DVA

Supporting Veterans and Their Families

DVA Care and Support Delivered at Home

Respectful, professional and personalised home care for eligible veterans, war widows, widowers and members of the veteran community. We help clients understand available care pathways and receive appropriate support in the comfort of home.

Discuss Your Care Needs Call Our Care Team

Honouring Service Through Quality Care

Support should recognise the person behind the service history. We focus on safety, dignity, independence and meaningful quality of life at home.

Understanding DVA

What Does DVA Mean?

DVA is the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs. It administers a range of services, treatment arrangements, compensation programs and support pathways for eligible veterans, serving and former Australian Defence Force members, war widows, widowers, dependants and families.

Depending on a person’s eligibility, DVA support may include healthcare treatment, community nursing, practical assistance at home, personal care, respite services, rehabilitation support and other approved services.

Holding a Veteran Card does not automatically mean that every service is approved. Eligibility can depend on the card type, accepted health conditions, assessed needs, clinical necessity, referral requirements and the specific DVA program.

Final eligibility and funding decisions are made by DVA or the relevant DVA assessment body. Our care team can explain our services but cannot guarantee DVA approval.
Veteran Cards

Understanding Gold and White Veteran Cards

The type of Veteran Card a person holds helps determine which clinically required treatments and services may be funded.

Veteran Gold Card

The Veteran Gold Card, formally called the Veteran Card for All Conditions, generally provides access to clinically required healthcare treatment for all medical conditions within Australia, subject to DVA requirements.

  • ✓ May support clinically required treatment for all conditions
  • ✓ May provide access to community nursing where clinically required
  • ✓ May allow access to an assessment for eligible home support programs
  • ✓ Some services may still require referral, assessment or prior approval

Veteran White Card

The Veteran White Card, formally called the Veteran Card for Specific Conditions, generally provides clinically required treatment for eligible accepted service-related conditions and other conditions recognised by DVA.

  • ✓ Coverage is generally connected to eligible accepted conditions
  • ✓ The required care must relate to an eligible condition
  • ✓ Eligibility should be confirmed before services commence
  • ✓ Referral, assessment and prior approval rules may apply
DVA-Related Support

Care Services That May Be Available

The exact services available depend on the client’s eligibility, assessed needs, referral, approved care plan and the relevant DVA program.

Community Nursing

Clinical nursing care at home may include nursing assessment, health monitoring, wound management, treatment support and other approved nursing services.

Personal Care

Assistance may include showering, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility and other approved personal routines required to support safety and independence.

Domestic Assistance

Approved practical support may include light household tasks and assistance that helps an eligible client continue living safely and independently at home.

Respite Care

Respite services may provide temporary support for the client while giving family members and regular carers time to rest or manage other responsibilities.

Medication Support

Depending on the care plan and clinical requirements, support may include medication prompting, assistance or monitoring within the worker’s authorised scope of practice.

Post-Hospital Support

Eligible clients may receive nursing or personal care after discharge where an assessed clinical need, valid referral and appropriate DVA care pathway are in place.

Access Pathways

Two Different DVA Home Care Pathways

Veterans’ Home Care and DVA Community Nursing are separate programs. Their services, assessment processes and referral requirements are not the same.

01

Veterans’ Home Care

Veterans’ Home Care is intended to provide a limited amount of practical assistance that supports eligible clients to remain independent at home.

1 Request an assessment through the VHC Assessment Agency.
2 An assessor discusses the client’s circumstances and practical support needs.
3 If services are approved, the client receives a care plan identifying the approved support.
4 An allocated VHC service provider delivers the authorised services.
02

DVA Community Nursing

The Community Nursing Program provides clinically necessary nursing and personal care in the client’s home where eligibility and clinical requirements are met.

1 The client must have an assessed clinical need for nursing or personal care.
2 A valid written referral is obtained from an authorised referrer.
3 Card eligibility and the relationship between the service and eligible condition are checked.
4 An approved provider assesses, plans and delivers care within program requirements.
Our Support Process

How We Help You Navigate the Next Steps

We make the initial conversation clear and respectful while ensuring the appropriate assessment and approval processes are followed.

1

Contact Our Team

Tell us about the client, their Veteran Card, current needs and the type of assistance being considered.

2

Review the Care Pathway

We identify whether the enquiry appears related to practical home assistance, community nursing or another care pathway.

3

Assessment or Referral

The client completes the required DVA assessment or obtains a valid referral from an authorised healthcare professional.

4

Approved Care Begins

Once eligibility and services are confirmed, care can be planned and delivered according to the authorised arrangement.

Not Sure Whether You Are Eligible?

Speak with our care team about the support you are looking for. We can explain the services we provide, identify information you may need and guide you towards the relevant assessment or referral process. DVA remains responsible for confirming eligibility and approving funded services.

Start With a Care Discussion

Have your Veteran Card and any current referral or care information available when contacting us.

Request Care Support
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About DVA Care

General information to help veterans and families understand common DVA home care and nursing enquiries.

No. A Veteran Card may provide access to eligible services, but the actual service can depend on the card type, accepted conditions, assessed needs, clinical necessity, referral and the requirements of the relevant DVA program.

A Gold Card generally provides clinically required treatment for all medical conditions within Australia. A White Card generally provides clinically required treatment for eligible accepted conditions. Program-specific rules and approval requirements may still apply.

A valid written referral from an authorised referrer is generally required for a new Community Nursing client, when a client has been out of care for the relevant period, and when a new referral is required under ongoing program rules.

Access normally begins with an assessment through the Veterans’ Home Care Assessment Agency. The assessor discusses the client’s circumstances and determines whether eligible services should be included in a VHC care plan.

Yes. Family members or authorised representatives may help with enquiries and care coordination, subject to the client’s consent, privacy requirements and any authority required by DVA or the service provider.

This depends on the program, approved service and individual circumstances. Some Veterans’ Home Care services may include a co-payment. Any applicable cost should be identified through the formal assessment and care-plan process before services begin.

Important information This website provides general information only. We are not the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and cannot determine a person’s DVA entitlement. Eligibility, referrals, prior approvals, funded services and applicable co-payments are determined by DVA or the relevant DVA assessment agency. Clients should confirm their eligibility before receiving services.