New wellbeing agency set to commence on 1 July
A new wellbeing agency focused on veteran and family wellbeing will begin operations on 1 July this year.
The Australian Government is investing $78 million over 4 years from 2025–26 to establish the new agency within DVA.
In 2025, veterans, families and service providers shared their experiences and ideas through consultation and co-design activities. The message was clear: the wellbeing system needs to be easier to navigate, more inclusive of families and grounded in lived experience. And it should be focused on prevention and early support for those in the process of transition – not just provide a crisis response.
Those priorities are now shaping the practical design of the new agency.
Based on what was heard through consultations, the agency’s role has been defined around 5 core functions:
- Wellbeing education, prevention and early intervention
- Transition planning and preparedness
- Navigation and referrals to wellbeing supports, including acute, complex and crisis support
- Life-stage transitions and community connection
- Wellbeing monitoring and feedback
Together, these functions provide a framework for how the agency will develop capability to connect and integrate, supporting access to early prevention and support, which underpin the agency’s approach.
A new website will provide accessible wellbeing information tailored to the veteran community. By making information clearer and easier to find, the agency aims to support earlier help-seeking and informed decision-making.
Improving navigation across the wellbeing system is a key early priority. A new service directory will be developed and made available through the website. It will focus on trusted local and community-based services, making it simpler for veterans, families of veterans, and supporters to navigate the system and find services within their local communities.
For those who would benefit from additional assistance, the agency will also provide access through a dedicated phone line. This will help individuals and families who require additional assistance to connect with the right services at the right time, reducing confusion and improving coordination across the system.
The agency’s role is to strengthen connection and access, complementing existing clinical and compensation services rather than replacing them.
Families play a critical role in wellbeing and transition, and their inclusion has been central to the agency’s design. Support will be available to families who need help finding and accessing appropriate services, including those delivered through Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs. This approach recognises that wellbeing impacts the whole family and that families play an important role in help-seeking and recovery.
Lived experience will continue to inform how the agency develops. Ongoing engagement with veterans and families will continue as the agency grows, helping ensure services remain practical, relevant and responsive to the needs of the community.
The agency will commence operations on 1 July 2026 and will be established progressively, beginning with an initial focus on supporting at-risk ADF members transitioning out of service. Its capability will develop over time, informed by ongoing engagement, evidence of what is working, and lessons learned during early implementation.
DVA will share further updates as the agency continues to take shape. For more information, visit the DVA website.