Abstract
Background: The experience of homelessness for Australian defence force veterans is a complex problem that centres on their inability to reconnect with the community on their return (Keeling, 2018; Guthrie-Gower & Wilson-Menzfeld, 2022). Although considered underreported in Australia, veterans are more likely than the general population to be chronically homeless (Bond et al., 2022; Hilferty et al., 2021). Thus, homelessness solutions are at the forefront of Australian policy makers, service providers and support agencies (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). Veteran homelessness has been addressed successfully by the Returned and Services League Care Andrew Russell Veteran Living program through strategies to support wellbeing, connection to community and access to appropriate and affordable housing solutions (RSL Care SA, 2022).
Purpose This study will evaluate the new Andrew Russell Veteran Living program, located in Western Australia, in its first 18 months of operation and determine if this social intervention has produced the intended results by acquiring insight about the program and participants, to provide evidence of effects and benefits, need for improvements and assess the program’s viability.
Methods A mixed method evaluation design is used with quantitative and qualitative approaches (Creswell & Creswell, 2023), adapted to meet national veteran research needs. Recruitment occurs when the veterans enter the emergency accommodation program. Data collection includes demographics and outcomes, veterans’ surveys and interviews, and service support staff surveys to capture different aspects of program delivery. To ensure ethical conduct and wellbeing of participants, an independent consumer advisory group is maintained for the length of this research.
Results This longitudinal study will evaluate the short-term and long-term program outcomes. Descriptive statistics of survey data summation will provide the patterns of participants responses, and interview qualitative data will identify emergent ideas and themes.
Conclusion The results of this study will indicate if the emergency accommodation program is fit for purpose for veterans in Western Australia. In providing the veterans and support staff a voice and the opportunity to share their experiences, the way forward in the WA context will be illuminated, contribute to the other Australian states experiences and support the integration of a national database of homeless veterans.
Notes
References:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2022). Policy framework for reducing homelessness and service response. Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/shs-annual-report-2020-21/contents/policy-framework
Bond, G, R., Al-Abdulmunem, M., Drake, R. E., Davis, L. L., Meyer, T., Gade, D. M., Frueh, B. C., Dickman, R. B., & Ressler, D. R. (2022). Transition from military service: Mental health and well-being among service members and veterans with service-connected disabilities. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 49(3), 282–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-021-09778-w
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research design. Qualitative, quantitative & mixed methods approaches. (6th ed.). Sage.
Guthrie-Gower, S., & Wilson-Menzfeld, G. (2022). Ex-military personnel's experiences of loneliness and social isolation from discharge, through transition, to the present day. PloS One, 17(6), e0269678. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269678
Hilferty, F., Katz, I., Van Hoof, M., & Lawrence-Wood, E. (2021). How many Australian veterans are homeless? Reporting prevalence findings and method from a national study. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 56(1), 114-127. https://doi.org/10/1002/ajs4.123
Keeling, M. (2018). Stories of transition: US Veterans’ narratives of transition to civilian life and the important role of identity. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 4(2), 28–36. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh.2017-0009
RSL Care SA. (2022). RSL Care SA Annual Report: 2022-2023. RSL Care SA Corporate Office. rslcaresa.com.au
Sigma Membership
Phi Gamma (Virtual)
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Policy/Advocacy, Sustainable Development Goals
Recommended Citation
Russell, Kylie P. and Coventry, Tracey H., "The Andrew Russell Veteran Living Program: A Mixed Method Evaluation Study" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 6.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/6
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
The Andrew Russell Veteran Living Program: A Mixed Method Evaluation Study
Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: The experience of homelessness for Australian defence force veterans is a complex problem that centres on their inability to reconnect with the community on their return (Keeling, 2018; Guthrie-Gower & Wilson-Menzfeld, 2022). Although considered underreported in Australia, veterans are more likely than the general population to be chronically homeless (Bond et al., 2022; Hilferty et al., 2021). Thus, homelessness solutions are at the forefront of Australian policy makers, service providers and support agencies (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). Veteran homelessness has been addressed successfully by the Returned and Services League Care Andrew Russell Veteran Living program through strategies to support wellbeing, connection to community and access to appropriate and affordable housing solutions (RSL Care SA, 2022).
Purpose This study will evaluate the new Andrew Russell Veteran Living program, located in Western Australia, in its first 18 months of operation and determine if this social intervention has produced the intended results by acquiring insight about the program and participants, to provide evidence of effects and benefits, need for improvements and assess the program’s viability.
Methods A mixed method evaluation design is used with quantitative and qualitative approaches (Creswell & Creswell, 2023), adapted to meet national veteran research needs. Recruitment occurs when the veterans enter the emergency accommodation program. Data collection includes demographics and outcomes, veterans’ surveys and interviews, and service support staff surveys to capture different aspects of program delivery. To ensure ethical conduct and wellbeing of participants, an independent consumer advisory group is maintained for the length of this research.
Results This longitudinal study will evaluate the short-term and long-term program outcomes. Descriptive statistics of survey data summation will provide the patterns of participants responses, and interview qualitative data will identify emergent ideas and themes.
Conclusion The results of this study will indicate if the emergency accommodation program is fit for purpose for veterans in Western Australia. In providing the veterans and support staff a voice and the opportunity to share their experiences, the way forward in the WA context will be illuminated, contribute to the other Australian states experiences and support the integration of a national database of homeless veterans.
Description
The experience of homelessness for Australian defence force veterans is a complex problem that centres on their inability to reconnect with the community on leaving the services. Veteran homelessness has been addressed successfully in some Australian states. This study focuses on Western Australia and the Andrew Russell Veteran Living emergency accommodation program in its first 18 months using a mixed method design to evaluate the short-term and long-term program outcomes of the initiative.