DVA acknowledges the ABC Four Corners episode “Defenceless” that aired on Monday 5 October, which examined activity by commercial veteran advocacy businesses and service providers.
The alleged incidents of fraud and misconduct are deeply concerning and highlight concerns held by DVA about a number of service providers and commercial advocacy businesses.
While the overwhelming majority of providers and advocates do the right thing, DVA continues to identify instances of conduct that exploits veterans and prioritises profit over their wellbeing.
Veterans should be able to trust that advice from health care providers is being provided in their best interests. Any conduct that places veterans at risk, misleads them, or seeks to profit from their circumstances is unacceptable.
Recent reforms stemming from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide have delivered faster support and increased funding for veterans and families of veterans.
In 2025–26, around $15 billion was provided in payments and services, more than 360,000 veterans and families were supported, and a record 238,389 initial liability conditions were determined.
Regrettably, the scale of major government-funded schemes – including the veteran support system administered by DVA – attracts a small minority seeking to exploit public funding for financial gain. This makes strong integrity safeguards essential to ensuring support reaches the veterans and families for whom it is intended.
The concerning behaviours identified by or reported to DVA include overcharging or inappropriate billing, referral or kickback arrangements, misleading advice, undeclared conflicts of interest, and business practices that place commercial interests ahead of veteran wellbeing. These behaviours reduce statutory entitlements payments to veterans for services they are entitled to receive for free, misuse public funding, undermine transparency, and erode confidence in the system. Most concerningly, inappropriate or misleading health care advice can cause real harm to a veteran’s health and wellbeing.
As DVA has strengthened its integrity activity, it has also seen deliberate misinformation promulgated by affected entities about the department and its actions, the threat or use of legal and administrative processes that divert resources from supporting veterans, and a sharp increase in serious and unacceptable intimidation and abuse of staff. Internal surveys indicate that much of the concerning behaviour experienced by claims staff is associated with a small number of commercial providers and commission-based advocates. While the overwhelming majority of providers and advocates engage appropriately, abuse, harassment or intimidation of DVA staff undertaking their duties will not be tolerated.
DVA identified these increased integrity risks as the veteran support system expanded, and began strengthening its response. This included increasing scrutiny of provider behaviour through targeted manual reviews of higher-risk invoices and payment claims, provider audits and investigations, and stronger financial controls. DVA has also provided veterans with clearer information about options and risks associated with some commercial services, and publicly raising concerns, including through the Senate inquiry into issues relating to advocacy services for veterans accessing compensation and income support.
This work has included updating the Department's Medicinal Cannabis Framework – introducing tighter prescribing controls, requiring initial GP consultations, and strengthening clinical safeguards to support safe and appropriate care for veterans.
In addition, the Government has invested $203.1 million to strengthen provider integrity and professional advocacy arrangements. This includes $151 million to expand DVA’s prevention, detection and enforcement capability, and $44.7 million over three years—with $21 million a year ongoing—to more than double funding for free-to-the-veteran advocacy services delivered by ex-service organisations through the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Program. DVA is now using these strengthened capabilities to pursue concerning conduct and take action where the evidence supports it.
Importantly, this work is about protecting veterans and safeguarding the system—not restricting access to care. DVA will not stand by where providers put profit ahead of veteran wellbeing, or seek to monetise a scheme intended to support those who have served. Where the evidence shows wrongdoing, exploitation or conduct that risks harm to veterans, DVA will take appropriate action.
Information from our community, including DVA staff, veterans and families of veterans, and providers is important in helping us to detect wrongdoing. Raising concerns early helps us protect veterans and strengthen the system that supports them.
If you suspect wrongdoing or have concerns about a provider you are engaged with, please provide information and supporting evidence to us via:
- Webform: Report an integrity concern
- Email: integrity@dva.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 838 372
Open Arms Counselling
Veterans and their families can access free counselling support, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day through Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling. Access military-aware counselling day or night on 1800 011 046.