Supporting veterans in transition

Transitioning from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) into civilian life can be a challenging time for veterans and their families. Here are some things you can do to help you support patients going through this life change.

Find out if your patient is eligible for DVA supports and services

To DVA a veteran is any person who has served in the ADF. They may be currently serving in the ADF or ex-serving. Some serving or ex-serving personnel may not identify with the term ‘veteran’.

To find out if your patient may be eligible for DVA support and/or services ask them:

• “Have you ever served in the Australian Defence Force?”
• If yes ask “do you have a Veteran Card?”
• If they have a Veteran Card it is important to know what conditions will have related care covered by DVA. This can be seen on MyService which the veteran can open in front of you.

If they have served but do not have a card, they can apply through MyService or by calling 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).

Improve your understanding of the experience of veterans and families

Understanding the veteran experience will make it easier for you to build a relationship with your patient and give them the support they need.

Many personnel leaving the military report experiencing feelings of uncertainty and a loss of confidence, however most successfully make the adjustment to civilian life. For some, however, the move away from the structure and familiarity of military life can be overwhelming.

A range of factors influence how well an individual transitions from the ADF into a predominately civilian life. Some people are ready and manage the period of transition well. Some are not, particularly if discharged at short notice. Loss of identity, support networks, purpose, activity, and possibly income, may make transition hard.

Undertake education at VETs HeLP: Veterans Healthcare eLearning Platform or visit Understanding the veteran experience for more information about the unique needs of veterans and their families.

Support your patient to access the civilian health system

The mainstream health system is quite different to a veterans’ health care experience while in Defence.

ADF members receive all their primary health and dental care from on base ADF health facilities staffed by both uniformed and contracted health staff. Defence health services are free and do not require ADF members to have a Medicare card to access care. Appointments are made on behalf of serving members and wait times are often short.

Some veterans may need support to navigate the civilian health system.

Encourage your veteran patient to:

• get a Medicare card, as well as a Veteran Card if eligible.
• register with MyService to submit claims, view their status, book transport and more.
• consider if Private Health Insurance is right for them.
• set up access to relevant online health records including local health apps eg  my health app, HealthRecord.

You could also tell them about, or direct them to, the following information:

• HealthDirect’s site to assist with Finding a health provider when required, and explain when a GPs referral is required.
• Health services for the veteran community.
• Australia’s healthcare system - healthdirect.
• Our Transition Support webpage for veterans.

Consider mental health services

If your patient is in crisis we have information to assist you to support them, and a list of other supports available.

DVA fund a range of mental health services for eligible veterans and family members.

Any veteran who has completed one day of full-time service in the ADF can access funded treatment of mental health conditions under Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) (mental health).

Open Arms

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (Open Arms) include a free 24-hour confidential counselling service for veterans and their families. They also offer counselling, group programs, peer support and care coordination. Veterans and their families are able to self-refer to Open Arms by calling 1800 011 045 at any time, and with consent a General Practitioner or other health professional can refer a client by calling the 1800 number or via the online referral form found on the Open Arms website – Referring a client to Open Arms | Open Arms.

Consider transition supports

Stepping Out

If your patient is struggling with their transition connect them with additional transition supports.

Stepping Out is a free program that Open Arms offer to all ADF members and their families that provides techniques and tools to plan for and adapt to life after the ADF. Members can attend Stepping Out prior to separation or any time after they have left the ADF.

Programs like Soldier On and Mates4Mates focus on building a supportive community for veterans. These organisations provide various activities, social groups, and peer support networks to help veterans reconnect with civilian life.

Undertake medical assessments

Veterans’ Health Check

The Veterans’ Health Check is tailored to assess a veteran's physical and mental health to help them stay well after they move into civilian life.

Visit Veterans’ health check for providers to access our custom Veterans’ Health Check Assessment Tool.

Compensation assessments

DVA use medical assessments from GPs, psychiatrists and other healthcare providers to provide information to ensure veterans are appropriately compensated for injuries or illnesses they incurred as a result of their service in the defence forces. These assessments help us to understand:

• If the veteran’s injury or illness was a result of their ADF service
• What compensation and support the veteran needs.

Visit our medical assessment form tips webpage to view our quick guides to find out what you need to do and how you can get paid.

Provide or help veterans access DVA funded services

Allied health treatment cycle

The treatment cycle aims to improve the quality of care for our clients by supporting better coordination and communication between GPs, allied health providers and clients. Under treatment cycle arrangements referrals to allied health services are valid for up to 12 sessions of treatment or 1 year, whichever ends first. Clients can have as many treatment cycles as their GP decides are clinically necessary.

Coordinated Veterans’ Care

The Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program is available to eligible veterans with one or more chronic conditions and complex care needs which places them at risk of hospitalisation. Managed by the patient’s usual GP and care coordinator (typically a practice nurse), the program aims to improve participants’ wellbeing and quality of life while reducing the risk of hospitalisation.

Provisional Access to Medical Treatment

The Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT) program enables veterans who have submitted a claim for one or more of the 20 most commonly DVA accepted conditions, to receive provisional medical and allied health treatment for those conditions while their claims are being considered.

View our Extension to Provisional Access to Medical Treatment provider news article for information on who is eligible, how it can be accessed and what treatment will be covered.

Help veterans access social support

Veteran Support Officers

Veteran Support Officers (VSO’s) are located on Defence bases nationally and agreed Veteran and Family Hubs to provide personalised support, claims submission assistance and education to serving members and families about eligible DVA support services.

If your patient is thinking about leaving military, you should encourage them to contact a VSO by emailing VSO [at] dva.gov.au (VSO[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au) as soon as possible.

Financial support

Transitioning to civilian life has associated changes to income and living costs for many veterans, particularly if your patient is transitioning unexpectedly.

Your patient can visit Sort your finances for more information about how DVA can help them manage finances.

Open Arms also offers veterans advice to help Manage finances.

Veterans’ and Families Hubs

Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs deliver integrated support to veterans and families and improve access to local services which may include wellbeing support, advocacy, employment and housing advice, social connection and physical and mental health services.

Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs are open to all current and former serving ADF members, including reservists and their families.

Veteran Employment Program

The Veteran Employment Program (VEP) improves support for veterans as they transition to civilian employment, whether they want to work for an organisation or build their own business.

It also helps Australian organisations create work environments to bring out the best in their veteran employees. The Veteran Employment Program (VEP) supports Australian organisations to improve employment outcomes for veterans. The VEP promotes the skills veterans bring to the civilian workforce and supports employers to recruit and retain veterans and build veteran-inclusive work environments.

The VEP website offers a Veteran Employment Toolkit, a list of organisations who have joined the Veteran Employment Commitment and information including finding and getting a job, identifying and building your skills and beginning civilian employment.

The Client Support Program

The Client Support Program provides contemporary veterans with complex or multiple needs with support to access DVA entitlements and critical support services. Medical practitioners can discuss a referral by contacting DVA on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) and saying “triage and connect”.

Ex-service organisations

Local ex-service organisations may offer various support and advocacy services. Information about ex-service organisations can be found at What is an ex-service organisation?

Support for families

Transitioning from the ADF to civilian life can be a challenging time for veteran families. Remember that civilian life can be very different to full-time military service and presents a range of unique challenges to healthy relationships.

Open Arms offers a range of supports for veterans to Build healthy relationships, as well as help for Families.

DVA can offer Support for families in some circumstances.

Resources/useful links

• DVA Quick Guides and Tools
• Veterans HealthPathways
• Training courses
• Treating a veteran in crisis