Australia’s Veteran Support System at a Glance

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel make a pledge to serve and defend our nation, and protect the values we hold dear – freedom, democracy, equality, respect and a fair go. Pulling on an Australian service uniform is an act of bravery and self-sacrifice. It carries considerable personal risks and burdens, which families also share. 

It is the duty of all Australians to repay our veterans’ commitments in kind. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) was established to fulfil the nation’s duty to support our serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families. 

DVA is a global leader in the provision of services and supports to ADF veterans and veteran families.

From 1 July 2026, the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency will be introduced as part of Australia’s veteran support system. The agency will help veterans and the families of veterans to find, understand and connect with wellbeing support by bringing together information, services and local supports in one place. It complements existing services across DVA, Defence and the wider community, with a focus on earlier support and easier navigation of systems.

Who we support

The 2021 Census found more than half a million Australians (581,139) have served, or were currently serving, in the ADF. Of these, 84,865 were current serving or reserve ADF members and 496,276 were former serving members.

Australia dedicates $14.8 billion annually through DVA to provide support to veterans and families.

DVA works with other Commonwealth agencies, states and territories, private and not-for-profit organisations, ex-service organisations (ESOs), and others to deliver a range of supports, covering:

• Compensation
• Income support
• Physical and mental health services including counselling through Open Arms
• In-home services and community care
• Rehabilitation
• Employment programs
• Transition and community connection
• Education and other programs – including crisis support – for families
• Commemorations and honouring service

Financial support

DVA provides programs to support veterans and families during their ADF service and in civilian life. 

In 2024–25, DVA provided $10 billion in supports, including:

• Permanent Impairment payments
• Incapacity Payments
• Disability Compensation payments
• Service Pension/Income Support Supplement
• War Widow(er)’s Pension/Wholly Dependent Partner payments/Eligible Young Person payments/Other Dependant payments
• Education support for children of veterans
• Home Equity Access Schemes
• Veteran Home Loans
• Rent Assistance 

Compensation and Rehabilitation Claims 

In 2024–25 DVA supported more than 165,000 veterans and families through compensation. 

Some benefits which provide financial assistance are designed to compensate veterans for an impairment of physical injury suffered during the course of their service.

Physical Health

DVA funds access to services for physical health, and whole-of-person rehabilitation assistance. Veteran White Card holders can access funding for services for conditions related to ADF service. Gold Card holders can access funding for services for all conditions, regardless of whether they are service related.

In the 2026-27 Budget the Government made further investment in the veteran support system to deliver on recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The Government will invest $5.7 billion in 2026-27 to support the health, wellbeing and care of eligible veterans and their dependants.

As part of the Budget, the Government will be investing $169.7 million to increase fees for allied health providers from 1 July 2027. This is the largest investment in allied health fees for veterans in over 20 years and will help veterans  better access the care that they need.

Alongside this change, a $5,000 annual limit on allied health expenditure each financial year will be established from 1 July 2027. This measure includes a mechanism for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) to consider funding allied health services for veterans above their $5,000 package where there is a valid clinical need. This will ensure veterans are not disadvantaged if they require higher levels of clinical care.

From August 2026, DVA will consult with veterans, families of veterans, health service providers and peak bodies, and ex-service organisations on how the new arrangements will operate.

In 2024–25, DVA dedicated $4.7 billion to support veteran health and wellbeing through several supports and services, including:

• Veteran Cards – 105,000 Gold Cards; 193,000 White Cards
• General practitioner and medical specialist services
• Allied Health Services – Upon GP referral DVA may fund the following services for eligible conditions, including:
  • chiropractic services
  • dietician support
  • mental health services
  • occupational therapy
  • orthotic, podiatry and osteopathic services
  • physiotherapy
  • speech pathology
• Pharmaceuticals
• Rehabilitation Aids and Appliances
• Hearing Support
• Dental
• Community Nursing
• In-home supports
• Travel for medical treatment
• Non-Liability Healthcare for cancer and tuberculosis for those with eligible service
• Provisional Access to Medical Treatment Program
• Veterans’ Health Checks
• Rehabilitation Appliances Program
• Hearing Support for Veterans
• Dental
• Travel for medical treatment
• Hospital services
• Help in the home for assistance with domestic care, home and garden maintenance, personal and respite care

Mental Wellbeing

Any ADF member who has served a single day of continuous full-time service is eligible for free mental health support. Part-time Reservists who have rendered border protection or disaster relief service, or been involved in or witnessed a serious training accident, and their immediate families, are also eligible. Services available include treatment from general practitioners, psychiatrist, psychologist or clinical psychologists, amongst a range of other mental health services. 

Partners and children of veterans with Gold Cards are also able to access a range of treatments under DVA arrangements, including mental health support.

In 2023-24 DVA provided nearly $137 million to support mental health and wellbeing including:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology and clinical psychology
• Non-liability Health Care
• Trauma Recovery Programs
• Psychiatric Assistance Dogs
• Open Arms – Veteran & Family Counselling

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling – 1800 011 046

Open Arms is a nationally accredited mental health service that provides 24-hour free and confidential mental health support, as well as counselling for serving members, veterans and the families of Veterans. Open Arms delivers support which is military aware and trauma-informed. 

