Veterans Care Programs: Access DVA Support, Healthcare and Services
Feeling overwhelmed by forms and acronyms after leaving service? This guide demystifies veterans care programs through the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) so you can confidently access the healthcare, rehabilitation, and home support you've earned. We'll tackle common pain points such as mental health access, home care approvals, and eligibility, and show how Veterans First Consulting helps streamline DVA claims so you can access the right entitlements faster. Start here to discover what's covered and how to begin today.
Start Your DVA Claim Today
Get expert help to navigate the claim process and secure the compensation you deserve. With zero upfront fees, you only pay for successful claims.
Exploring Veterans Care Programs in Australia
Veterans care programs form a comprehensive support system managed by DVA to address the unique needs of current and former ADF members. These programs span:
Mental health services
Physical rehabilitation
Home care support, and
Aged care assistance.
Access to veterans care programs depends on holding a DVA Gold or White Card, which you receive after DVA accepts your service-related conditions.
The breadth of veterans care programs reflects DVA's commitment to supporting the wellbeing of Australia's defence community. According to DVA's support system overview, over 99% of services are provided through your GP, with DVA simply paying the bill, making access straightforward once you have the right card.
Mental Health Care Programs for Veterans
Mental health support forms a cornerstone of veterans' care programs, recognising that psychological wellbeing is just as important as physical health. DVA provides multiple pathways to access mental health care, regardless of whether you can prove your condition relates to service.
Non-Liability Health Care for Mental Health
The Non-Liability Health Care program provides fully funded mental health treatment for all current and former full-time ADF members with at least one day of continuous service. You don't need to prove your service caused your mental health condition to access this support. This program covers treatment from:
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Mental health social workers
Occupational therapists
Hospital admissions for mental health
Prescribed medications, and
Relevant pathology services.
Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling
Open Arms is a nationally accredited service offering free, 24/7 counselling and support for veterans and their families. You can access:
Individual counselling
Couple and family therapy
Group programs, and
Suicide prevention training without any referral or cost.
Open Arms operates with strict confidentiality, and information isn't shared with DVA without your consent.
Mental Health Support Through DVA Cards
Once you establish your DVA entitlement through our Permanent Impairment Claims service, you can access mental health care through your Veteran White or Gold Card. The Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030 prioritises mental health support from recruitment through post-service life, so veterans receive comprehensive care at every stage.
Home Care and Daily Living Support
Veterans care programs extend beyond clinical treatment, including practical home support that helps you maintain independence. These services recognise that managing daily tasks can become challenging due to service-related injuries or conditions.
Veterans' Home Care Program
The Veterans' Home Care program provides low-level in-home care services to help eligible veterans live independently. This program offers:
Domestic assistance with household cleaning
Meal preparation
Washing and ironing
Home and garden maintenance
Including lawn mowing and minor repairs
Personal care support with bathing
Dressing and grooming, and
Respite care for carers.
According to DVA's VHC eligibility guidelines, you're eligible if you hold a Gold Card or White Card for an accepted service-related condition and have difficulty performing activities of daily living.
Community Nursing Program
For veterans with clinical nursing needs, the Community Nursing Program delivers registered nursing care in your home. This program provides wound care and dressing changes, medication administration and management, catheter care, injections, vital signs monitoring, and health education. You need a referral from a GP or treating doctor to access community nursing services.
Household Services Under MRCA
If DVA accepts your conditions under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, you may access household services faster than VHC. The standard maximum rate for 2025 is $76.55 per hour, including GST. These services assist with tasks you can't perform due to accepted disabilities, offering either short-term help during recovery or ongoing support for complex health issues.
Rehabilitation Programs for Veterans
DVA rehabilitation programs help veterans develop skills to maximise wellbeing and, where possible, return to meaningful employment. These programs address multiple aspects of recovery beyond simple medical treatment.
Medical Management Support
Medical management under DVA rehabilitation helps you find and access health professionals in your local area, connect with veteran-specific assistance programs like Open Arms, and build health literacy to manage your wellbeing proactively. This isn't medical treatment itself, but rather support to navigate the healthcare system effectively.
Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Psychosocial rehabilitation addresses barriers impacting your social wellbeing or ability to function independently. This might include:
Support with household budgeting and financial management
Accessing community services and supports
Rebuilding social connections, and
Developing coping strategies for daily challenges.
Working with our DVA claims specialists helps you access the full range of rehabilitation support your accepted conditions warrant.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation helps veterans obtain or sustain suitable employment with the medical capacity to work. Services include:
Career counselling and goal setting
Skills training and education support
Job search assistance
Necessary workplace modifications, and
Ongoing employment support.
Your rehabilitation plan is tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Coordinated Veterans' Care Program
The Coordinated Veterans' Care program takes an integrated approach to managing chronic conditions. According to evaluation research by Abt Global, the CVC program was launched in 2011 to improve health outcomes through coordinated care.
How CVC Works
Your GP coordinates your care team, which may include specialists, allied health providers, and mental health professionals. You receive:
A comprehensive health assessment and personalised care plan
Regular monitoring and adjustments to your treatment
Education about managing chronic conditions, and
Support navigating the healthcare system.
DVA data shows case managers supported 7,586 clients in 2023-24, with 115 clients receiving weekly support through the Wellbeing and Support Program.
Eligibility for Coordinated Care
To access CVC, you need a DVA Gold or White Card and at least one chronic health condition requiring ongoing management. Your GP can refer you to the program, which provides additional support beyond standard medical treatment.
Hospital and Acute Care Services
Veterans care programs include comprehensive hospital coverage for Gold Card holders and condition-specific coverage for White Card holders. DVA has arrangements with hospitals across all states and territories to provide care.
