Veterans
We’re working to make sure Australian veterans can access vital occupational therapy services, and that OTs can operate efficiently and sustainably to support veterans. Our advocacy efforts are supported by the OTA Veterans National Reference Group, which is made up of OTA members who deliver services to veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs scheme.
Member Priorities
- Implementation of the Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to make it easier for veterans to access health care and increase provider fees.
- Further improvement to the Department of Veterans Affairs schedule of fees for OTs, after our previous member campaign contributed to a 27 percent fee increase in 2011.
- Better communication between the DVA and allied health professionals.
- Removal of treatment cycle referral requirements for occupational therapy services.
- Reducing DVA red tape to make it easier to receive payments and submit claims.
Our Advocacy
We meet with DVA and attend the DVA Health Provider Partnership Forum on a quarterly basis to raise systemic issues that are brought to our attention by members and seek solutions.
In 2022, we made a submission to the Royal Commission Inquiry into Defence and Veteran Suicide in 2022 to:
- Advocate for better access to OTs for veterans, especially in the mental health space.
- Increase the scope of services veterans can access from OTs.
- Call for an increase to OT fees.
The Commission’s Final Report was published in September 2024 and Recommendation 71 echoed OTA’s calls for an increase to provider fees.
Read OTA’s statement in response to the Final Report below.
How you can help
We welcome feedback about your experiences working under the DVA scheme and your ideas about how these services can be improved.
We will take your feedback to the government and key stakeholders to advocate for better outcomes for OTs, and the veterans you support.
