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For carers and family

Help for carers and family of veterans

Many veterans and war widows or widowers require the help of a carer, and many veterans are carers themselves.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) provides a range of assistance for veterans and their carers. This assistance includes:

Veterans’ Home Care

The Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) Program provides a range of home care services for eligible veterans and war widows and widowers. A VHC assessment agency will assess the need for home care services and, based on that assessment, services such as domestic assistance, personal care, limited home and garden maintenance and respite care may be provided. The VHC assessment agency may also provide referrals, with the person’s consent, to other government programs and community agencies that are best placed to meet specific needs.

To arrange a VHC assessment, call 1300 555 254 (local call). For general enquiries, call 13 32 54 (local call) or visit the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) website.

Short-term care

Short-term care, or respite care, is when a substitute carer provides relief for a person’s regular carer in an emergency or on a planned basis. It gives the regular carer a chance for some much needed rest and relaxation.

Respite care may be provided: Respite is also available in community-based day programs or homes, such as day clubs. These programs are not funded directly by DVA.

VHC is the first point of contact for members of the veteran community requiring respite care.

Convalescent care

Convalescent care may be available to an eligible veteran in a residential aged care home for up to 21 days during any financial year following a period of acute illness or surgery.

For enquiries, call 13 32 54 (local call) or 1800 550 457 (regional areas).
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Aids and appliances

A range of equipment is available through the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) to help eligible members of the veteran community minimise the impact of disabilities and assist them in caring for themselves and undertaking everyday activities. The aids and appliances range from mobility aids such as walking frames and wheelchairs, to continence products and visual aids. Specialists, such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists and nurses, assess a person’s clinical need for aids and appliances through RAP. A local doctor or other relevant health professional can arrange a referral to RAP.

For enquiries, call 13 32 54 (local call) or 1800 550 457 (regional areas).

Community nursing

DVA community nursing services are available to eligible veterans and war widows and widowers to meet assessed clinical and/or personal care needs on referral from a general practitioner, treating doctor or specialist in hospital, hospital discharge planner or VHC assessment agency. Services are provided by a contracted community nursing organisation in the person’s home. Community nursing helps restore or maintain the optimal level of health and independence of the individual.

For enquiries, call 13 32 54 (local call) or 1800 550 457 (regional areas).

HomeFront

HomeFront is a preventive program to reduce falls and accidents in the home. It provides eligible members of the veteran community with a comprehensive assessment of their home environment, financial assistance towards the cost of recommended aids and appliances and information about DVA and community support services.

Gold and White Card holders are eligible for HomeFront assistance once each calendar year.

To contact HomeFront, call 1800 801 945.
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Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service

The Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service (VVCS) is a specialised, free, confidential Australia-wide service for Australian veterans and their families. VVCS staff are professionally qualified, with skills in working with a range of problems faced by veterans and their families. They can also provide a wide range of programs and treatment for war and service-related mental health conditions.

To contact VVCS, call 1800 011 046.

Attendant Allowance

An attendant allowance may be paid to veterans who suffer from specific service-related disabilities and as a result, require continuous and permanent assistance for everyday activities such as dressing, feeding, bathing and toileting. This allowance is available where a veteran is living at home or in a community setting and is not being cared for at public expense.

Attendant Allowance is not payable if Centrelink is paying a Carer Payment (formerly carer’s pension) in relation to the veteran.

A Carer Allowance (Formerly Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit) paid by Centrelink does not prevent the payment of Attendant Allowance.

For enquiries, call 13 32 54 (local call) or 1800 555 254 (regional areas).

Recreational Transport Allowance

This allowance provides financial assistance to veterans for transport for recreational purposes. It may be payable to veterans who have specific severe disabilities accepted as service-related. The rate payable is determined by the individual veterans’ accepted disabilities.

For enquiries, call 13 32 54 (local call) or 1800 550 457 (regional areas).

You can contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 13 32 54 for more information about support for carers.

Read more: Transport services
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This page was last updated on: 05 May 2011