Led and funded by RSL Australia

Gallipoli Medical Research leads a consortium that includes Griffith University and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research to deliver this national project. The consortium is focussing on key research questions about the long-term physical and mental health outcomes for MEAO veterans and their families.

About

The MEAO Scoping Study is the first of its kind to focus specifically on MEAO veterans and their families. The ground-breaking project aims to identify and better understand the long-term human impact of military deployments.

The Scoping Study is examining the long-term health and well-being of veterans and their families who served in the Middle East (and other conflicts) since 2002. It is focussed on physical and mental health impacts, including mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and moral injury, the effects of repeated deployments, post-service experiences, the importance of support, and factors influencing separation from the ADF.

The findings of the MEAO scoping study will inform and recommend a study design and methodology for the broader study that addresses current gaps in our understanding. The proposed broader study would follow over two to three years and examine and assess the issues and concerns identified in much greater detail.

Recruitment for the Scoping Study workshops is now closed. 

Study overview and key findings

Commissioned by the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSLA), the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Scoping Study is a major initiative [CG1.1]evaluating the long-term health, social and economic impacts of Australian military service in the MEAO. Delivered by Gallipoli Medical Research (GMR) in collaboration with Griffith University (GU) and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR), the study draws on evidence from more than 2,000 published research papers, a review of existing Australian datasets and the lived experiences of veterans and their families.

The study found that many veterans continue to experience significant and enduring mental and physical health challenges long after deployment, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, chronic pain and multiple co-occurring health conditions. Beyond health, veterans commonly reported difficulties during transition to civilian life, maintaining employment, managing financial pressures and sustaining relationships, with stigma and barriers to help-seeking often contributing to poorer long-term outcomes.

Importantly, the research highlights the profound impact of military service on families. Many families described acting as unpaid carers and advocates while experiencing emotional, social and financial pressures of their own, reinforcing the need to better recognise and support families as central partners in a veteran’s recovery and wellbeing.

The study also identified significant gaps in the Australian evidence base, particularly around the long-term impacts of repeated deployments, moral injury, traumatic brain injury, family wellbeing and the interaction between mental, physical and social health. Importantly, Australian veterans and their families continue to call for research that is action-oriented and leads to meaningful service improvements. These findings have informed the proposed MEAONEXT: From Insights to Impact – Building the Future of Veteran Health, Together research program, which aims to fill the knowledge gap, generate new Australian evidence, strengthen policy and services by the development of practical and evidence-based resources, while ensuring veterans and their families remain at the centre of future research priorities.

See published papers below.

Contact

Phone: 07 3394 7284 

Email: vmh.gmr@gallipoliresearch.org.au