How does DVA work for Podiatry and Physiotherapy?

The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) funds all health services necessary to meet a clinical need for Gold Veteran Card holders, provided under the following acts:

• Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA)

• Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA)

• Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA)

• Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.

For Veteran White Card holders, DVA will fund those services required for their accepted conditions.

How can our Physiotherapists help you?

Physiotherapists can provide a range of treatments and equipment including:

• exercise programs to improve movement and control

• airway clearance techniques that help to decrease lung infections and improve lung function

• soft tissue massage to improve range of motion, joint flexibility and relieve pain

• dry needling that can provide pain relief and restore movement

• water therapy conducted in a heated pool

• aids and appliances

Click here to learn more about DVA Physiotherapy.

How can our Podiatrists help you?

If you are eligible for podiatry services, your podiatrist may provide you with a treatment plan. Your podiatrist will determine the type, number and frequency of services you require according to your assessed clinical need.

Your treatment plan may include:

• cutting or removal of corns or calluses 

• trimming, cutting, or clipping of nails 

• cleaning and soaking the feet

• physical therapy

Your podiatrist may also arrange aids or modifications which may include: 

• orthotics 

• footwear modifications

• medical grade footwear

Click here to learn more about DVA Podiatry.

Custom Orthotics for DVA

Orthotic services can help you access external devices called orthoses to:

• support or align the body

• reduce pain

• enhance mobility and function

Examples of common orthoses include:

• Foot Orthoses: for various foot, leg or postural problems

• Ankle Orthoses and Knee Orthoses: for joint protection, pain reduction or support after surgery

• Ankle-Foot Orthoses and Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses: to improve mobility, support rehabilitation and biomechanical goals

• Upper limb Orthoses: to provide positional and functional support to the upper limb

• Spinal Orthoses: to correct or control spinal deformities and injuries and to provide immobilisation or support to spinal injuries

Orthotists can also support by providing education on orthotic needs. Click here to learn more about DVA orthotic services.

What you can receive

From 1 October 2019, referrals to this service will be under the Allied Health Services treatment cycle. This means that a referral will last for up to 12 sessions or 1 year, whichever ends first.

These treatment cycles place you at the centre of your care and the general practitioner (GP) as your care coordinator.

There are no limits to the number of treatment cycles you can have.

You can also have:

• a separate treatment cycle for each allied health service you need; and

• treatment cycles for different allied health services at the same time

The treatment cycle does not apply to physiotherapy and exercise physiology services for clients who have a Totally and Permanent Incapacitated (TPI) Gold Card. Exercise physiology or physiotherapy services for TPI clients must still be clinically necessary, evidence based and goals oriented. The treatment cycle will apply to TPI clients for referrals to all other allied health services.

How you access

You can get a referral for physiotherapy/podiatry from a:

• general practitioner (GP)

• medical specialist

• treating doctor in hospital

• hospital discharge planner

Once the physiotherapist/podiatrist has received your referral, they will:

• confirm you are eligible for services

• assess your clinical needs

• discuss a treatment plan with you