Introduction to DVA

DVA stands for the Department of Veterans' Affairs and it is relevant and important to you now while you are in uniform and will be in the future when you leave us and return to civi street.

DVA provides medical treatment, rehabilitation, compensation, financial support and other services.

So how does this affect me I hear you ask – if I need medical treatment I go to the RAP; if I need rehab – the ADFRP people help me, Defence pays me every fortnight etc.

Who will pay for your medical treatment after separation? – DVA will pay for treatment for conditions accepted as being caused by your service.

Still not interested? What if you suffer a serious injury while still in uniform that interferes with your ability to carry out day to day activities such as lawn mowing, ironing or other household duties – DVA may be able to assist.

What if an injury results in your early return from deployment and you lose deployment allowance? – DVA may be able to pay you those allowances until the date of your original expected date of return.

What if a service caused injury results in a permanent impairment but you can still undertake your duties? – DVA may be able to make a payment to you because of the permanent impairment.

DVA does participate in the ADF Transition Seminars, but DVA is more than just about what happens after you separate.

Please listen to ??..and act on the advice given and you will find that you will be less stressed when you need DVA in the future.

It doesn't matter where you are posted, you will always have access to DVA staff.

It is important to us that you understand that DVA is a part of the rest of your life, so please welcome ???.

What is DVA and What's in it for me?

What is DVA – and what does it offer to current and former ADF personnel?

• Rehabilitation

• medical, quality of life and vocational – post separation
• quality of life – while still in uniform

• Compensation – for injuries and diseases that military service has caused, aggravated or contributed to;
• Income support – where loss of income is the result of the effects of a service caused condition (includes lost allowances). Separate from Comsuper (DFRDB/MSBS):
• Transition Support – TMS (Transition Management Service);

• Counselling services through VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service;
• Health & Wellbeing information and programs: the Right Mix; Put your Mind at Ease; Cooking for one or two; etc
• Insurance – house and contents Insurance through the Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme – extremely competitive rates and comprehensive benefits;
• Pension at age 60 – Income & Asset tested for those who have Qualifying service – requires overseas service that has been classified as war-like service. (applications to confirm Qualifying service can be made at any time)
• Gold Card at age 70 for those with Qualifying service (irrespective of Income & Assets) – provides treatment for all medical conditions irrespective of cause.

Debunking the Myths and FAQ

• Veteran – I'm not a veteran – I'm still in uniform.

A veteran is a current or former member of the ADF who has been on operational service.

You don't have to be “old” or discharged from the ADF to be a veteran or get assistance from DVA.

• DVA is only for people who have discharged from ADF.

DVA is not just for people who have discharged from the ADF. DVA may be able to provide a range of services and benefits while you are sill serving (and after discharge) if you have an injury or medical condition that has been contributed by your military service.

• What can DVA do for me whilst I am still in uniform?

If you have suffered an injury or disease that has been caused by your military service, you can make a claim at any time to establish liability. This will mean that when you need to access benefits from DVA in the future, the process has already been started. Importantly, if you are unable to perform your normal household services such as house cleaning or lawn mowing because of your accepted condition (and there is no one else at home to do these things), DVA may be able to provide those services for the period of your incapacity – even whilst you are in uniform.

• I have been medically downgraded and identified for medical discharge. What can DVA do for me?

DVA will assist you with information about your discharge process through our Transition Management Service (TMS). TMS is a service that will assist an ADF member who is being medically discharged with his/her transition to civilian life.

• Why should I copy my own medical documents?

You do not have to copy your documents as DVA can request them from Defence. If however you already have a copy, they can be supplied with your claim which may speed up the process.

• DVA process the claims so they cannot assist with submitting my claim

DVA staff can assist you to complete the claim forms and advise you about the supporting documentation that you need to provide, just give them a call or drop in to your local DVA office.

• It will cost me to have a representative to help me put in my claim.

Ex-service Organisations do not charge for their services, however they may ask for a small fee to cover photocopying expenses.

You should ask about fees if you engage a legal representative.

• I can't get to a DVA office

Phone DVA on 133 254 and you will be put in touch with their office.

You can find out the location of your nearest office or ask when a DVA representative might be visiting your area.

• Why do DVA say that they are “investigating” my claim?

The word ‘investigate' is normally used to refer to the administrative process of determining your claim for example; what is the medical diagnosis? What is the link to your service? Does it meet the legislative requirements?

• It's obvious that my military service caused my condition – I was fit before I enlisted and now I am suffering with X. So my service caused X.

