Veterans Health Programs: Your Complete Guide to DVA-Funded Care

What Are DVA Veterans Health Programs?

DVA-funded veterans health programs are a network of services covering: 

• Mental health treatment
• Physical and allied health care
• Rehabilitation
• In-home support
• Community wellbeing

They're not charity, they're entitlements that flow from your service, funded at scale. The DVA’s Veteran Support System at a Glance shows that nearly 200,000 clients received health care and support services in 2023–24, highlighting the breadth of support available to veterans.

The depth of these programs is directly linked to your DVA health card status. White Card holders access funded treatment for accepted service-related conditions. Gold Card holders access funded treatment for all clinically necessary conditions, regardless of service connection. Access to the right level of care depends on how your claim is assessed and recognised by DVA.

Who Can Access DVA-Funded Health Programs?

Eligibility for most veterans health programs begins the moment DVA accepts your service-related condition. Once DVA accepts a condition under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), you receive a White Card. Veterans who accumulate 60 or more MRCA impairment points qualify for a Gold Card, which opens access to the broadest range of health coverage available.

There is one important exception. Mental health treatment through Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) may be available before you have an accepted condition. Current and former full-time ADF members are eligible, reservists with at least one day of CFTS are eligible, and some reservists without CFTS may also qualify in limited circumstances. Eligibility must still be verified by DVA.

Mental Health Programs for Veterans

Mental health is a major focus within DVA veterans health programs, and the level of support available reflects that. The Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025–2030, jointly managed by Defence and DVA, sets a coordinated framework for mental health support at every stage, from active service through to post-service civilian life.

The AIHW reports that ex-serving ADF members use mental health services at a higher rate than the general Australian population. Ex-serving members who served in the regular forces are more likely than non-veterans to need assistance with core daily activities, like:

• Self-care
• Mobility
• Communication

DVA's mental health programs are designed to meet that need, but veterans have to be in the system to access them.

Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC)

NLHC is one of the most valuable, and most underused, programs within the DVA veterans health network. As confirmed by the DVA's Non-Liability Health Care guidelines, any current or former ADF member with at least one day of CFTS can access fully funded treatment for all mental health conditions, without needing to prove that service caused those conditions.

Covered conditions include:

• PTSD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Adjustment disorder
• Alcohol and substance use disorders

NLHC funds psychiatric care, psychological sessions, DVA-approved alcohol and drug treatment programs, related pathology and medical imaging and services through Open Arms. Importantly, the White Card that carries NLHC coverage does not require you to have a condition accepted first: it applies to mental health treatment from the point of eligibility verification.

Your GP is usually the starting point for care. DVA confirms your NLHC eligibility and mental health cover on your White Card, and your GP can then assess your symptoms and refer you to an appropriate mental health provider.

Open Arms: Veterans and Families Counselling

Open Arms is a DVA-funded counselling service available to current and former ADF members and their families at no cost. It provides: 

• Individual
• Couple
• Family counselling

It also offers group programs focused on:

• PTSD
• Trauma
• Substance use
• Relationship challenges

Unlike clinical specialist services, Open Arms does not require a DVA card and is available to eligible current and former ADF members, as well as eligible family members. If your needs extend to specialist psychiatric or psychological treatment beyond counselling, a DVA mental health claim establishes the entitlement that funds that next level of care. We support veterans through the process of establishing access to these services.

Physical Health and Allied Health Programs

Physical health services form a substantial portion of DVA veterans health programs. Both White and Gold Card holders receive DVA-funded access to GPs and medical specialists, but the scope of that coverage differs significantly between card types. White Card access is limited to accepted service-related conditions; Gold Card access extends to all clinically necessary conditions.

Understanding what each card covers can help you make informed decisions about your care. Many veterans who hold a White Card don't realise they may be eligible for a Gold Card, and missing it means missing access to a far broader suite of physical and allied health services.

White Card and Gold Card Healthcare Coverage

White Card holders receive funded services for accepted conditions, including:

• GP visits
• Specialist consultations
• Allied health services
• Subsidised medications under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS)

Eligible Veteran Cardholders pay $7.70 per prescription item under the RPBS until they reach the annual Safety Net Threshold.

Gold Card holders receive funded treatment for every clinically necessary condition, regardless of whether it's service-related. Reaching that threshold requires accumulating 60 or more MRCA impairment points. Our Permanent Impairment Claims service support veterans in preparing and lodging claims, including gathering relevant evidence and documenting their conditions.

Across both card types, allied health services funded by DVA include: 

• Physiotherapy
• Psychology
• Occupational therapy
• Podiatry
• Exercise physiology
• Remedial massage
• Chiropractic care
• Speech pathology

A valid referral is required for most allied health services at the start of each new treatment cycle, usually from a GP, but in some cases it may also come from a medical specialist, treating hospital doctor or hospital discharge planner.

