The meeting was chaired by the Secretary, Ms Alison Frame, and attended by all the principal Ex Service Organisations. As highlighted at the meeting significant progress has been made in DVA in reducing the back log of claims through the employment of 500 additional staff last October and an additional 141 permanent staff within the next 3 years. This has improved service delivery considerably. Other areas of interest that we will need to continue to monitor are the possible passage of the of the harmonisation legislation this winter sitting session and the proposed establishment of a professional organisation to oversee the training and possible insurance of advocates.
At the conclusion of the meeting the Hon Matt Keogh, the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs, gave us a pre-budget brief. As you can see the 2024-25 Budget has been very favourable to veterans and the Minister and Secretary were thanked for their considerable efforts in advocating on our behalf. Essentially an additional $477 million has been allocated to increase support to the more than 340,000 veterans and families who access services through DVA. This significant investment will strengthen DVA’s capacity to deliver services and supports to the veteran community while also responding to the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
These investments will be key to not only increasing DVA’s capacity to process and make determinations on veterans’ compensation claims but also ensuring new backlogs do not accumulate going forward.
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.
In addition to the attached presentation and letter addition information about the Budget measures can be found on the DVA website.
Investing in the future – Budget 2024–25
The Australian Government is investing $477 million in the 2024–25 Budget to build capacity for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as it delivers on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
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.
An investment of $186 million over four years and $20.6 million every year from 2028–29
onwards will fund an additional 141 service delivery staff on an ongoing basis from 2026–27.
$8.4 million over two years will 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 two 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 measures 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 DVA website.
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