In order to determine that your condition is service related, DVA is required by legislation to obtain supporting evidence from the Department of Defence. Additional medical information may also be required.

• Why do I have to fill in any paperwork? – it's recorded in my med docs. Why do I have to prove that I'm busted?

It is a legal requirement that before compensation (including medical treatment) can be provided, the person claiming must submit a claim to DVA with the relevant documentation.

• It took 3 years for my claim to be finalised and the Service Charter states that claims will be finalised in 120 days.

Whilst some claims will take longer than others to finalise, it is possible that after the initial liability was accepted then it was necessary for the impairment from your condition to stabilise before any compensation could be paid.

Alternatively, if your first claim for liability was rejected and you asked for a review, then our Service Charter starts the clock again when the appeal is lodged.

• I got back a letter saying that liability had been accepted, but I didn't get any money.

After it has been accepted that your military service contributed to your condition, DVA then needs to establish what available benefits you may be entitled to. If you did not indicate on your claim form what benefits you are seeking, you should contact DVA to discuss your possible entitlements. Your entitlements can change based on your circumstances and you should request DVA to review your entitlements should your circumstances change.

DVA Can present info to you and your soldiers. Suggestions!

• induction seminars

• Pre-deployment briefing

• Post deployment briefing

• Unit meeting/CO hour

• Geckos (family centre)

• Family days

• Medical staff

• Welfare officers

• Chaplains/padres

• DSG staff

Rehab, Compensation, Advice and Counselling

DVA provides rehabilitation and compensation to ADF personnel whose injuries/ medical conditions are caused by their military service. To access these DVA services you must submit a claim so that a decision can be made about the connection between the injury/condition and your military service. If you are returned early from deployment because of injury, discuss this with DVA as you may be entitled to be compensated for lost allowances. Importantly DVA will be responsible, after your discharge, for rehabilitation and medical treatment for those accepted conditions.

Rehab and Compensation Site

DVA also provides counselling through the VVCS: Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service. Access to counselling is not dependant on the claims process. Call 1800 011 046 to discuss your eligibility for this service

DVA staff are available in Townsville to provide information and assistance to you and your family. The local DVA office is at 150 Walker Street and DVA also has staff on site at Lavarack Barracks 5 days per week. We invite you to come and talk to us about your own situation because there are never 2 members with identical circumstances. DVA provides training to members of Ex-Service Organisations (ESO) so that they can assist you to deal with your claims. If you have been medically downgraded and identified for discharge on medical grounds you will be offered assistance from DVA staff through our Transition Management Service (TMS). Our TMS officer has an office adjacent to the Ambulance parking bay at LBMC and can be contacted on 4771 7491. If you have elected to discharge from the ADF then it is also important to contact DVA to check what services we offer for you after you have transitioned out of the ADF. If you have any questions for DVA, contact your local office by calling 1300 550 461 or 1300 55 1918. If you are experiencing difficulties with DVA services, please contact the Director of Client Access on 4722 3302.

Defence Service Homes Insurance (DSHI) Scheme

Through the Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme (DSHI), DVA offers Building and Contents insurance to eligible persons.

Are you eligible for DSH Insurance? You may be eligible if you have an entitlement under the Veterans' Entitlements Act (1986) ( this includes AASM qualifying service) or you have a Defence Home Owner Loan. Call 1300 552 662 to discuss your eligibility and options. Ask for a checklist to compare your existing policy with the DSHI policy. Further information is also available at:

Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme

Contact Details for Townsville (will also help Sydney Based units of 3 Bde)

Justin Shaw

DVA Townsville Office
150 Walker Street
(opposite Commonwealth Centre)
(limited parking available under building for visitors to our office)

Justin Shaw Director Client Access on 4722 3302 for

Assistant Director Military on 4722 3322

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation enquiries 1300 550 461

General DVA enquiries on 1300 55 1918

Help at Lavarack Barracks

DVA services at Lavarack

Transition Management Service
(for personnel discharging on medical grounds)

And

Claims Assistance

Visit staff in Business Centre (next to 4 Fd Regt)

Monday – Friday by appointment

Phone: 4771 7491 or 1300 550 461 or 4771 8690

Link to Department of Veterans Affairs Website

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides advice and services to soldiers and veterans. It is worth knowing how the Department can help and the DVA office here in NQ is particularly good. Details will be posted here soon. In the meantime visit the National DVA Website.

Department of Veterans Affairs