14:27 GMT, February 9, 2010 Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced the appointment of Mr David Morton as the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) Director General of Mental Health, Psychology and Rehabilitation.

“Mr Morton's appointment is another step in the ADF's ongoing commitment to protecting and enhancing the health and well being of Australia’s servicemen and women," Mr Combet said.

“His leadership and expertise will be vital for Defence as we continue to implement the recommendations from the 2009 Dunt Review into mental health.

“Mr Morton's appointment will result in better and more efficient health care as part of Defence’s ongoing health reforms and restructure.

“The establishment of the Mental Health, Psychology & Rehabilitation branch is also a clear demonstration of the progress Defence is making in providing holistic care to ADF members.”

Professor David Dunt completed a thorough mental health review last year at the Federal Government's request. The Dunt Review provided the catalyst for major health care reform and the Government is supporting Defence with an additional $83 million over the next four years to implement recommendations.

“The health and wellbeing of personnel is a priority for Defence and all wounded ADF members receive comprehensive support, whether it is for physical or emotional wounds,” Mr Combet said.

“The ADF has one of the largest workplace mental health support systems in Australia, with a range of mental health and counselling services available to ADF personnel.”

Mr Combet said that Mr Morton was well placed to make a very valuable contribution in this new role.

“David Morton's addition to the Joint Health Command leadership team will provide the final piece in the Command’s areas of expertise and responsibilities,” Mr Combet said.

“Mr Morton’s previous work with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service and his intimate involvement with delivering support services to Australia’s war veterans deserve special recognition and will be a cornerstone of his work with Joint Health Command.”

The ADF’s Surgeon General and Chief of Joint Health Command, Major General Paul Alexander, said that “Defence is bringing the concepts of health and well-being together as a complete package. It's critical to understand that physical and emotional injuries require support to mend long after visible scars have healed. This is vital for the ADF to meet our commitment to providing best practice healthcare.

“The success of our rehabilitation programs is remarkable. Last year 87 per cent of all personnel who undertook rehabilitation returned to duties.

“One of the major aims of the ADF’s Mental Health Strategy is to de-stigmatise mental health problems and to encourage personnel to come forward for treatment sooner rather than later. Early treatment in these cases is one of the keys to successful treatment.”

“David Morton will work with me and the rest of the Command to make sure those who are diagnosed with injury, including mental health conditions, access the extensive rehabilitation programs available.

“Mr Morton’s appointment is another significant milestone in the important and far-reaching reform. It will give every member of the ADF, and the public, greater confidence in the delivery of Defence’s high-quality health care services,” Major General Alexander said.