DVA made a record number of decisions on veterans’ health conditions in 2025–26, resulting in more treatment, services and support being provided to veterans and families of veterans than ever before.
In 2025–26, 52,023 veterans lodged claims with DVA, up 14 per cent on 2024–25. During the year, DVA determined 238,389 conditions – the highest number on record and a more than 19 per cent increase on the year before. Many claims involve multiple health conditions, each requiring a separate assessment and decision. Each of these decisions represents a formal determination about a veteran’s health condition and their entitlements under the veteran support system.
Approximately $15 billion was spent on payments and services for veterans and their families last financial year – some $5 billion more than four years ago. This included around $10 billion in compensation payments and a further $5 billion on healthcare and treatment, representing the highest level of investment in the history of the veteran support system.
DVA is proud of this achievement, which reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting veterans and families of veterans. The commencement of the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (VETS) Act on 1 July 2026 is only expected to continue to improve the veteran support system and make it simpler for veterans and families of veterans to navigate.
Australia has one of the most generous and comprehensive veteran support systems in the world.
We also acknowledge that record levels of support and Government expenditure attracts those who would look to exploit the system. We’ve seen this in other large schemes and unfortunately the veteran support system is not immune to those looking to exploit veterans and families of veterans for their own commercial gain.
The overwhelming majority of providers and advocates do the right thing. However, DVA continues to identify instances of inappropriate billing, over-servicing and conduct that places commercial interests ahead of veteran wellbeing.
DVA will not stand by while veterans are misled, pressured, or exposed to conduct that prioritises profit over their wellbeing.
That is why the Government has invested $203.1 million to strengthen program integrity and veterans’ advocacy, including $151 million to strengthen provider integrity capability within DVA.
DVA is also drawing on the experience of agencies such as the NDIA, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Government Fraud Fusion Taskforce in identifying and responding to fraud, exploitation and other misconduct. This advice is helping strengthen our ability to protect the veteran support system from bad actors and those who seek to exploit veterans and families of veterans, particularly vulnerable members of the community.
These measures are directed at a small number of individuals and entities where there are concerns about misconduct or inappropriate billing. For context, this currently includes 23 compensation assessment providers out of 6,575 providers. The measures are not directed at veterans or the many providers who support them professionally and ethically every day. Importantly, this work is about safeguarding a system that has supported veterans and families of veterans for decades, not restricting veterans’ access to care. DVA will continue to ensure veterans and families of veterans can access appropriate healthcare, treatment and compensation while strengthening safeguards against misuse.
DVA will continue working with veterans, families, health professionals, advocates and ex-service organisations to ensure the veteran support system remains fair, sustainable and focused on supporting those who have served our nation.