Father of two and Veteran Mark Reidy is passionate about increasing advocacy and supporting research into the invisible wounds of service that touch the lives of the men and women that put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. Like you, he wants to see change so they can get the help they so desperately need. Research will help make this happen and we’re so grateful for your support and people like Mark, who are helping to drive action. With a strong connection to The Repat Foundation – The Road Home, Mark, also the Veterans and Family Program Coordinator for the RSL in South Australia, served in the Australian Army for 16 years. This included two

deployments to Iraq, one to Afghanistan and multiple peacekeeping missions at trouble-spots as a cargo specialist, often with the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS). He came out of his service with a knee and back injury, along with an invisible injury: Post-Traumatic Stress, a result of experiencing trauma from the bombs and bullets encountered in the Middle East. In recognition of his service and ongoing journey with Post-Traumatic Stress, Mark proudly represented Australia in cycling at the recent Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, an international sporting event for

Will You Help Protect Our Nation’s Heroes?cont’d on page 2

You can help pave the road home by providing monthly support for the health and wellbeing of our nation’s heroes. You may already support us regularly. Thank you! Becoming a monthly giver will make giving regularly to us even easier for you! Your monthly gift will be deducted automatically and you will receive one receipt in July each year to help you claim your tax deduction. Your monthly gift also allows us to reduce our administration costs, supporting more research for the

men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. To become a monthly giver and help pave the road home, please fill in the enclosed form and send it back in the reply paid envelope or phone us on 08 7002 0808.Joining our special community will ensure we can continue to support ongoing research into the conditions that affect our veterans, emergency first responders and their families. Will you help us protect those that protect us?

www.theroadhome.com.au

The Despatch

FIND US ONLINE!

Advocating for the Invisible Wounds of Service

2 | The Despatch

wounded, ill, and injured service men and women – both active duty and veteran.

“Being over in the US for the Games was a once in a lifetime experience. Fifteen countries. Five Hundred Athletes. Over there they talk about Post-Traumatic Stress being an illness and not a disorder. Together, we’re now working to adopt this approach here in Australia.”With his experience as a Veteran and through his role with the RSL, Mark says while the Army are now being more rigorous with their pre-deployment training, he is aware of a number of gaps in the healthcare system for ex-service men and women. He is determined to play a role in solving this problem by advocating for awareness, research and change.

“Out of my nine overseas operations I only had two pre-deployment training briefs – that was it. I know guys who have Post-Traumatic Stress and they just keep going overseas, because that’s how they deal with it, by being in a dangerous area. “Then they are in trouble when they come back home to a normal life. That’s when they find that they will struggle, and their family will struggle. Part of my role is helping these people and their families readjust by finding them an outlet to help integrate back into the community, such as cycling.”We are proud to support programs like RSL Active, which intend to improve the life of our veterans when they return home from service and struggle to integrate back into society. By supporting The Repat Foundation – The Road Home, we are able to provide input into programs like these, ensuring they are designed with the best translational health model in mind. People like Mark are in a unique position to deliver these types of services to our veterans, having been where these men and women are at the frontline of service. Thank you for supporting us in advocating for, and delivering better health and wellbeing services for our nation’s veterans.If you would like to find out more about the RSL Active Program please contact Mark on 08 8100 7300.

Will you help Mark fight for a better future for our nation’s heroes?

