DVA - Enews

This issue we look at news across DVA as we near the end of the year.

Veterans' Health Week encourages the veteran community to consider their health needs and suggests positive changes to live stronger, healthier and happier lives.

This year’s theme is building on the strengths of the veteran community – mental wellness. DVA is working in partnership with ex-service and community groups to develop and fund a program of activities across Australia.

For more information on how to get involved visit the website. A list of events in each state will be available closer to the date.

From 1 October a network of trained DVA officers will be deployed to selected ADF bases across Australia as part of the On Base Advisory Service.

The On Base Advisory Service is an extension of existing DVA services. It will simplify the interaction between ADF members and DVA, resulting in a more streamlined and integrated approach to supporting wounded, injured or ill ADF members.

This service is part of the Support for Wounded, Injured or Ill Program (SWIIP) – a joint initiative between Defence and DVA to deliver consistent and simplified support to all wounded, injured or ill members.

On Base Advisors will be located within selected Defence Health Centres on either a full or part-time basis. For more information on the service contact DVA in the first instance on 133 254 or for regional callers 1800 026 185 and ask to speak to an advisor in your region.

DVA is now on Facebook! Registered Facebook users can log on and ‘like’ DVA Aus to receive up-to-date news and events from the Department.

The DVA Facebook page is an open forum and DVA will do its best to keep the dialogue as open and current as possible. Comments will be monitored and anything offensive or political in nature will be taken down. Let’s keep it family friendly!

The Coordinated Veterans' Care (CVC) Program was launched by DVA Secretary, Mr Ian Campbell PSM, at the Australian Disease Management Association conference in Canberra on 25 August 2011.

The CVC Program provides planned and coordinated care for elderly Gold Card holders who are most at risk of unplanned hospitalisation due to chronic illness and complex care needs. The Program will not prevent those, who need to, going to hospital but will instead focus on prevention and improved management of chronic diseases, resulting in improved quality of life.

Around 17,000 veterans, war widows and widowers from the older veteran population are expected to benefit by 2014. Veterans should talk to their GP about becoming involved.

Some 27,500 Vietnam veterans, their peers and family members have received a questionnaire as part of the Vietnam Veterans' Family Study – investigating the long-term impacts of wartime service on families of deployed personnel from the Vietnam era. Those who received the questionnaire are encouraged to complete and return it by early November.

There are some very personal questions about physical, mental and family health included in the questionnaire. The Study is entirely voluntary and participants can skip any questions which make them feel uncomfortable or distressed. The questionnaire provides details of support services available to those who may need them.

The Timor-Leste Family Study is researching the impacts of service on the families of deployed personnel from the Timor-Leste era. Questionnaires were sent to registered participants in May. Those who have not yet returned their completed questionnaire should do so as soon as possible.

Both studies will help DVA to better understand the health of Vietnam and Timor-Leste veterans and their families for future planning. The factors that make some individuals and families more resilient are of special interest.

For those who haven't registered to participate – it's not too late. Call 1800 502 302, email healthstudy@dva.gov.au or visit the Family Study Program website. Participants in the Timor-Leste Study are also encouraged to provide their partner’s details so they can be invited too.

A new payment of $500 per fortnight will be made to former Australian prisoners of war (POWs) in October. Eligibility for the payment commenced on 20 September, with the first full payments to begin on 6 October 2011.

The payment will be paid automatically to those former POWs DVA is already aware of, or those in receipt of ongoing DVA payments.

Any person who believes they should be receiving the payment but who has not been in contact with DVA recently should get in contact to clarify their eligibility for the payment.

More information is available at DVA Factsheet POW02.

For more details call DVA on 133 254 or for regional callers 1800 026 185.

Temporary Incapacity Allowance (TIA) was removed from the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) from 20 September 2011. From this date, any veteran or ADF member with coverage under the VEA who suffers a temporary period of incapacity due to treatment of a war or defence caused condition must claim Loss of Earnings (LOE) allowance instead of TIA.

In order to receive the LOE allowance, the veteran or member must have experienced some loss of earnings. Veterans or members who do not suffer a loss of earnings are not eligible to receive the LOE allowance.

The graves of recipients of Australia’s highest honours for bravery will be protected under a new maintenance program. The program will cover the Victoria Cross (VC), its equivalent civil award, the Cross of Valour, and the predecessor of the Cross of Valour, the George Cross.

The new program of maintenance will be delivered by DVA, through the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG), and will provide for the maintenance in perpetuity of the graves of all Australian Victoria Cross, Cross of Valour and George Cross recipients, wherever they lie, at home or overseas.

Victoria Cross recipients have always been commemorated: many in war cemeteries overseas, others at home at the grave site or in a crematorium niche, and many in a Garden of Remembrance.

Veterans entitled to official commemoration may only be commemorated in one place, and as a result, the graves of veterans whose families have chosen commemoration in the Garden of Remembrance were left in the care of families. These graves, as well as 18 British and one New Zealand VC graves here in Australia will also be covered in the new program.

DSHI policyholders can now enjoy the convenience of paying premiums monthly through an automatic debit to their bank account. Policy renewal notices detail the amount payable per month and there are no extra fees for the service.

The new products are available exclusively to the veteran and service communities and include travel insurance and compulsory third party vehicle insurance in New South Wales and Queensland.

Korea in from the cold International Conference: 6-7 October 2011
Australian War Memorial, Canberra