Release of Veteran Allied Health Discussion Paper

The Albanese Government has the greatest respect for the Australians who have served our country.

We are committed to making sure veterans and their families get the care and support they deserve. That means listening to veterans and working with them when we make changes to the services they rely on.

Consultation is now open for the new allied health arrangements for veterans through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), which will come into effect from 1 July 2027.

Under the changes, the current 12-session treatment cycle will be removed. Veterans will still need initial GP referrals but will no longer need GP referrals after every 12 sessions to access allied health care.

This will mean fewer appointments and less paperwork for veterans who need ongoing allied health care.

A new annual $5,000 review threshold will also be introduced to make sure veterans receiving higher levels of allied health care continue to receive treatment that is appropriate and effective.

Veterans who require more than $5,000 in allied health care each year will still be able to receive clinically necessary treatment.

Importantly, the threshold will not apply to Veteran Card holders receiving the Special Rate Disability Pension or Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Pension, or those who have been determined to be catastrophically injured.

The changes are backed by the Government’s $169.7 million investment to strengthen access to allied health care for Veteran Card holders. This is the largest investment in veteran allied health provider fees in more than two decades and responds directly to Recommendation 71 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which called for increases to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (DVA) fee schedules to improve access to care.

Veterans approaching the threshold will have their treatment reviewed with their health care team. They will be able to continue accessing treatment while DVA considers any request for additional care, so there is no unnecessary interruption to treatment.

We know changes to allied health care arrangements matter deeply to veterans and their families. We want to listen to their experiences and make sure the new system is less burdensome and supports veterans to get the care they need.

Feedback will help make sure changes do not result in any gap in accessing service for veterans who have a clinical need for allied health treatment.

To review the discussion paper, get involved in a consultation session or submit your feedback, visit Changes for allied health from July 2027 | Department of Veterans' Affairs, consultation closes on 30 October 2026.

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608