Public Hospital Access
Gold Card holders can access public hospitals without prior approval in most cases. DVA covers all costs related to accepted conditions for White Card holders. Services include:
emergency care
planned surgeries
hospital stays, and
discharge planning support.
In 2023-24, DVA received 19,714 requests for prior approval, with 85.65% approved.
Private Hospital Treatment
Private hospital access depends on your card type and the nature of treatment. Gold Card holders have broader coverage, while White Card holders require treatment for conditions that are accepted. Always confirm DVA coverage before private hospital admission to avoid unexpected costs.
Aged Care Support for Veterans
As veterans age, specialised aged care programs provide ongoing support.. DVA works alongside My Aged Care to provide comprehensive services.
Veterans' Supplement for Aged Care
The Australian Government's veterans' supplement helps approved providers with the cost of caring for veterans with service-related mental health conditions. This supplement applies automatically to eligible veterans in Home Care Packages and residential aged care.
Combining DVA and Aged Care Services
You can receive services from both DVA and My Aged Care simultaneously. For example, you might receive low-level domestic help through Veterans' Home Care while also accessing community transport through the Commonwealth Home Support Program. To coordinate services effectively, reach out to the VHC Assessment Agency and My Aged Care.
Accessing Veterans Care Programs Through DVA Cards
Your ability to access veterans care programs hinges on obtaining the right DVA card. The two main cards provide different levels of access to services.
Exploring Gold and White Cards
Our guide to Gold and White Cards explains that Gold Cards provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for all conditions, while White Cards only cover treatment for accepted service-related conditions. To qualify for a Gold Card, you need 60 or more MRCA impairment points from accepted conditions. White Cards are issued when DVA accepts at least one service-related condition.
Linking Claims to Care Access
Securing a DVA card starts with successfully claiming your service-related conditions. Many veterans don't realise they're eligible for conditions they haven't claimed. Working with Veterans First Consulting helps you identify all claimable conditions and submit comprehensive evidence, maximising your compensation and care program access.
Navigating Multiple Veterans Care Programs
The range of veterans care programs can feel overwhelming, but knowing how they work together helps you access everything you're entitled to receive. Each program serves a specific purpose within the broader support system.
Complementary Program Access
You can access multiple programs simultaneously if you meet each program's criteria. For example, you might receive mental health treatment under Non-Liability Health Care, domestic assistance through Veterans' Home Care, and vocational rehabilitation through DVA's rehabilitation program. Programs complement rather than replace each other.
Overcoming Access Barriers
Common barriers include not knowing which programs exist, confusion about eligibility, difficulty navigating application processes, and delays in receiving services. Our DVA claims specialists help veterans overcome these barriers by helping you prepare comprehensive, well-supported claims, connecting you with appropriate programs based on your accepted conditions, and advocating for timely access to entitled services.
The Connection Between DVA Claims and Care Programs
Your DVA claim is the gateway to veterans care programs. Without accepted conditions and the appropriate card, you can't access most DVA-funded services regardless of your actual need.
Why Claims Matter for Care Access
Every accepted condition expands your access to relevant care programs. For instance, an accepted mental health condition enables full access to mental health care programs. Accepted physical conditions provide access to rehabilitation, home care, and medical treatment. Higher impairment points from multiple accepted conditions can lead to Gold Card eligibility, giving you access to comprehensive care.
How Veterans First Consulting Helps
We specialise in helping veterans traverse the DVA claims process to secure the entitlements that give you access to care programs. Our services include identifying all potentially claimable service-related conditions, gathering compelling medical evidence and service documentation, submitting comprehensive claims that maximise your impairment points, and and helping you understand which care programs your accepted conditions make available. Veterans often discover they're eligible for far more support than they realised once they work with specialists who understand the system.
Telehealth and Digital Access to Care Programs
Modern veterans care programs increasingly incorporate telehealth options, making services more accessible regardless of location. According to DVA's telehealth information, telehealth appointments are as effective as in-person appointments across mental health, chronic disease management, and postoperative care.
Benefits of Telehealth Services
Telehealth removes geographical barriers for regional and remote veterans, reduces wait times for appointments, provides flexibility for veterans with mobility challenges, and maintains privacy and convenience. Services like Open Arms offer telehealth for counselling, while many DVA-approved providers now offer video consultations for ongoing care.
FAQs: Veterans Care Programs
-
Some programs extend to family members. Open Arms provides free counselling to partners and dependent children. Veterans' Home Care may offer respite services for carers. Eligibility depends on the specific program.
-
Not all programs require prior approval. Mental health care under Non-Liability Health Care and GP visits generally don't need pre-approval. Specialist treatments, hospital admissions, and some allied health services may require approval depending on your card type and the service needed.
-
Once DVA accepts your conditions and issues your card, you can typically access care programs immediately. Some programs, like Veterans' Home Care, require an assessment, which can take weeks to arrange.
-
Open Arms counselling is available to all veterans with at least one day of continuous full-time service, even without a card. However, most other veteran care programs require a Gold or White Card for access.
Your Path to the Care You've Earned
DVA veterans care programs cover mental health, home support, rehabilitation and medical care. The missing piece is a clear route to the right entitlements. We simplify the process by building comprehensive DVA claims so you can access services that support your health and independence. Contact Veterans First Consulting for personalised guidance and start accessing your benefits today
Simplify Your DVA Claim: Get the Compensation You Deserve
Veterans First Consulting is here to guide you. Leave us a message, and a team member will reach out to discuss your new claim or reassessment. With zero upfront fees, you only pay for successful claims. Fill out the form below to get started.
