Research and collaboration

Open Arms contributes to a wide range of research projects. Involvement in research enhances the skills and knowledge of our counsellors, and enables the use of cutting-edge counselling and treatment programs across our service. Using Open Arms means you will receive treatment at the forefront of military aware, trauma informed counselling services.

Recent research

• Rapid Exposure Supporting Trauma Recovery (RESTORE) Trial: A trial to see if prolonged exposure therapy delivered in a shorter, more intense timeframe (daily sessions for two weeks) is as effective as standard prolonged exposure therapy for treating PTSD (weekly sessions for 10 weeks).
• Development of a Moral Injury Scale: a study to develop a new moral injury outcomes scale for potential use by Open Arms as part of routine mental health assessment and treatment.
• Intimate Partner Violence in military and veteran families: Investigating rates of Intimate Partner Violence in military and veteran populations and how this is addressed within veteran support services.
• Strengthening Defence and Veteran Couple Relationships through Relationship Education: a study investigating the evidence-base for preventative relationship interventions and their utility for military and veteran families.

Ethics

All research projects undertaken go through rigorous research ethics review.

All research is conducted under the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research with oversight of the Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs Human Research Ethics Committee.

This process protects the mental and physical welfare, rights, and safety of research participants.