We conduct high quality research that has meaningful and practical outcomes. We work with Defence and First Responder organisations to ensure our research has a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of current and former military and emergency service personnel and the people who love them.
Our team works closely with industry partners to design and deliver relevant research that is responsive to the immediate and long-term needs of Defence, Emergency Services and Veteran sectors.
Key research themes include:
Collaborating with industry peers and partners is at the heart of our research and programs – we work together to fulfil our mission
We develop, evaluate and deliver innovative programs that support individual and service-specific mental health and wellbeing needs of current and former military and emergency service personnel and their families.
Focus areas include:
Raising awareness and fundraising in the community is core to supporting our vision and purpose. One of our major fundraising activities includes our annual Remembrance Day Breakfast held in Adelaide.
We develop, train and nurture emerging researchers in service-related fields to enhance future capability.
We provide a range of opportunities to share information and training in the prevalence, risk and treatment of trauma and stress related injuries among current and former military members, emergency service personnel and their families.
Military and Emergency Services Health Australia was originally established as Foundation Daw Park in 1995. It was founded by veterans to raise funds for medical research and patient care facilities at the Repatriation General Hospital (RGH) in Adelaide.
The name was changed to The Repat Foundation to align with the RGH and enhance awareness and recognition for the community who understood the importance of the hospital. For 18 years, The Repat Foundation contributed significantly to veterans’ and emergency service personnel’s health and wellbeing research through its vision, ‘Healthy Veterans, Healthy Communities.
In early 2015, the South Australian Government announced its intention to close the Repatriation General Hospital. After careful consideration by the Board, a partnership with The Hospital Research Foundation Group was formed to build on The Repat Foundation’s formidable legacy of supporting health and wellbeing research and programs for veterans’, emergency service personnel and their families.
The Repat Foundation then launched its national brand ‘The Road Home’ in collaboration with The Hospital Research Foundation Group. The aim was to strengthen its position as a leading national veterans’ health and wellbeing research organisation and align with the government’s proposed $15 million Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Centre of Excellence.
The Road Home was recently reborn as Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA). The team focuses on the design and delivery of high-quality research and programs that have an immediate and long-term impact on the mental health and wellbeing of current and former military and emergency service personnel, as well as their families.
