Research and Studies
Health research and social research publications
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs carries out a wide range of research to support the health and wellbeing needs of veterans and families of veterans. This page brings together a range of DVA commissioned research, evaluations and literature reviews.
Readers should note that some older publications may reflect the evidence base and policy context at the time they were produced and may not fully align with current research, practice, or priorities.
A list of current projects can be seen at Current Research Projects.
Service access needs, experience and barriers of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australian Defence Force veterans
2026The Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned the University of New South Wales to design and conduct an exploratory qualitative research study to better understand culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) veterans' service access needs and experiences, and the enablers and barriers to engaging with the veteran support system. The research offers preliminary insights into how the veteran support system may better meet the needs of CALD veterans and families of veterans.
Veteran self-employment experiences and wellbeing impacts
2025The Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned ORIMA Research to conduct a qualitative study on the experiences of self-employed veterans and the impact of self-employment on their wellbeing.
Analysis of Australian Suicide Prevention and Postvention Programs
2025The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) commissioned Australian Catholic University (ACU) National Centre for Veterans and Families to determine the number and accessibility of suicide prevention
Investigating best practice approaches to the delivery of in-home domestic assistance
2025DVA commissioned La Trobe University to investigate literature on best practice in in-home domestic assistance programs in order to provide a contemporary evidence base to inform any future policy and program development aimed at improving DVA domestic assistance service offerings to veterans and families.
Veterans' Needs in Aged Care literature review
2024The Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to identify and synthesise existing research on older veterans, and their families’ experiences and needs in aged care. The project was commissioned to inform any future improvements to the way aged care is delivered to veterans and to identify gaps in understanding of the needs of older veterans and their families in aged care settings.
CVC Program Evaluation Final Report
2024The Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned Abt Associates to undertake an evaluation of the Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program. The evaluation was commissioned as part of a 2020-21 Budget
Evaluation of the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Pilot Program
2024The Department commissioned an independent evaluation of the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Pilot Program to assess the utilisation of veterans’ chaplaincy support services by transitioning veterans and their families and the effectiveness of the program.
Ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel in corrective services systems in Australia
2023The Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned Flinders University to undertake research into the experiences of ex-serving Australian Defence Force Personnel in corrective services systems in
Protective Factors of DVA's Community Nursing program (2023)
2023The Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned the University of Sydney to identify the client and service factors associated with the Community Nursing program achieving its primary aim of enabling
DVA Health Programs Evaluations Approaches Review Report (2023)
2023The Department of Veterans' Affairs commissioned Ernst & Young to conduct a review of better practice approaches in the evaluation of health and wellbeing programs. The aim of the review was to