http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/carryon/web/COVVHSindex.html

Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Study (COVVHS) Inc. ACN: A0045855G Patriotic Fund number W548
Incorporating members of: RSL, PVA, VVAA, SDVVG, VVFA, T.P.I. et al.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION

There is now something everyone can do to help the health study to be successfully implemented.

We need veterans, their partners and sons and daughters, to contact their Local Federal Members (MPs) of Parliament and Senators.
Send them an e-mail, a letter, or meet with them, to explain that there are too many children of Vietnam veterans with serious physical and or mental health problems that are affecting their quality of life.

Please note, we have underlined the key points that might help to get our message across to the Parliamentarians. Your letter does not have to be a long one. Just tell your Politician, politely, in your own words, about your concern for all sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans.

Explain that this health study is of importance to all the veteran communities in Australia. Explain the findings from such a study will help not only sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans but all children of service persons since Vietnam.

Your local MP needs to hear from their constituents that veterans in their Electorate are very concerned with the effects war and peacekeeping service have had, and are having, on the children of these veterans.

If M.P.s are willing to understand the significance and the extent of these problems speak about them to their colleagues, even to stand up in Parliament, there is a good chance of progressing the study into the health of sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans.

The Government acknowledges that war service is detrimental to both servicemen and their families. At this present time, a feasibility study, agreed to by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, is nearing completion. Ask your M.P that the recommendations from the Feasibility Study be made available as soon as possible.

The time is perfect for a comprehensive health study on sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans.
A study on the children of Vietnam veterans will identify areas of concern. A study will show exactly what their health status is and how this is impacting on their quality of life.

You can mention to your M.P, the 2004 “grass roots” self-reporting survey, compiled by the Partners of Veterans of Australia Association, ( P.V.A.). The results of which were quite alarming! These results showed that over 50% of Vietnam veteran’s children, did have many physical, psychological or psychiatric illnesses that were impacting on both their quality of life and their ability to work.
We need our representatives in Federal Parliament to ask the Government how soon a health study will be done on sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans?
Will the Federal Government support us by doing this worthy research and provide the financial resources for it to go ahead in the next Budget?