medically discharging from the Navy, and this trek is my way of continuing to walk beside him, this time on a journey of healing and solidarity.

I was inspired not only by my connection to Curtis, but also by a deep desire to honour those who came before — the Australian soldiers who fought and fell on this sacred ground during WWII. Their courage, sacrifice, and resilience are etched into every step of the Kokoda Trail. By walking it, I hope to better understand a little more about what they endured and to show my respect in the most meaningful way I know — with my feet, my heart, and my spirit.

You’re trekking alongside your husband and other ADF veterans both current and ex-serving. What makes this group and this journey special for you?

This group is more than just a collection of trekkers — we are a family. Each person walking beside us carries their own story of service, sacrifice, and strength. For me, being surrounded by people who understand — who have lived through the unique pressures and pain of military life — creates a space of profound connection and shared purpose and meaning.

Having Curtis by my side on this journey makes it even more meaningful. After three decades of service, this trek represents not just a physical challenge for him, but a symbolic passage from one chapter of life into the next. To be able to share that with him — step for step — is an honour I’ll never take for granted.

What are you hoping to achieve through this trek, and how will the funds raised make an impact?

Through this trek, I want to shine a light on strength and resilience of veterans and their families. Curtis’s journey has shown me firsthand how complex and isolating the transition from military to civilian life can be—especially when it’s tied to trauma or medical discharge. Life may not be easy for my family now as we awkwardly (sometimes blindly) attempt to navigate the transition into civilian life, but fortunate for us we have the support of the veteran community which has been unwavering. Hugest admiration to my husband Curtis for his steadfast determination in ensuring that we, as a family, get the support we need to transition effectively into the next stage of our lives. Without his willingness to seek help, and acknowledgement of the challenges he has been experiencing, we would not be anywhere near as advanced in the transition journey as we are today. We are strong and we will get there, despite the challenges along the way. Trekking Kokoda, for me is a symbolic representation of this journey and its challenges and therefore something to be overcome together.

The funds we raise will go directly to Trojan’s Trek, an organisation that empowers veterans to reconnect with themselves, each other, and their communities. Their work in early intervention and peer support is life-changing, and in some cases, life-saving. If our walk can help even one veteran find hope again — or one family find the support and connection they desperately need — then every blister and every uphill climb will be worth it.

How has your work in veteran mental health research shaped your understanding of the challenges veterans and their families face?

Working in veteran mental health research over the last 15 years has opened my eyes to the depth and complexity of the challenges facing our veteran community. I’ve seen how service can leave invisible wounds, and how those wounds ripple out to impact partners, children, and loved ones. I have also witnessed first-hand the strength and resilience of our veterans and their family members, their deep commitment to serving our country and their willingness to sacrifice their own safety and comfort to protect our community.

The data tells one story, but it’s the lived experiences — like Curtis’s — that truly shape my understanding. I have learned about the importance of ‘tribe’ and the centrality of mateship and camaraderie to a veteran’s identity and sense of belonging. I’ve learned that when things go wrong, healing is rarely linear, and that connection, purpose, and community play a critical role in recovery. I’ve also come to appreciate just how vital early intervention and tailored support are — and how much more we still need to do as a society to back those who’ve given so much.

As the Military Families Research Lead at Gallipoli Medical Research, I am in the unique position to be able to combine my own lived experience with the detailed knowledge I gain from undertaking research to better support the veteran community. Furthermore, the wonderful partnerships GMR has with organisations like RSLQ and Invictus Australia give me the opportunity to view firsthand the power of translating this research and knowledge into real world outcomes for veterans and their families.

The Kokoda Track has such strong historical significance for Australians—what does walking in the footsteps of those WWII soldiers mean to you?

Walking the Kokoda Track is my way of paying tribute to the incredible bravery, endurance, and sacrifice of the Australian soldiers who fought there. These were young men, far from home, facing unimaginable hardship in the name of freedom. To walk where they walked — to feel even a fraction of the physical and emotional toll they endured — is humbling beyond words.

It’s also a reminder that the spirit of Kokoda — courage, mateship, endurance, and sacrifice — lives on in today’s veterans. By walking in their footsteps, I’m not only honouring the past, but standing in solidarity with those who still carry the weight of service today. It’s my way of saying: I see you. I respect you. I walk with you.

We wish Miranda all the best on this big adventure!

If you would like to support Miranda’s fundraising for Trojan’s Trek, you can donate here: Miranda Van Hooff in Trojan’s Trek – Kokoda 2025

Trojan’s Trek, supports current and former serving military and emergency service personnel through their vehicle-led national wilderness-based peer support program, offering a unique and life-altering experience.

Photo credit: Kokoda Track, Department of Defence