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The Home Front: The never-ending war within our veterans
Forty-one Australian soldiers died in action over 20 years of fighting in Afghanistan; in that time more than 1400 veterans have taken their own lives. Veterans today are chronically over-represented when it comes to PTSD, depression, homelessness and suicide. Australians rightfully pause on Anzac Day each year to solemnly remember fallen soldiers, but are we forgetting our returned veterans whose personal battles continue every single day, and how did we get to this point?
In this authoritative, compelling and urgent book, bestselling author Patrick Lindsay (The Spirit of the Digger and Fromelles among many) looks at the wide-ranging damage caused by training Australians to be fighting machines and then inadequately supporting them as they re-enter their communities. Featuring moving interviews with veterans and their families as well as a broader analysis of Australian military culture and government responses, Lindsay illustrates both the personal and societal costs of this dereliction of duty.
The Home Front is a fascinating and rousing indictment of the culture of war, the thinking of those who wage it, and the cost to those who experience it.
In this authoritative, compelling and urgent book, bestselling author Patrick Lindsay (The Spirit of the Digger and Fromelles among many) looks at the wide-ranging damage caused by training Australians to be fighting machines and then inadequately supporting them as they re-enter their communities. Featuring moving interviews with veterans and their families as well as a broader analysis of Australian military culture and government responses, Lindsay illustrates both the personal and societal costs of this dereliction of duty.
The Home Front is a fascinating and rousing indictment of the culture of war, the thinking of those who wage it, and the cost to those who experience it.
- GenresPsychology
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2023
3 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 9, 2023
Thank you Patrick Lindsay for the clarity and understanding around our country’s veterans. We need to do better as a nation to support them all coming home.
February 29, 2024
Did I enjoy reading this book?
I don’t know.
Yes, I did. Superbly written, excellent research and analysis. Very thought provoking. An excellent analysis of the current state of affairs with our treatment of our veterans.
No, I didn’t. As a veteran, many of the issues raised and pieces of evidence examined were too close to home. It hurt. I’ve spent years battling through the system with DVA and it is soul destroying. They are highly adversarial, stovepiped and lacking in both knowledge and communication.
In truth, the system is set up to destroy the will of veterans seeking support. It is no wonder that many of us surrender. I certainly wanted to and would have without the support of my wife and family.
As Catherine McGregor stated, celebrating Anzac Day once a year hides the sad truth that for the other 364 days of the year, veterans are forgotten.
And for me, the inescapable truth is that we veterans are an uncomfortable burden. Often I believe that many would have preferred we just came home in a bag.
Did I enjoy the read? No. Is it a good book? Absolutely
I don’t know.
Yes, I did. Superbly written, excellent research and analysis. Very thought provoking. An excellent analysis of the current state of affairs with our treatment of our veterans.
No, I didn’t. As a veteran, many of the issues raised and pieces of evidence examined were too close to home. It hurt. I’ve spent years battling through the system with DVA and it is soul destroying. They are highly adversarial, stovepiped and lacking in both knowledge and communication.
In truth, the system is set up to destroy the will of veterans seeking support. It is no wonder that many of us surrender. I certainly wanted to and would have without the support of my wife and family.
As Catherine McGregor stated, celebrating Anzac Day once a year hides the sad truth that for the other 364 days of the year, veterans are forgotten.
And for me, the inescapable truth is that we veterans are an uncomfortable burden. Often I believe that many would have preferred we just came home in a bag.
Did I enjoy the read? No. Is it a good book? Absolutely
June 25, 2023
As a Veteran, an ex-veterans advocate, with a family of veterans and passionate supporter of veteran mental health supporter, this was a hard read for me.
You can know it’s bad on your level, your family and social level, but to see the figures laid bare - the suicide rates, the time taken to process claims, it is bigger - and worse than I previously knew.
Will the Royal Commission actually change anything? We live in hope, with a soldierly dash of scepticism and saltiness.
You can know it’s bad on your level, your family and social level, but to see the figures laid bare - the suicide rates, the time taken to process claims, it is bigger - and worse than I previously knew.
Will the Royal Commission actually change anything? We live in hope, with a soldierly dash of scepticism and saltiness.
September 2, 2023
Was really insightful to learn more about the processes and systems that are/aren’t in place for veterans post-service, and debunking lots of myths around the support veterans receive.
As a non defence person I found some of the language quite difficult to understand and had to do a bit of googling.
As a non defence person I found some of the language quite difficult to understand and had to do a bit of googling.
September 20, 2023
No holds barred towards the Military and The Australian Government past and present. Some very confronting issues that need to be addressed urgently.
It will be interesting to see the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide when released in June 2024 and more to the point what actions will be taken by Defence, Veterans’ Affairs and the Government.
It will be interesting to see the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide when released in June 2024 and more to the point what actions will be taken by Defence, Veterans’ Affairs and the Government.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews