Rehabilitation program information for providers

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Our rehabilitation program

DVA takes a whole-of-person approach to rehabilitation. We provide this help to:

• current and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force, and
• members of the ADF Reserve Forces
• cadets

who have an injury or condition that we have accepted as related to their service under either of these Acts:

• the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA)
• the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related claims) Act 1988 (DRCA).

The program provides assistance with skill and capacity development in multiple areas of a client’s life which may be impacting on their ability to achieve their rehabilitation goals, not just factors relating to their accepted condition/s. Each rehabilitation plan is tailored to the client’s individual circumstances.

We deliver the services of the program via rehabilitation consultants who are from Comcare approved contracted rehabilitation provider companies.

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Help we offer

There are 3 types of assistance available through the rehabilitation program. What type/s of assistance a client may access depends on their circumstances and needs.

Medical management assistance

Medical management rehabilitation assists clients to understand and learn to utilise the civilian health system. The aim of medical management rehabilitation is that clients will be able to independently access treatment and support for their accepted conditions. 

Medical management services include:

• assisting clients to develop skills and strategies to find and access health professionals in their local area
• encouraging and assisting clients to find and independently access veteran and family specific assistance programs from DVA and Open Arms
• supporting clients with chronic or complex health conditions to develop skills in building their health literacy and proactively managing their health and wellbeing

These services do not include medical treatment. Clients can still access help with treatment costs through either their:

• Veteran Gold Card
• Veteran White Card

Psychosocial rehabilitation

Psychosocial rehabilitation assists with overcoming barriers that may be impacting upon a client’s wellbeing or ability to function independently. Barriers may arise due to a client’s perception of their injury or illness, changes in their life, their self-identify and place in the community.

Psychosocial rehabilitation can assist with changing these perceptions by providing education and experiences to the client to challenge these perceptions and develop new skills and thinking in relation to their barriers.

Psychosocial rehabilitation services include:

• education on managing finances
• counselling 
• life management skills courses
• building a meaningful support network

Vocational rehabilitation

Vocational rehabilitation assists clients to obtain or sustain suitable “good work” in the civilian workforce. Good work is defined as work that is safe, enables a person to be productive and engaged and contributes to financial stability, independence and personal interaction. 

As a member of the Heads of Workers' Compensation Authorities Australia and New Zealand (HWCA), our approach to vocational rehabilitation uses the HWCA principles of practice for rehabilitation providers.

Vocational rehabilitation services include:

• vocational assessments to assist with identifying skill gaps, labour market opportunities and suitable employment or retraining options 
• vocational counselling and guidance
• job seeking support
• work trials
• courses for training or learning new skills

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Your role in the rehabilitation process

There are 2 key parties involved in the delivery of the rehabilitation program:

• rehabilitation consultants from contracted rehabilitation providers (consultants)
• DVA rehabilitation services staff members (delegates)

Both work closely with our clients to ensure the rehabilitation plan meets their needs.

If you are a general practitioner you can find more information here:

• Information for general practitioners

Rehabilitation delegates

The role of a DVA rehabilitation delegate is to:

• introduce the DVA rehabilitation program to the client
• refer the client to a contracted rehabilitation provider
• ensure all parties follow relevant legislation, departmental policies and procedures when delivering the rehabilitation plan
• review client progress and participation against the goals, outcomes and timeframes set out in the client's rehabilitation plan
• send the client written advice when their plan starts and ends.

Rehabilitation consultants

The role of a rehabilitation consultant is to:

• conduct a rehabilitation assessment with the client
• work with the client to develop a rehabilitation plan tailored to the client’s needs and goals
• manage and coordinate the client's plan
• monitor the client’s progress towards achieving their goals and provide updates to DVA on this progress
• liaise with the client’s treating practitioners to optimise rehabilitation outcomes
• provide proactive, ongoing support to the client throughout the plan.

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Other providers

Other providers involved in the delivery of the rehabilitation program may include:

• health and allied health providers
• third party providers
• support service providers

Health and allied health providers

Health and allied health providers who might be involved in the client's treatment or their medical management activities on a rehabilitation plan may include:

• general practitioners
• medical specialists (cardiologist, neurologist, etc.)
• mental health professionals
• rehabilitation counsellors
• allied health professionals (occupational therapist, prosthetist, etc.). 

Third party activity providers

Psychosocial or vocational activities accessed under a rehabilitation plan may be delivered by an organisation or individual separate to the contracted provider. This organisation or individual is referred to as a third party provider. Third party providers may include:

• educational institutions (short course provider, TAFE, etc.)
• sport/exercise centres (yoga studio, gym, soccer club, etc.)
• community organisations (ex-service organisations, hobby clubs, etc.)

Support service providers

At times clients may also need to access assistance through other DVA programs we run to have their needs met.

These support services can include:

• domestic assistance like cooking, house cleaning, laundry or gardening services
• personal or nursing care for the essential and regular personal care needs of the client
• clinically required modifications to a client's place of work or where they live
• accessing clinically required aids and appliances

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Client information

If your client needs more information we have a client facing information page. You can also email the rehabilitation team at rehabilitation [at] dva.gov.au (rehabilitation[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au) for more information.