DVA Rehabilitation Programs

DVA rehabilitation sits at the intersection of veterans health programs and employment support. The DVA rehabilitation framework covers three areas: 

• Medical management
• Psychosocial support
• Vocational assistance

Each area is designed to build your capacity and functioning in areas affected by your service-related conditions.

Medical management helps you connect with appropriate health professionals and navigate veteran-specific programs in your local area. Psychosocial support addresses the social, emotional and community factors that affect your wellbeing. Vocational assistance supports your return to work through:

• Skills development
• Retraining
• Employment transition

You can request a DVA rehabilitation plan regardless of how long ago you separated from service. If a prior plan is in place and your condition has worsened, you can apply for a revised plan. For veterans still serving, Defence manages rehabilitation through the Australian Defence Force Rehabilitation Program (ADFRP) until separation. Our veterans recovery program guide explains how DVA rehabilitation connects to your broader entitlement picture.

Home Support and Community Programs

DVA-funded veterans health programs extend well beyond clinical environments. For veterans whose accepted conditions limit their ability to manage daily tasks, DVA funds practical in-home support designed to maintain independence rather than shift you toward residential care.

Both short-term support, such as post-surgery recovery assistance, and long-term ongoing help for complex or permanent conditions are available. Eligibility and service levels depend on your DVA card status and a formal assessment of your support needs.

Veterans' Home Care Program

The Veterans' Home Care (VHC) program provides low-level in-home services for eligible Gold and White Card holders who have difficulty managing daily activities due to their accepted conditions. Funded services include: 

• Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)
• Personal care
• Garden maintenance
• Respite care for carers

To access VHC, you need either a Gold Card or a White Card covering the relevant accepted condition, along with an assessment confirming your support needs. A co-payment applies for some VHC services. You can explore the full scope of entitlements available under our DVA claims services page.

Community Nursing Program

For veterans with clinical nursing needs at home, DVA funds the Community Nursing Program, delivered by registered nurses in your own home. Covered services include:

• Wound care and dressing changes
• Medication management
• Catheter care
• Injections
• Vital signs monitoring
• Health education

A written referral is required to access community nursing. This can come from any of the following:

• A GP
• Treating doctor
• Hospital discharge planner
• Relevant nurse practitioner

If DVA has accepted your conditions under MRCA, you may also qualify for MRCA-funded household services, which currently carry a standard maximum rate of $79.90 per hour, including GST in 2026. These cover tasks you cannot perform due to your accepted conditions, on either a short-term recovery or ongoing long-term basis.

Major Legislative Changes That Affect Access

The framework governing veterans health programs is undergoing its most significant change in a generation. Parliament passed the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (the VETS Act) on 13 February 2025. As confirmed in DVA’s legislation reform guidance for MRCA veterans and dependents, the major structural changes take effect from 1 July 2026.

From that date, all new compensation and rehabilitation claims will be assessed under an improved MRCA, while the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) will close to new claims.

What Stays in Place

Existing payments and entitlements under the VEA and DRCA will be grandfathered, and they will continue uninterrupted. The VETS Act also introduces the Additional Disablement Amount (ADA) for veterans over pension age with a high degree of impairment due to service-related injury or illness.

What Applies Right Now

Post 31 March 2025 DVA will only process complete claims, with incomplete submissions placed on hold until the required information is provided. Our Initial Liability Claims service prepares every claim to meet the minimum required information standard before it is lodged, reducing the risk of delays from the outset.

How Claims Connect to Accessing Support

Many of the veterans' health programs covered in this guide flow from an accepted DVA condition. In most cases, that accepted condition is what enables access to broader treatment, rehabilitation support and additional DVA entitlements. With an accepted condition, you may receive a White Card for that condition, and with 60 or more impairment points under MRCA, you may qualify for a Gold Card.

The DVA Veteran Support System at a Glance shows that as of June 2024, 352,077 veterans and family members had accessed DVA support. Given the significantly larger eligible veteran population, many are missing out on programs they have earned. We’ve supported thousands of veterans to identify claimable conditions, lodge complete claims under MRCA and access the entitlements that support their health, rehabilitation and quality of life.

Why Acting on Your Claim Matters

Veterans health programs in Australia are comprehensive, funded and structured to serve you, but eligibility depends on being in the system. The gap between entitlement and access almost always comes down to one thing: whether a claim has been lodged and accepted. Contact Veterans First Consulting today to assess whether your service-related conditions qualify for DVA health entitlements, and let us handle the process from first submission to final determination.