Federal Budget and the veteran community
In Budget 2022–23, $369 million in funding has been allocated on top of the more than $11.5 billion provided to support around 340,000 veterans and families every year.
DVA’s claims processing system is receiving additional funding to help reduce the claims backlog.
The Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program has received ongoing funding to help more eligible veterans. The funding will also provide financial support to veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder who have privately sourced a suitably trained psychiatric assistance dog prior to or shortly after the start of the Program in September 2019.
In addition, the following has been provided:
- an increase to fees for domestic assistance and personal care services under the Veterans’ Home Care program to provide more sustainable access to Veterans’ Home Care services, including for veterans in rural and regional areas
- an extension of the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment Package for a further two years to 30 June 2024
- funding to maintain incapacity compensation payments for a further year at 100% of pre-injury earnings for veterans undertaking study as part of their DVA-funded Return to Work rehabilitation program
- a grant to Invictus Australia to support the Australian team participation at the 2023 Invictus Games and 2022 and 2024 Warrior Games, and promote and encourage veteran involvement in adaptive sports across the country
- expanded services in the Family Support Package to more families, allowing them greater choice in how they use the services.
The Budget also provides a grant to support Legacy Australia to commemorate its 100th anniversary in 2023, including a remembrance torch relay from Pozieres in France, to London, and onto Australia to raise awareness of the great work Legacy does supporting veteran families.
More information on DVA’s Budget 2022–23 measures is available on the Budget 2022-23 page on the DVA website.