Some veterans have shared experiences where they weren’t told about hidden relationships between the people and services involved in their claim. One veteran was referred from one provider to another, only to later discover the two were linked. Another found out their advocate was also running the medical service preparing their reports, and billing DVA for both.
Others learned too late that the person who referred them was receiving a financial reward. These veterans felt like they were part of a business deal, not being supported to get the help they needed.
These experiences highlight the importance of transparency and trust when choosing advocacy support.
Watch out for:
- Undisclosed referral relationships between advocates and other services.
- Dual roles where the same provider is acting as both your advocate and medical assessor.
- Financial incentives that may influence referrals or advice, without your knowledge.
- Lack of independence, which can affect the quality and objectivity of your support.
Free advocates from ex-service organisations are independent to DVA, trained, and not financially rewarded for referring you elsewhere. They’re there to support your best interests, not profit from your claim.
Find a free advocate
You can find a free, trained and qualified advocate near you via the Advocacy Register, which lists ESOs by location and services offered. All listed organisations will try to assist you, even if you’re not a member of that ESO.
To learn more about safe, transparent support options, visit our Making a Claim guide.
DVA support
- Request an online or in person meeting with a Claims Lodgement Assistant (for non-serving members)
- Request a 1-1 appointment with a Veteran Support Officer (for serving or non-serving members)
- Call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) for help (for serving or non-serving members)
- Visit a DVA office or Veterans’ Access Network location (for serving or non-serving members).
This news item is part of our Making a Claim education initiative, where we share real-life stories from veterans who have experienced challenges when seeking support to lodge compensation and rehabilitation claims.