Advocating for the Invisible Wounds of Service cont’d

A Passionate Patron“War really is futile and we haven’t really learned from it. We need to support those that make the ultimate sacrifice.” Known for his highly successful AFL football and media career, our Patron Graham Cornes OAM is committed to helping us drive action into improving the health and wellbeing of those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. Graham knows only too well the sacrifices these men and women serving our country make – he was one of them. Drafted under the National Service Act, Graham served two years in the Australian Army, including a tour of duty with 7RAR as an infantry soldier in South Vietnam in 1970.Graham feels the sacrifices, both physical and psychological, made by our armed service and emergency first responders are unique and significant. He says the trauma experienced by these committed men and women impacts more than just their own lives, but also those of their families. “I never want anyone to forget that some of these people make the supreme sacrifice, and sometimes for nothing,” Graham said. “We’re still at war and this is why the work of The Repat Foundation – The Road Home is so important. We need to continue to support projects looking at improving the health and wellbeing of the people who make these sacrifices to protect our community.“It is these sacrifices that motivated me to accept the role as Patron of The Repat Foundation – The Road Home. Unless you’ve been a soldier, then you don’t know just how dangerous it is and how hard it is.”Graham is hopeful The Road Home will continue to expand on a national level, reaching out to more people and providing a greater chance at improved research, resources and support services on a large scale. “The work that is supported here is so vital. For decades, it was just swept under the carpet,” Graham said.“My grandfather was wounded badly at Gallipoli and was evacuated and repatriated. It then affected his relationship with his son, my father, and I put it down simply to the trauma that my grandfather suffered in the war. It rendered him virtually unable to relate to his son, so from a personal experience I know how important research is in this area. “Today, things are getting better and this is because of research and awareness. Observing people around me who have served and seeing improvement in their lifestyle and their wellbeing after they get the support and assistance they deserve; that makes it all worthwhile.”

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You’re helping to raise awareness and funds to support health and wellbeing research and projects into conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress for our nation’s veterans, emergency first responders and their families. Thank you for being part of this journey. We want to protect our nation’s heroes and with your support, we’re making this a reality. So what is Post-Traumatic Stress? Post-Traumatic Stress is a psychological injury that can develop after someone has been through a traumatic event. Any event that involves a threat to life or a serious physical or moral injury has the potential to be traumatic. This includes natural disaster, war, a serious accident, physical or sexual assault. Most people will experience at least one of these types of events during their lives. In the first days and weeks after a traumatic event, people often experience strong feelings of fear, sadness, guilt, anger, or grief. These feelings can resolve on their own

and the person recovers ideally with the support of family and friends. However, if the distress continues or there is ongoing exposure to trauma and stress, it may mean that the person develops Post-Traumatic Stress or another mental health condition.How can Post-Traumatic Stress affect you? A person with Post-Traumatic Stress has four main types of difficulties that they may experience in a higher or lesser degree depending on their condition: • Re-living the traumatic event – through unwanted

memories, vivid nightmares, flashbacks, or intense reactions such as heart palpitations or panic when reminded of the event

• Feeling wound up – having trouble sleeping or concentrating and taking risks, feeling angry or irritable, becoming easily startled, or constantly being on the look-out for danger

• Avoiding reminders of the event – activities, places, people, thoughts or feelings that bring back memories of the trauma

• Negative thoughts and feelings – feeling afraid, anxious, angry, guilty, overwhelmed, flat, or numb a lot of the time, losing interest in day-to-day activities, feeling hopeless and cut off from friends and family.

Between 5 and 10 percent of Australians will suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress at some point in their lives. This is one of the reasons we are so committed to advocating for, and raising money for research into these types of invisible injuries. Thanks to your much needed support, we’re now proudly working in unison with many organisations to advance the health and wellbeing of our nation’s veteran and emergency first responders population and their families. We can’t do it without you.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress?

Between 5 and 10 percent of Australians will suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress at some point in their lives.

For more information or support For immediate assistance call Lifeline on 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au

Talk to your GP

The Department of Veteran Affairs provide an eToolbox to help serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and their families manage stress and build resilience. Visit: www.at-ease.dva.gov.au/highres

A Passionate Patron

4 | The Despatch

A Helping Hand Making Magic Happen

Your support of The Repat Foundation – The Road Home not only provides essential funding for research into the conditions that affect our nation’s heroes, it also is being used to help patients at the Repatriation General Hospital (RGH) on their road home to recovery. Part of this is the Art Trolley project, a welcome sight for patients at the RGH allowing them to enjoy a creative break from the hospital routine and treatment. In addition to the Art Trolley, practicing Transpersonal Art Therapist Karin Foxwell, is part of this project after coming on board for a work experience placement in 2015. Karin felt so connected to the people she was helping that she has stayed on as a volunteer, continuing to support patients – thank you to Karin for her amazing commitment!

