The Australian Government handed down the 2026-27 Federal Budget on 12 May 2026, including further investment in the veteran support system to deliver on recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Significant measures for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) include:
Continuing to support veterans and their families
$169.7 million over five years from 2025–26 (and $58.8 million per year ongoing) to increase allied health provider fees for Veteran Card holders from 1 July 2027.
This responds to Recommendation 71 of the Royal Commission and is the largest investment in veteran allied health provider fees in more than 20 years. This will improve choice and availability of services for veterans and families of veterans.
This investment will be supported by the introduction of a $5,000 Annual Monetary Limit for veterans’ allied health services from 1 July 2027. Under this arrangement, Veteran Card holders will continue to access the treatment they need, while ensuring they are not taken advantage of by providers looking to increase profits through overservicing.
This measure also includes $3.4 million over two years from 2026–27 to extend the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT) program to 31 December 2027. The extension to the program is made in recognition of Recommendation 96 of the Royal Commission and provides access to medical treatment for ill and injured veterans who are awaiting a liability determination on their claim.
Establishing the National Veterans Data Asset (NVDA)
$29.8 million over 3 years from 2026-27 will establish the National Veterans’ Data Asset (NVDA).
Implemented in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, the NVDA will be a comprehensive data resource, bringing together information from Defence, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), and State and Territory sources to better inform policy, service delivery and program evaluation.
This responds to Recommendation 107 of the Royal Commission and will create the most comprehensive data source available to support improved health and wellbeing outcomes for veterans their families.
These measures respond to Royal Commission recommendations:
- 71 – which called for DVA health fees to be increased,
- 107 – which called for the establishment of the NVDA, and
- 96 – which called for ongoing funding for the PAMT program.
In addition, the establishment of the NVDA will support the implementation of further recommendations, including:
- informing Comcare’s regulatory approach to preventing psychosocial harm (Recommendation 58),
- enabling research into the health and wellbeing of Defence families (Recommendation 121), and
- supporting the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency (Recommendation 87) in co-designing wellbeing support programs and services.
To find out more about the 2026-27 Budget measures, please visit the Budget 2026-27 webpage.