Families of veterans - Families of Veterans Guild

New Veterans’ Legislation

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:06:05 +0000

The new Veterans’ Legislation will come into effect from 1 July 2026. There are no changes to existing compensation payments or services. Veterans and widowed partners do not need to take any action for their payments and services provided by DVA to continue.

The improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA) will recognise medical conditions which were previously accepted under the Defence Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (DRCA) and the Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA). There is no need for any veteran or widowed partner already in the system to re-establish any form of liability for accepted conditions or service-related deaths.

New provisions make it easier for widows

The new Act includes additions which we class as an absolute advocacy win for many in our community. From 1 July 2026, the definition of a service injury will change, removing the requirement to show that a medical event that occurs on duty, such as a heart attack or stroke, was a result of the member’s service. Making the claim pathway for such deaths simpler.

Secondly, from 1 July 2026, serving members will be covered for the impacts of any unintended consequences of medical treatment provided while a member is in the ADF. This includes pre-existing conditions or preventative treatment where injuries or deaths arise from that treatment. This means that were a death of injury occurs as a result of medical treatment provided by Defence, the claims pathway is again simplified.

Both changes are significant wins for the many widow partners who have experienced difficulties in establishing liability for deaths that have arisen because of a medical event on duty, or deaths that result from medical treatment.

These were the very issues that we raised throughout the veteran’s legislation consultation and are very pleased to see them now included in the enhanced MRCA going forward.

Enhancements to existing support

From 1 July 2026, several additional changes made to the MRCA will have a positive impact on widowed partners and veteran families. These include:

Additional compensation payments available for the children of severely injured veterans.

Posthumous permanent impairment payments will be made available to widowed partners where claims were outstanding at the time of a veteran’s death.

The Repatriation Commission will be able to direct particularly vulnerable veterans to receive financial advice before receiving a lump sum permanent impairment payment.

All Gold Card holders will be eligible to claim a travel reimbursement amount of $0.68/km when a private vehicle is used for travel to approved treatment. An increase of $0.24/km from the VEA entitlement. Additionally, 50km round trip minimum distance requirements will also be removed ensuring that more veterans and their families can be reimbursed for travel costs relating to their service-related conditions.

VEA veterans having difficulties managing their domestic and personal care tasks due to service-related conditions will become eligible to apply for Household Services and Attendant Care for the first time.

Children of severely injured DRCA veterans will become eligible for the Education and Training Scheme.

Veteran funeral expenses for all service-related deaths occurring on or after 1 of July 2026 will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $14,990.

Partners of veterans who meet the requirements of a wholly dependent partner under the MRCA will be entitled to compensation and a Gold Card.

There will also be additional flexibility introduced allowing wholly dependent partner compensation payments to be turned into an age based lump-sum for claims made after 1 July 2026.

We appreciate this is all very technical and there are a number of changes that are coming online from 1 July.

We are pleased to see the movement and the greater support provided to the widowed partners and the veterans and their families already in the compensation system, however as many know we are keen to see a lot more veteran families included in the compensation system and will continue to advocate in that regard. We also continue to advocate for terminology change — Wholly Dependant Partner remains a terribly offensive choice of words to refer to widowed partners, many of whom are women.

As the new Act comes into effect it’s really important that we keep the information flowing between DVA and our community, and are looking forward to hosting a series of webinars to help you all get across the information and the additional support that is coming online.

While there is a lot of change coming into effect soon, a reminder: there are no changes to existing compensation payments or services, and you do not need to take any action to continue to receive payments and services from DVA.

As always, we are here to help, please give us call. You can also always contact DVA directly to discuss your circumstances; they can be contacted on 1800 383 372 or you can email them at generalenquiries@dva.gov.au.

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A cap on allied health is blunt and poor policy

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 21 May 2026 23:00:03 +0000

Allied health care is essential — and veterans, widows and families deserve certainty

On 12 May 2026, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) announced a $5,000 annual monetary limit on allied health services for Veteran Card holders as part of the Federal Budget.

The proposal

Taking effect on 1 July 2027, the cap on allied health services will cover services such as physiotherapy, psychology and occupational therapy. From the Government’s perspective, the policy is intended to reduce overservicing. At the same time, the Budget announced an increase in fees paid by DVA to allied health providers, described as “the largest investment in allied health fees for veterans in over 20 years.”

This proposal has drawn significant criticism and concern within the veteran community, including from war widows who hold DVA treatment cards.

To date, DVA has confirmed that card holders requiring care beyond the $5,000 limit will not be cut off. Funding may be extended above the cap where there is a valid, ongoing clinical need. However, what this means in practice remains unclear. It also appears that approval for funding beyond the cap may need to be renewed annually through a GP.

While the cap has been announced alongside a long-awaited increase in allied health provider fees—bringing DVA fees in line with the NDIS—there is a significant tension between these two policy settings. That tension has the potential to leave veterans, their families and widows worse off.

Allied health services are essential

Allied health services provided to veterans and widowed partners—such as physiotherapy, psychology and occupational therapy—are not discretionary supports; they are essential to maintaining independence, managing chronic conditions, and supporting quality of life.

