After serving nine years in the navy, Sheree Symonds had to adjust to life without a constant crew that she trusted with her life.
She and other veterans, some of whom are living with post traumatic stress disorder, have turned to the statewide RSL Active program.
With COVID-19 restrictions in place, the program for younger veterans is delivering a range of activities online, such as art therapy and yoga.
Ms Symonds co-ordinates the program for Altona RSL and the Melbourne Women Veterans Network.
“PTSD isn’t confined to veterans but from talking to a few people … they’ve found different mechanisms to look after that condition and effectively all these activities have now been removed from their life and they’re sort of been left solo,“ Ms Symonds said.
“Our focus is to try to consistently provide those programs and we’ve gone through the process of placing them online and at least there’s a routine and there’s a group of friends that you are associating with a few times a week.“
The program is also available to veterans’ families.
“We understand that a person’s service doesn’t just impact them: it also really can have a flow-on effect to their partners, to their children, to their parents, so we include them and any kind of support person,“ Ms Symonds said.
“It’s always hard when you come out of the defence force to find that community.
“I know, from my own experience in the navy, I depend on these people day to day – these people on the ship with me.
“I trust them with my life.
“And to come out of that environment you kind of go, ’Where is everyone?’
“How do I form a relationship with these people that are so distant?“