Open Arms services include: 

• 24-hour crisis and brief support counselling
• Counselling and treatment for individuals;
• Counselling and therapy for couples and families;
• Case management for veterans with more complex needs
• Group programs focused on early intervention, support with transition, mental health treatment, skills development and psycho-education for veterans and the families of veterans;
• Peer support program uses shared lived experience to support veterans and the families of veterans by providing hope, practical assistance, and connection.

Other mental health supports

• Non-liability Health Care
• Trauma Recovery Programs
• Psychiatric Assistance Dogs

Transitioning from military to civilian life

Leaving the ADF is not just about leaving a job, it is leaving a way of life. Moving to a civilian life can involve building new or stronger connections in a local community, and a renewed sense of purpose and direction through employment, volunteering or other actives. DVA has a number of services to assist with this life change.

• Veteran Support Officers
• Veterans' Chaplains
• Open Arms support for transitioning members, including the Stepping Out program
• Annual health check for the first five years after transfer or separation from the ADF

The Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency will launch on 1 July 2026 with foundational capability. From day one, the Agency will prioritise those who need the most support, those veterans and families who are most at risk and in the process of separating from the ADF. Family members of veterans can contact the Agency for help navigating supports, including when they are not DVA clients themselves.

This can include:

• On base support through Veteran and Family Support Officers for those in the process of transition
• Case management support for medically or administratively separating veterans who may require more individualised support

DVA also works with Defence to ensure processes are in place to support ADF members as they separate from or transfer within the ADF:

• White card on Transition – Veteran White Cards issued to ADF members who are separating or transferring to enable access to free mental health treatment for life
• Rehabilitation – Warm handover from Defence rehabilitation to DVA rehabilitation for medically separating veterans
• Defence Priority Claims – centralised processing of priority claims including medical separations

Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs

Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs provide a central access point to local veteran and family services, such as wellbeing support, physical and mental health services, advocacy, employment and housing advice, and social connection. Hubs either directly provide or facilitate access to these services in partnership with ex-service organisations, community and other organisations, and state and territory governments.

Hubs will work with the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency to provide coordinated support to veterans and families of veterans.

Support for families

Just as veterans made sacrifices for our nation, so too do their families.

DVA recognises that the experiences of miliary services is shared by the families of ADF members. Veteran families are diverse; they walk in two worlds, navigating the military and civilian world and DVA supports them to navigate both effectively. 

Support for partners

• Defence, Veterans’ and Families Acute Support Package
• Open Arms
• War widow’s and widower’s pension/Wholly Dependant Partner payments
• Gold Card
• Respite care
• Funeral support

Support for children

• Education and training schemes (for children of severely disabled or deceased veterans)
• Compensation
• Gold Card
• Open Arms 

Recognition

In 2024-25 the Australian Government dedicated $52.7 million to commemorate our nation’s war service. 

An important part of DVA’s role is to acknowledge and commemorate all those who have served Australia and its allies in wars, conflicts and peace operations through promoting recognition of their service, the preservation of Australia’s wartime heritage and official commemorations.

DVA honours the service of Australian men and women on national days of significance and recognises that appropriate recognition of service and sacrifice contributes to veteran wellbeing.

DVA also provides information and support for researchers, teachers and students wanting to know more about Australia’s military history, and administers commemorative grants programs that provide assistance to ex-service organisations and community groups to share the message of remembrance.

The Office of Australian War Graves maintains Australia’s official commemoration program which recognises all those service personnel who have served our country in war and peace operations and died as a result of this service. This is achieved through the perpetual care and maintenance of our war cemeteries, individual graves, plaques and memorials that commemorate veterans who died as a result of their war or operational service. Australia recognises and honours more than 350,000 eligible veterans in Australia’s official commemoration program.

Accessing Services and Supports

Veterans and families can access physical and mental health and wellbeing supports through their GP, with over 99% of services provided with DVA's only involvement being to pay the bill.

In instances where a veteran’s needs are more complex, DVA can provide additional support to health care providers. In 2023–24 19,714 request for prior approval for such cases were received and 85.65% were approved.

For anyone struggling to navigate supports and services, or who are presenting as at-risk, DVA provides case management support. In 2023–24 case managers supported 7586 clients, and on average 115 clients are supported each week by community-based case managers through the Wellbeing and Support Program (WASP).

DVA provides services through 19 dedicated Veteran Access Network offices and 318 Services Australia service centres.

DVA information and support is available on four Services Australia Mobile Services Centres (MSC) to support veterans and families living in rural and remote locations.

Ex-Service Organisations

An ex-service organisation (ESO) is an independent organisation that works to support current and former ADF members and families. ESOs can provide a large range of supports and are a critical part of providing a stable support system for veterans and families.

Some of the support ESOs provide include:

• help accessing payments and other benefits by advocating for you
• visitation services at home, hospital or an aged care home
• help seeking financial support, employment or vocational studies
• a variety of social activities to help you make friendships and to improve general health and wellbeing.

There are a range of grants available to ESOs designed to assist them in their work to support veterans.