While we acknowledge the Government’s investment in increasing allied health provider fees, the introduction of a $5,000 cap on services raises significant concerns.

Based on the announcement, the annual cap appears to apply not only to veterans, but to anyone with a DVA health care card, including widowed partners. Many of these widows are older, managing multiple chronic conditions, and increasingly reliant on allied health care to remain independent. For this cohort, allied health care is often preventative and maintenance-based—reducing hospitalisation, preserving mobility, and helping people remain out of aged care. Data from our recent Veteran Families Survey indicates that 51% of war widows already experience difficulty accessing health care services, 27% have experienced mental health challenges in the last 12 months, and 40% have experienced difficulty accessing mental health care. The proposed cap on allied health services is likely to further exacerbate these challenges for the widows of our veterans.

Census data indicates that veterans are four times more likely than the general population to have a long-term health condition, including arthritis and mental illness. Placing limits on allied health services that help veterans live with these long-term conditions as a result of their service is a poor way to express our nation’s gratitude. When long-term conditions are not well managed or supported, stress and pressure on veteran families also increase—particularly given that veteran families are already twice as likely as the general population to experience mental health challenges.

While we accept that there may be some overservicing occurring in the sector, a blanket cap on services is not the right way to address it when the evidence shows that need remains high. Although there appears to be a mechanism for DVA to approve service levels above the financial cap, we are highly concerned that this requirement will introduce additional administrative burden, often falling to the unwell individual or their family at a time when their capacity to navigate complex systems may already be limited.

The lack of clarity around how “clinical need” will be defined and approved may lead to delays, disrupted treatment pathways, and increased anxiety for widows and families seeking to maintain continuity of care. For those in regional and rural areas, where access to providers is already constrained, these challenges are further amplified.

We are also concerned that the policy may inadvertently increase the burden on families and informal carers. Where care is delayed, reduced or uncertain, families are often required to fill the gap—impacting their own wellbeing, financial security and ability to continue providing support.

Finally, this is a confusing policy that sends mixed signals to the community. On one hand, it says fees paid to allied health providers are being increased to improve access to services; on the other, it places an annual cap on the value of services a person can access. These two elements work against each other and may have the net effect of reducing the number of sessions a veteran or widowed partner can access from 1 July 2027.

Reforms to accessing allied health care for veterans and widowed partners must be designed in a way that reflects the lived experience of veterans, widows and their families, and does not compromise the stability of the care they rely on to live well and remain connected in their communities.

What we want to see

First, we want to see the annual monetary limit removed from the policy altogether. If that does not occur, the annual monetary limit should, at a minimum, be removed for Gold Card holders. If the Government proceeds with the policy, we must see the following safeguards:

Continuity of care safeguarded – ensuring there is no interruption to clinically endorsed treatment once it has been established.
Streamlined approval pathways – multi-year or standing approval pathways for veterans and widowed partners with chronic health conditions or high support needs, particularly for ageing veterans and widows and for veterans who meet the threshold for a Gold Card.
Minimise administrative burden – ensuring DVA designs and delivers a process that does not rely on family or carer intervention and is simple, timely and transparent.
Clear operational guidance – publishing clear criteria on what constitutes a “valid clinical need”, who determines it, and the relevant approval timeframes and review processes.
Ongoing monitoring and transparent reporting – regular reporting from DVA on implementation of the policy, including key metrics such as whether it is reducing overservicing, approval rates, access issues, and the impact on older veterans, regional veterans, and widowed partners.

We encourage all in our community to write to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs to request the removal of the annual monetary limit.

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Nature connection walk for Canberra veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 21 May 2026 02:30:14 +0000

Reconnect in nature: wellbeing walk for war widows, defence and veteran families

Walking through nature feels different with a guide who knows what to point out. War widows, defence and veteran families can join us at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary on Friday 3 July 2026 for a nature connection walk—a slower-paced, sensory take on our popular wellbeing walks.

Nature connection walk

Nature and Forest Therapy Guide Sarah Murray-Boyd will lead participants through techniques such as mindful breathing, sensory awareness, grounding, and silent observation to encourage relaxation, presence and reflection. It is a gentle, 90-minute, sensory based guided walk designed to help participants to reconnect with nature and themselves.

Attendees are invited to continue connecting after the walk at Wildbark Café. Coffee is available for purchase at own expense.

Previous attendees of wellbeing activities said “I enjoyed spending time outdoors, exploring somewhere new, getting fresh air and gentle exercise, and connecting with others who understand my lifestyle and experiences.”

Event information

Location: Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, 25 Rosenberg St, Throsby ACT 2914.
Date and Time: Friday 3 July 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Build-A-Bear workshop for Sydney veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 21 May 2026 02:28:16 +0000

A bear, a voice, a keepsake: Build-A-Bear for defence and veteran families

Bring the kids along for a morning of making something special to keep. On Friday 10 July 2026, defence and veteran families are invited to our Chatswood office for a Build-A-Bear workshop. This wellbeing activity will let each child customise their own bear with a personal audio message inside.

Build-A-Bear workshop

Each child will build and customise a bear that includes a personalised recorded audio message. The recording can contain an affirmation, favourite quote, or message from a loved one.