“Creative Arts Therapies in hospitals is a necessary part of a medical setting and needs to be incorporated as a standard part of the healing process as it is in the UK and US,” Karin said. “Art Therapies in a repatriation setting is particularly effective where people are healing from life changing traumatic events. It presents opportunity for a patient to express themselves truthfully, confidentially and safely through simple metaphorical mark making (and other mediums) that tells their story. The patient hears and identifies with that story being told and this allows a shift in perception of their current circumstance.Karin has seen patients benefit from as little as one Art Therapy session and said “much can be achieved in a short time and this experience is developed over several sessions if a patient is residential for some weeks or months.“Art Therapy helps people access their ‘internal world’ (which is not often spoken about) and seems to enlarge their capability and capacity to cope and deal with what’s going on in their life. Arts Therapies utilise the belief that

all individuals already have the answers to their doubts and concerns. With minimal direction from the Therapist, it is in the creative process that opens up the unconscious to identify feelings to better understand how to find motivation and therefore strategies for a positive future. When the patient feels heard and understood by the Therapist, true healing can take place.“Over time a patient will look at their initial drawings and are amazed at their own progress through their own personal story in images/mark making. We can literally ‘see’ in their images the transformation of where they were, where they are now and it often clarifies for them, where they are going from here.“Art Therapy can also be utilised to confirm a positive outcome. An example of this happened on Ward B where a patient, soon to be discharged, wanted to thank the staff but didn’t know how. We worked on that for half an hour when the doctors arrived in the room. She was so clear in her mind about what she wanted to say and showed this in her drawing, it moved the doctors almost to tears.”

“Volunteering with The Repat Foundation – The Road Home on Wards A and B at the RGH, is one of the highlights in my life. I learn so much from the patients and the staff, who are working everyday to make others well and happy.”“Often I’ll go past with the Art Therapy trolley and I’ll see someone sitting in the corner of their room, dressed and ready for the day, but just sitting and looking at the door. With a listening ear, a smile and Art, magic can happen.”Thanks to your donations, we can continue to fund the Art Therapy Program through the Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing Project. If you would like more information, please get in touch with Fiona Dale, Health and Wellbeing Program Manager on 08 7002 0800 or email Fiona.Dale@sa.gov.au.

Thank you to Karin for volunteering her time to help those who need it the most!

The Despatch | 5

Uplifting Patients with Music

The Repat Foundation – The Road Home’s Music in the Wards Program is a significant part of the clinical setting at the Repatriation General Hospital (RGH) aiding the healing process for patients. We caught up with Michael Nietz, Clinical Services Coordinator from the RGH’s Ward 1 Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit (GEM) to find out about the importance of this program in his area of work. Having worked at the RGH for close to 29 years, Michael is extremely proud of the level of care the RGH has provided to patients over the years. “The philosophy of Ward 1 GEM is to receive patients that are struggling at home for one reason or another and then give them as much support and assistance as possible to try to get them back home with a higher quality of life,” Michael said.

“We feel these patients need a lot of respect and must be treated with dignity as they are very vulnerable to the challenges of the ageing society. The Music Program is a fantastic opportunity to engage in group socialisation and normality of lifestyle. The program gives them the opportunity to listen to music from their past, which hopefully bring back positive and happy memories.”“We’re very grateful to the Music Therapy Group volunteers and the ongoing support of The Friends of The Repat, who have supported The Repat Foundation – The Road Home over the past two years, allowing us to implement the Music in the Wards program.”At the RGH, Music in the Garden is also provided for the Veteran’s Mental Health Unit, Ward 17. This program is supported by regular volunteer, John Swan ‘Swanee’ who is very popular with patients! Providing sing-a-long style music on request for patients with Post-Traumatic Stress, the program aims to help increase the positive moods of patients, relieve stress and improve socialisation.We would like to thank the musicians who volunteer or provide us with a charitable rate, assisting us to provide and build this important program!

