Investing in the future – Budget 2024–25

The Australian Government is investing $477 million in the 2024–25 Federal Budget to build capacity for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and support more than 340,000 veterans and dependants accessing its services.

This Budget continues to make progress on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s Interim Report, keeping the health and wellbeing of veterans and families a key priority.

An investment of $194.4 million over four years and $20.6 million every year from 2028–29 onwards will increase DVA’s staffing levels and fund further modernisation of its ICT.

It will fund an additional 141 service delivery staff on an ongoing basis. This is on top of the more than 500 ongoing staff DVA has employed in the last two years. It will also provide $8.4 million over two years to pilot a modern clinical case management and workflow solution.

The Government has committed $222 million in funding for the harmonisation of veterans’ compensation and rehabilitation legislation. If passed by Parliament, this reform will make it easier for veterans and families to access support.  This commitment represents a significant investment in support directly for veterans and their families and responds to Recommendation 1 of the Royal Commission.

A separate measure provides $59.6 million over three years to support continued access to valuable health and support programs for veterans and families. This includes $48.4 million over two years to support access to the Veterans’ Home Care and Community Nursing programs benefitting 45,000 veterans and war widow(er)s. It also includes the extension of the Military and Veteran Psychiatry Training Program, extension of the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT) program and extension of the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Pilot Program.

A $30 million investment commits to build more housing and provide specialist services for veterans and families who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, providing veterans and families the foundation to live meaningful lives.

Other investments in the Budget 2024–25 package include:

• $1.16 million over three years enabling the domestic War Graves program to continue to care and maintain official commemorations and memorials.
• $400,000, including $300,000 in grant funding, to extend the Supporting Veteran Owned Business Grant Program for three years, helping veterans and families open or increase the competitiveness of their own business.

Additionally, there are a range of measures managed by other Australian Government departments that benefit veterans and families, from the Treasury, the Department of Health and Aged Care and from the Department of Social Services.

For more information, visit the Budget 2024-25 page.