The small, portable bear is designed to provide comfort and a sense of connection during periods of separation by carrying meaningful memories and familiar voices.

Previous attendees have said “I enjoyed connecting and sharing conversations with others from around the country, spending quality time with my family, and participating in a a different activity.”

Event information

Location: Families of Veterans Guild Chatswood, Level 1, 9 Help St Chatswood, NSW (14min ride from Central/Ryde to Chatswood).
Date and Time: Friday 10 July 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is essential, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Entitlements update

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 15 May 2026 01:00:12 +0000

DVA pensions and allowances

From 20 March pensions and allowances received by some veterans and their families increased with the first full payment made to veterans and their widows on 16 April 2026.

The War Widow(er)’s Pension has increased $22.60 per fortnight to $1,223.40 and the Income Support Supplement has increased $6.80 per fortnight to $363.80. Wholly Dependent Partner payments under the MRCA have also increased $22.60 per fortnight to $1,223.40.

These payments include the Energy Supplement paid to DVA pensioners for more information on other pension rates please visit www.dva.gov.au.

Advocacy regulation

DVA has released a public consultation paper regarding regulating compensation advocacy services following an ongoing rise in commercial advocates engaging in behaviours and practices that prioritise profit over the health and wellbeing of veterans and widowed partners.

While we do not provide claims advocacy, we are highly invested in these reforms as they impact the experiences and wellbeing of widowed partners trying to access the compensation system and families of veterans who are engaging with it for the first time.

DVA is proposing to:

restrict exploitative fee practices;

ban offshore hosting of veteran data;

prevent misleading or deceptive conduct;

ensure fee-charging advocates are properly trained, insured and ethical; and

avoid over-regulation of ESOs and volunteers.

We are supportive of reforms that strengthen regulation of the veterans’ advocacy sector, particularly where such reform improves protections for widowed partners and veteran families navigating the compensation system.

We are concerned that current and emerging commercial advocacy practices disproportionately expose widowed partners to harm. At the time claims are lodged, widowed partners may be:

newly responsible for complex legal and administrative processes;

managing mental health impacts, caring responsibilities, or income loss; and

highly reliant on advice presented as expert, urgent or essential.

In this context, commission-based fees, contingency fees, opaque contracts and excessive termination penalties pose significant risks. These practices can materially reduce compensation intended to provide long term financial security for families after service related death, and may pressure widowed partners into agreements they do not fully understand or feel able to challenge.

The proposed reform provides an important opportunity to signal that the compensation system exists not merely to process claims, but to uphold dignity, fairness and protection for those who bear the enduring cost of service. Widowed partners and vulnerable veteran families should never be placed in a position where grief, urgency or lack of system knowledge leaves them exposed to exploitation.

Booked car with driver updates

Many of our widowed partners Gold Cards holders use DVA’s Book Car With Driver transport service. Now DVA has introduced another way to access this service by using their My Service Portal. Through the My Service Portal you can now ask DVA to arrange transport for treatment covered by your Gold Card.

DVA has also changed how you arrange transport back following your medical appointment. Now when you have finished the medical appointment, you don’t have to ring DVA to book your return back home: you can do this by ringing the transport provider. According to DVA, drivers should be giving a right of return card on the journey to the appointment, which has all the information you need to organise your journey back home. When making your return booking, use your right of return card, when calling them, simply quote your DVA number, and a driver will be back to pick you up from the appointment. If the driver has not offered a card, please ask for one.

We know that the Booked Car With Driver Service from DVA often causes a lot of angst and anxiety for many widowed partners. If you run into any trouble please do not hesitate to give us a call, and one of our Social Workers will help you out, or call DVA directly on 1800 550 455.

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Membership update

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:20:52 +0000

Thank you to the hundreds of you who have embraced our new membership model. Our new membership model is about three things: providing choice to current members, recognising the contributions of WWII widows and our volunteers; and ensuring we know who we are servicing.

We have almost completed the first stage of implementation, manually renewing the membership and applying the model to almost 300 of you. It has been pleasing to see more than 70 WWII widows and volunteers avail themselves of the free Guild Membership option.

The next phase of implementation involves the application of the Community Membership option to the broader member base and inviting new community members to join us through our social work and wellbeing services.

Further below is the membership comparison table for your reference, demonstrating the key differences between the Guild and Community Membership options. While the table notes that The Guild Digest will be distributed in hard copy to Guild Members only, as we are still in the implementation phase we are providing it to all members on our database at this time. Going forward, it will only be provided in hardcopy to Guild Members.

Community Membership provides a simple way to become involved with the organisation. From 2027 onwards, all people accessing our programs and services will be required to be at least a Community Member. This helps us ensure that everyone we support is a war widow or a family member of a veteran.

Community Members are classed as ‘non-financial’ members while Guild Members are classed as ‘financial members’ and receive access to additional benefits including participation in Governance processes.

Life Members are classed as Guild Members and there is no change to their entitlements, support or services from us.

If you have not yet renewed, and would like to, please give us a call on 02 9267 6577 or email membership@fov.org.au.

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