We know from talking with families every day that the impact of service doesn’t end with the veteran. It can be felt across families, sometimes for many years.
That’s why we recently made a submission to a Senate inquiry into DVA-funded health treatment. Rather than revisit issues that have already been resolved, we used the opportunity to highlight three restrictions that are still affecting veteran families today.
First, we want to remove the two-year time limit on additional support for bereaved partners.
Grief doesn’t follow a timetable. For many families, the first few years after a death are consumed by grief, paperwork, financial changes and simply finding their feet again. Support should be available when it is needed, not disappear because a deadline has passed.
Second, we want better protection for children of deceased veterans.
A young person can lose their Gold Card because they leave full-time education, even when their health and mental health needs continue. We’re asking for Gold Card eligibility to continue until age 25 regardless of study status, followed by ongoing access to mental health treatment through a White Card.
Third, we’re asking for better mental health treatment for veteran families.
Open Arms counselling is valuable, but sometimes families need more. Where someone needs psychological or psychiatric treatment, we believe they should be able to access it.
At the heart of all three issues is one simple principle: support should be based on need, not an arbitrary deadline, birthday or administrative rule.
When Australia says it supports veterans and their families, we want to make sure those words are reflected in the support families can actually access.
