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As advised in the 1999-2000 report, after receiving a request in November 1999 to
develop a Statement of Principles concerning Gulf War syndrome, the RMA decided to
carry out an investigation to find out whether a Statement of Principles may be determined
in respect of Gulf War syndrome. To assist the investigation process the RMA hosted
a preliminary workshop in Brisbane on 6 March 2000 in order to develop some understanding
of the type and range of Australian involvement in the Gulf War and the applicability
of overseas data to the Australian veteran cohort.
As a follow up to this preliminary workshop, the RMA hosted another workshop in July
2000 to examine scientific studies on the health of Gulf War veterans. This workshop
was attended by Gulf War veterans, members of the Scientific Advisory Committee for
the Australian Gulf War Veteransí Health Study, members of the Compensation and Research
Working Party, DVA staff and RMA members. The workshop was addressed by two invited
international experts, Dr Frances Murphy from the US Veterans' Affairs Health Program
and Dr John Graham who is the UK Gulf War Health Liaison Officer stationed in Washington.
Professor Malcolm Sim, the principal researcher involved with the Australian Gulf
War Veteransí Health Study, also gave a presentation to the workshop.
The RMA, after considering the outcomes of this workshop, decided to continue to
examine the body of information available relating to post deployment syndromes,
in particular Gulf War syndrome, and also noted that the study into the health of
the cohort of Australian Gulf War veterans was being undertaken.
The RMA was represented at a conference in Washington in January 2001 when the latest
research on Gulf War issues was presented by researchers from USA, Canada and Britain.
This page last updated 10 April 2002.
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