Gordon Legal has commenced an investigation into the Veterans MATES program, which has been conducted by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the University of South Australia since 2005.
We understand that the personal medical information of a significant number of veterans and their family members has been routinely provided to and used by the University of South Australia, without appropriate consent.
As a result of our investigation, we have lodged a representative complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, and are actively considering alternative pathways to seek redress for all affected.
Timeline
January 2004
The Veteran MATES program was launched.
26 April 2023
The Privacy Commissioner found, in response to a complaint made by a veteran, that DVA had interfered with their privacy and awarded them $5,000 in compensation
29 July 2023
An article published in the Saturday Paper revealed that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs had been providing identified, complete, medical records of approximately 300,000 individuals to the University of South Australia.
10 August 2023
In a letter to Senator Jacqui Lambie, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh stated that personal information had been provided by the DVA to the University of South Australia since 2004.
18 December 2023
Gordon Legal lodged a representative complaint with the Privacy Commissioner on behalf of all affected individuals.
5 February 2024
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Human Research Ethics Committee withdrew its ethics approval of the MATES Program.
12 February 2024
DVA publicly announced that it has decided to close down the MATES Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
VETERANS’ PRIVACY CLASS ACTION
What is this investigation about?
This investigation is looking into the Veterans MATES program, which was conducted by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) since 2005, with DVA sharing the personal medical information of a significant number of veterans and their family members to the UniSA without appropriate consent.
Has a class action commenced?
No. A class action has not been lodged, however we are currently investigating a potential class action.
On 18 December 2023 we lodged a representative complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), and are currently awaiting an outcome.
Am I eligible?
Anyone who has been a veteran who held a health care card issued by DVA (or its predecessor) at any time since 1 January 2004 is eligible to register.
What information do I need to provide to register for the investigation?
In order to register, you will need to provide us with:
- Your name
- An email address
If you would like to speak to someone at Gordon Legal prior to registering with us please call us on 1300 584 626.
Why should I register?
Registering will give you access to updates about the progress of the investigation.