WHERE: Adelaide Convention Centre WHEN: Wednesday 9 November 2016 TIME: 7.00am – 9.00am TICKETS: Individual Ticket $75.95, Individual School Ticket $70.95, Table of 10: $759.50, Staff Ticket $45.00

AVM Tracy Smart Comes to Adelaide2016 Remembrance Business Breakfast

We would love to have you join us at the 2016 Remembrance Business Breakfast, please visit 2016remembrancebusinessbreakfast.eventbrite.com or call us on 08 7002 080.

We invite you to join us for The Repat Foundation – The Road Home’s, 2016 Remembrance Business Breakfast, an opportunity for you to join like-minded people for a time of reflection, acknowledging our veterans, past and present. This year, we are delighted to welcome keynote speaker Air-Vice Marshal Tracy Smart AM, who will bring a range of experience and insight to this renowned annual event. AVM Smart is Commander, Joint Health and Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and responsible for the delivery of health services to Defence personnel and the medical readiness of the Defence team for operations. As Surgeon General, AVM Smart is responsible for providing strategic health advice and technical oversight of operational health services. AVM Smart was also made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.She is also a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Veterans’ Mental Health and passionate about providing high quality health care to the men and women who serve our country both at home and when deployed.“AVM Smart’s work is in tune with the heart of The Repat Foundation – The Road Home, which was established by veterans wanting further research into their injuries and treatment pathways,” said General Manager Karen May. “Through research we know a lot more about psychological injuries such as Post-Traumatic Stress, the impact of repeated exposure and the improved prognosis of early intervention. If we want to increase access for treatment, reduce stigma and reduce suicide rates, support from all organisations, defence through to the ex-service organisations, plays a key role in supporting veterans and their families.”

Music in the Wards – stirring happy and positive memories for patients.

6 | The Despatch

In 2016, it is estimated that 18,138 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.* This includes many of the men who serve to protect our country – our defence force, emergency first responders and veterans. Medical Oncologist Dr Ganessan Kichenadasse, who is based at Repatriation General Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre, is determined to play his part in the fight against the devastating disease. Thanks to your support and funding from the Prabha Seshadri Grant in 2016, Dr Kichenadasse is now leading promising research into a new therapy for high risk localised prostate cancer (when the cancer is still confined to the prostate, but is at a high risk of spreading to other parts of the body).“Early stage prostate cancer is typically treated with surgery or radiation. If it reoccurs, we treat patients with androgen (hormone) blocking medications,” Dr Kichenadasse said.

“What we are trying to do is to repurpose two well-established medications called metformin (a drug that is used to treat diabetes) and sodium valproate (a drug used to treat epilepsy) to treat prostate cancer. These two drugs have shown significant activity in the laboratory studies performed by the research team under Professor Pamela Sykes at Flinders University.”

Dr Kichenadasse and his team are confident that these two medications have the potential to work together to

control the cancer and improve patient outcomes. “It’s like one drug is helping the other and they are working together to increase the amount of cancer cells killed in the process,” Dr Kichenadasse explained. “When Urological surgeons perform a prostatectomy they aim to cut out the gland and also some of the surrounding tissue which is called the surgical margin. If cancer cells are still present in the surgical margin, this is generally an indicator for a poor prognosis for the patient. We want to find out if this new drug combination has any preliminary activity on the cancer to improve the chance of surgeons successfully removing all the cancer – giving the patient a much better prognosis.”Dr Kichenadasse said if this therapy proves successful, his team will then look into whether it can be administered to men with locally advanced prostate cancer in the hopes of shrinking their cancer to make it operable.

