ISOLATION is one of the barriers that volunteer organisation Partners of Veterans Association help to break down.
Started in 2003, the Perth-based group was formed in response to the growing need of the wives, husbands and partners of service veterans, many of whom become primary care givers for their partners living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Association president Sandra Cross (Ballajura) said many veterans, from World War II onwards were dealing with PTSD which had affected the lives of their partners, children and the wider community.
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READ NOW‘Many are dealing with a husband who can’t work, so they are on reduced incomes,’ she said.
‘You can’t go anywhere and you are always at fault with your partner. Anything could set them off.
‘Our support aims to make it easier to live with veterans who are dealing with PTSC.’
Mrs Cross said the association acted as a support group providing information, links to service providers, non-judgemental support and respite.
‘Our main aim is to let partners know that they are not alone,’ she said. ‘We had one partner whose husband couldn’t leave the front yard’