Understanding the wellbeing characteristics of ex-serving ADF members

Data insights from this report show the majority of ex-serving ADF members were doing well and often better than their Australian counterparts in 2016. However, some ex-serving ADF members were facing wellbeing challenges. One such group was those who have separated from the ADF involuntarily for medical reasons.

Reason for separation represents the reason recorded for leaving the last engagement with the ADF. Due to a change in the way the reasons for separating the ADF was recorded during 2002, analysis on last reason for separation is presented only for ADF members who separated from the ADF between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2015 inclusive. In the data available, reasons for separation were defined as:

• Voluntary
• Involuntary for medical reasons, and
• Involuntary for other reasons
• People with no reason for separation available, have been included in totals.

Between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2015, just under 60,000 ADF members had separated from the ADF. About 2 in 5 ex-serving ADF members voluntarily separated from the ADF (40%), with the proportions similar for males (39%) and females (41%). A higher proportion of males separated involuntarily for other reasons (37%) compared to females (29%). Nearly 1 in 7 (14%) separated from the ADF involuntarily for medical separation. The proportion of ex-serving ADF males who separated involuntarily due to medical reasons (14%) was similar to females (16%). 

Voluntary separations occurred most commonly amongst those with less than 1 year of service (58%), with the proportion dropping to 42% for those who served 1 to 5 years. In contrast, separations for involuntary medical reasons occurred most commonly amongst those who had served 5 to less than 10 years (23%) and were least likely to occur amongst those who had served less than 1 year (4.8%). Separations for involuntary other reasons were highest amongst those who served 1 to less than 5 years (39%) and lowest amongst those who served 10 years or more (33%).

Those ex-serving ADF members who separated voluntarily from the ADF were more likely to have attained a higher education qualification, be more likely to be employed, earn more, and own their own home (including those paying mortgages) in 2016, while those who separated involuntarily for medical reasons were more likely to have a Certificate III/IV qualification, be not in the labour force, earn less and own their own home (including those paying mortgages) but to a lesser extent.

Ex-serving ADF members who separated from the ADF involuntarily due to medical reasons had lower rates of having attained a bachelor degree or higher (13% for males and 27% for females) in 2016 compared to those who separated from the ADF involuntarily for other reasons (25% for males and 40% for females) and voluntarily (31% for males and 45% for females).  For ex-serving ADF males who separated involuntarily for medical reasons, the most common highest education attainment was Certificate III/IV in 2016 (32%). While bachelor degree or higher was the most common highest education attainment in 2016 for ex-serving females who separated involuntarily for medical reasons (27%), this was closely followed by those who had a Certificate III/IV qualification (25%).

Ex-serving ADF males and females who separated involuntarily for medical reasons were less likely to be employed (56% and 57% respectively), compared with those who separated voluntarily (84% and 81% respectively) and those who separated involuntarily for other reasons (79% and 78% respectively). Of those who separated from the ADF involuntarily for medical reasons, a higher proportion were not in the labour force (39% for both males and females) in 2016 compared to those who separated from the ADF involuntarily for other reasons (16% for males and 19% for females) and voluntarily (13% for males and 16% for females). 

While ex-serving ADF males and females were earning $800 or more a week in 2016 at similar rates across the different reasons for separation, those who separated involuntarily for medical reasons were less likely to earn $2,000 or more a week. Of those who separated from the ADF involuntarily for medical reasons, a lower proportion were earning $2,000 or more a week (13% for males and 7.6% for females) in 2016 compared to those who separated from the ADF involuntarily for other reasons (22% for males and 13% for females) and voluntarily (25% for males and 12% for females).

The majority of ex-serving ADF males and females who separated voluntarily from the ADF owned their own home in 2016 (70% and 67% respectively). Those who separated involuntarily for medical reasons were less likely to own their own home with 63% of ex-serving ADF males and 60% of ex-serving females owning their own home. Similar proportions of ex-serving males and females who separated from the ADF involuntarily for other reasons owned their own home (66% and 67% respectively).