“We’re trying to mimic what happens in breast cancer surgery where often patients receive preoperative chemotherapy to reduce the size of their cancer before the surgeon operates.” Dr Kichenadasse’s research is being supported with the Prabha Seshadri grant from The Repat Foundation – The Road Home. We look forward to updating you on Dr Kichenadasse and his team’s research findings in the near future. If you have any questions or would like more information please email us at contactus@theroadhome.com.au. *Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Research Brings New Hope for Prostate Cancer Treatment

The Prabha Seshadri Research Grant is an annual $50,000 grant awarded through The Repat Foundation – The Road Home in honour of the late Dr Prabha Seshadri. “This support will help to continue Prabha’s legacy and research for veterans in general as well as helping young researchers to pursue their dreams,” said her husband Professor Ram Seshadri. “Supporting the Repat Foundation – The Road Home gives me satisfaction that I am giving back to the Repat hospital for their work and supporting the future of veteran health.”The Prabha Seshadri Research Grant is aimed at providing seed funding for a major medical research project – to be conducted primarily at the Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, or where the project clearly demonstrates a strong focus on veteran health.

A Lasting Legacy

In 2016, it is estimated that 18,138 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The Despatch | 7

As a small and dedicated band of volunteers, the Friends of the Repat Hospital consistently rise to the occasion to support the services provided by the Repatriation General Hospital (RGH).Since their formation 29 years ago, the extraordinary group continues to move from strength to strength, donating over $655,000 to the RGH in equipment and amenities providing additional benefit to patients. We can’t thank them enough for their inspiring efforts!In 2016, the Friends of the Repat have generously donated two comfort chairs to the Ward 18 High Dependency Unit, an ECG Machine for Ward 8, Vital Sign Monitors for Physio and a $5,000 grant to the Repat Foundation Music Therapy Program (see page 5). The ‘Friends’ derive the majority of their income from the Pre-Loved Treasure Shop on the hospital grounds and would love to have you come and visit!The Shop is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm and can be found on Service Road, about 50 metres inside the gates of the Goodwood Road entrance to the hospital.

Your support is playing a key role in improving the health and wellbeing of our nation’s veterans, emergency first responders and their families. Thank you!We recently held a donor morning tea for a small group of our dedicated supporters to say an extra special thank you and acknowledge their ongoing commitment and support of our future direction.Guests were treated to special guest speakers Kaz Pederson (Arts Trolley Artist and Art Tutor), Dr Miranda Van Hooff (2016 Grant Recipient) and Mark Reidy (Veteran & Family Program Coordinator, RSL SA). Thank you to all who attended and stay tuned for future events!

A Thank You to Friends

You’re Helping to Pave the Road Home

Pauline McPherson, President of the Friends of the Repat

PatronsHis Excellency Hieu Van Le AO, Governor of SAGraham Cornes OAM

Dr Gill Hicks, MBEMajor John Cantwell (Ret’d) AO DSCMGeneral John

Air Vice Marshall Brent Espeland (Ret’d) (Chair)Brig Alison Creagh (Ret’d) (Deputy Chair)Christian HamiltonTim MurtonAndrew MannixDr Samantha CrompvoetsNina Craven

Ambassador

Board of Governors

The Repat Foundation - The Road Home Daws Road, Daw Park, South Australia 504108 7002 0880

The Repat Foundation – The Road Home gratefully acknowledges donations in memory of:• John Gould• Michael Kuspilich• Tracey Fraser• William Carter

In Memory

Get Your TelethonSA Movie Cards From Us!

Support Us and Win!

The TelethonSA Movie Card is a great way for you to help support our aim of improving the health and wellbeing for our nation’s veterans, emergency first responders and their families. For only $20, the TelethonSA Movie Card entitles you to all of the following at any Wallis Cinema:• Discounted movie tickets – 2 for $6 each and 10

for $11 each• One free ticket and a complimentary 150gm bag of

Menz FruChocs• Two choc tops (plain) for $6• Chance to win a Wallis Gold Pass for 1 year• Savings of over $120 (based on adult ticket prices)$11 of each card you buy through The Repat Foundation – The Road Home will go directly towards critical research projects into conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress. The cards are valid until May 31 2017.

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Get your TelethonSA Movie Card by calling us on (08) 7002 0800.