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Developments in Health

In 2001–02, the Department continued its health strategy of preventative measures aimed at improving the general health and well-being of the veteran community, while streamlining access to hospitals and allied health services for entitled veterans and war widows/widowers. The Veterans’ Home Care program, which commenced in January 2001, continues to deliver positive results for the veteran community. The program is designed to help veterans and war widows/widowers live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. In the year to 30 June 2002, 44 043 veterans and war widows/widowers were assessed and more than $51.9 million was paid for services to veterans and war widows/widowers. In line with the Government Online Strategy, the program continues to provide services based on e-commerce in the aged and community care sector, with 32 assessment and coordination organisations and approximately 300 service providers accessing the DVA website to enter assessments and referrals, approve services and claim payment.

The year saw an increased coverage of DVA’s veteran partnering arrangements with private hospitals. Contracts have now been finalised with selected hospitals in all States, most recently in non-metropolitan Western Australia. These contracts which enable doctors to admit entitled patients for quality hospital care without prior approval from the Department, have been well received by both the veteran community and health providers.

Health promotion remains a major priority for the Department and aims to help the veteran community realise its full potential for health and well-being. The Department launched the 2001–2005 Health Promotion Strategic Plan Choose Health! in September 2001. This will guide the planning, implementation and evaluation of health promotion programs for the next five years and encourages members of the veteran community to take individual responsibility for their own health.

The Department continues to provide support for Vietnam and younger veterans. A crisis relief project was launched during the year, with a pilot strategy to provide ‘time out’ accommodation for Vietnam veterans facing a possible family break-up. The Department also assisted veterans to attend training sessions on suicide prevention and extended the Men’s Health Peer Education Project to more than 200 trainers nation-wide.

Agreement was reached with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to complete the Female Vietnam Veterans Health Register. Other initiatives included ‘Pathways to Care’ research for newly compensated veterans, partnerships with the ex-service community to promote safe alcohol use and continuing advancement of the Department’s mental health strategy.

A new Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service Australia for the administration of the Veterans’ Vocational Rehabilitation Scheme, which has now had more than 670 clients since its inception in late 1998. The VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service reached agreement of an evaluation strategy for the national Vietnam Veterans Sons and Daughters Program and continued to roll out the national Heart Health program.

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