Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package

Last updated:

22 June 2023

Changes to the Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package from 1 July 2023

Changes to the Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package amend the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (DRCA) and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) to extend eligibility from 1 July 2023 to children of veterans in the full time care of their grandparents.

What is the Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package

The Defence, Veterans' and Families' Acute Support Package (Acute Support Package) is available to eligible veterans and their families who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing crisis, to assist them to manage complex life challenges.

Complex life challenges are more than an event, they are about the impact an event or a series of events has on a family’s ability to function. A range of supports and services are available under an Acute Support Package to help families adjust and build their capacity to respond to challenging circumstances, to assist them to function well in the future.

There is no application form to complete. Families are referred through 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) or via a referral to DVA Triage and Connect.

Eligibility

You can access support through the Acute Support Package if you are:

Widowed partners:

Under 65 years old at the time eligibility is determined; and
A War Widow(er) under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), a Wholly Dependent Partner under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) or a partner under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) whose veteran partner’s death was related to service; including suicide; and the veteran’s death was less than two years ago; and
It is appropriate to grant a package of support to assist with adjusting to new and challenging life circumstances.

Veteran families:

The family is experiencing new and challenging life circumstances that give rise to the need to support the family unit; and
The veteran is under 65 years of age at the time eligibility is determined; and
The veteran is eligible for Incapacity Payments under the DRCA or MRCA, SRDP under the MRCA, or a Special or Intermediate rate of Disability Compensation Payment, or Veteran Payment under the VEA; and
It is appropriate to grant a package of support to assist with adjusting to new and challenging life circumstances.

Veteran family members are defined in each Act as a related person of a veteran and includes:

The veteran’s partner;
A parent or step-parent of the veteran;
A parent or step-parent of the veteran’s partner;
A grandparent of the veteran;
A child or stepchild of the veteran;
A child or stepchild of the veteran’s partner;
A grandchild of the veteran;
A sibling or half-sibling of the veteran; or
A person in respect of whom the veteran stands in the position of a parent; or
A person who stands in the position of a parent to the veteran.

Former partner:

Under 65 years old at the time eligibility is determined; and
They ceased being the former veteran’s partner within the previous twelve months; and/or a child of the veteran who is under 18 years of age lives with the former partner; and
They or the child are experiencing new and challenging life circumstances that give rise to the need to support the family unit; and
The former veteran partner is under 65 years of age at the time eligibility is determined; and
The veteran is eligible for Incapacity Payments under the DRCA or MRCA, SRDP under the MRCA, or a Special or Intermediate rate of Disability Compensation Payment, or Veteran Payment under the VEA; and
It is appropriate to grant a package of support to assist with adjusting to new and challenging life circumstances.

Grandparents parenting the child of a veteran:

The grandparent is parenting the child of a veteran under 18 years of age; and
Where the veteran is deceased, the veteran’s death was related to service; including suicide; and the veteran’s death was less than two years ago; and
It is appropriate to grant a package of support to assist with adjusting to new and challenging life circumstances.

Family Circumstances

The sorts of circumstances that may impact a family and lead to a crisis may include but are not limited to:

Mental and physical heath episodes including attempted suicide;
Substance abuse issues;
Family and domestic violence incidents, including child abuse;
Homelessness;
Family conflicts and family breakdowns;
Sudden, significant events such as loss of employment or bereavement in the family;
At risk of disengagement with the community (particularly young people);
At risk of engagement with the criminal justice system;
Other instances identified at the professional judgement of a DVA case manager.

Services available

Services available will include a range of wellbeing and skills-based support services to build capacity and the functioning of the family. A DVA case manager will work with veteran family members to develop a support plan based on individual assessed needs.

The support plan will set out the services the family can access and the funding limits. The duration and level of support may vary as the family progress through their journey based on their assessed needs.

The services available can include:

Child care (including home based care, centre based care, family day care, occasional care and outside school hours care)
Counselling for adults and children (including clinical, financial and other life skills counselling where required)
Household assistance (including meal delivery and preparation, cleaning, and household and garden maintenance)
Services to build capacity (including financial literacy, relationship skills, cooking lessons and mental health first aid)
Wellbeing, academic and extra-curricular support for children (including tutoring, music lessons and sporting activities)
Transport for children to attend school and services provided through the program if required.

Funding for eligible veteran families

An eligible veteran family can access services:

Up to the value of $7,500 in the first year and $5,000 in the second year for any Acute Support Package services;
Up to the value of $10,000 each year per child under school age, for supports for the child;
Up to the value of $5,000 each year per child of primary school age, for supports for the child while attending primary school.

An eligible widowed partner and a grandparent parenting the child of a deceased veteran can access services:

Up to the value of $27,835 each year for two years for any Acute Support Package services;
Up to the value of $10,000 each year per child under school age, for supports for the child;
Up to the value of $5,000 each year per child of primary school age, for supports for the child while attending primary school.

Widowed partners and grandparents parenting the child of a veteran can access support for two years from acceptance into the program, rather than the date of the veteran’s death.

The Acute Support Package may not be suitable for all families at risk of, or experiencing crisis. If support is more appropriately delivered through other programs and support services to meet the family’s needs, we will help connect you to them.

The following circumstances are not generally events that are considered suitable for an Acute Support Package: financial distress, routine/known events, legal proceedings, court costs or fines, or natural/environmental disaster.

More information

If you want to find out how you can get support you can call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday. You can also go to www.dva.gov.au/general-enquiries and follow the prompts to send us a message.

If you need counselling support today

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling is a free and confidential 24-hour service for current and ex-serving ADF members and their families. Call 1800 011 046 or go to www.OpenArms.gov.au to get support or find out more.

If you need urgent help or support you can also go to Urgent help and support for information on organisations who can help.