Guitars for Veterans

The Hon. S.L. GAME (17:01): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises the unique challenges faced by South Australian veterans, particularly those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and difficulties transitioning back to civilian life;

2. Acknowledges the vital role of early intervention, creative-based therapies in improving mental health outcomes for veterans; and

3. Commends the work of Guitars for Veterans, a not-for-profit organisation currently supporting approximately 140 South Australian veterans through music-based recovery programs.

I rise today to bring the attention of this council to a life-changing and quite literally life-saving initiative known as Guitars for Veterans. This mission strikes a deeply emotional note, with this not-for-profit remedying one of the most pressing challenges facing our veterans: the high rate of PTSD and suicide among our returned service men and women.

PTSD remains one of the most debilitating and isolating conditions faced by our ex-service personnel and will continue to be unless something changes. In fact, around 31 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women currently serving in the military will develop PTSD. Guitars for Veterans Australia has been operating for four years and is currently run by just three dedicated volunteers. These individuals do everything, from identifying veterans who are experiencing trauma to enrolling them into the program, coordinating coaches, and performing music themselves to raise funds.

Through a simple but powerful formula, a donated guitar and five hours of free music lessons, Guitars for Veterans has created a safe outlet for expression, emotional regulation and human connection. Veterans are gifted a brand-new or near-new guitar and receive either five one-hour lessons or 10 30-minute sessions. After completing their lessons, they are invited to join a guitar club, providing them with ongoing community and creative expression.

The impact of this program is both profound and practical. Each participant costs $100 to support and the program coaches five veterans at a time, meaning the organisation must raise $500 up-front for each round of lessons. Funds are raised predominantly through public speaking engagements, performances at RSLs, local hotels and other community-based events.

I have had the privilege of meeting with the South Australian ambassador for the program, Mr Jim Mavromatis, on several occasions. Jim is a Vietnam veteran who is now helping other veterans discover the joy and healing power of music in the form of a guitar. Through Jim's advocacy, I have come to understand the deep and measurable impact this program has had on veterans across our state.

I want to share a brief story that has stayed with me since I last spoke with Jim, a story that captures the powerful change his program is making in real life. Jim told me about a veteran he worked with, a man who, like so many, returned home carrying the invisible wounds of service. For years, in moments of anxiety or emotional distress, this man instinctively reached for alcohol. It was a pattern like muscle memory, and it was slowly consuming him. Then came the guitar, and after just a few lessons through Guitars for Veterans something changed. He began resting his guitar in front of his bar fridge, and that guitar stood between him and the bottle. When the hard moments came—and they did—he no longer reached for a drink; he reached for music.

That one story represents hundreds and, with proper support, it could represent even more. Veterans who participate in this program come from all backgrounds, services and conflict zones. They may be young or old, recent returnees or veterans of past decades, but they all have one thing in common: they carry trauma and they are seeking peace. Guitars for Veterans gives them a new tool not just for healing but for hope. This is precisely the kind of grassroots, community-led mental health support we should be promoting.

With greater awareness, Guitars for Veterans could extend its reach and impact many more lives across South Australia and the research backs this up. Music therapy can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder by as much as 38 per cent. That is significant and measurable, and that is precisely why this council must take notice. I urge the council to consider the role music and connection can play in recovery and to give serious thought to how we might continue to support this remarkable organisation. I commend the motion to the council.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.