Further Investments to Support Veterans and Families

The Albanese Government is investing an additional $328.1 million in the 2023-24 Budget to support the more than 340,000 veterans and dependants accessing services through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

This builds on the $537.5 million invested in the October 2022 Budget as part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to ensuring a better future for veterans and their families.

The 2023-24 Federal Budget makes significant investments that will further reduce the veteran compensation claims backlog inherited from the former Government.

This includes:

• $64.1 million in 2023-24 to retain more than 480 DVA staff who are working to deliver frontline services to veterans and families;
• $254.1 million over four years to modernise and sustain ageing IT systems, and ensure more timely payments and access to services for veterans and families through DVA.

These investments support the Albanese Government’s response to the interim recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The Albanese Government is also expanding eligibility for the Acute Support Package (ASP) introduced in the October 2022 Budget to include grandcarers – grandparents who are full-time carers of children of veterans.

This expansion acknowledges the different challenges experienced by families and provides services such as childcare, counselling, household assistance, education support and financial aid for veteran families in crisis.

The Government is also funding critical support capabilities and programs including $2 million to continue important mental health awareness and suicide intervention training for volunteers supporting veterans.

The measures announced in this Budget are in addition to important reform work that is currently underway. We are investing to improve access to support services now, while developing a pathway to simplify and harmonise the complex, century old, veteran compensation system into the future.

Australia’s Defence Force personnel and veterans make a solemn commitment to serve and defend our nation.

Their families also make significant sacrifices to support them.

It is our duty to repay this in kind by providing effective transition, health and wellbeing support.