Veteran Wellbeing Gets Funding Boost

The Australian Government has committed $55 million to better support the well-being of Aussie Veterans.

Twenty-two million dollars of the funding will be apportioned to provide psychiatric assistance dogs to veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while $33 million will be used to extend access to free medical treatment for veterans.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh said the Department’s Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program matched highly-trained dogs with veterans diagnosed with PTSD to support them through their clinical recovery, and that the funding would extend to support those eligible veterans who had privately sourced an accredited psychiatric assistance dog prior to the start of the Program in September 2019, including maintenance of funding for expenses such as veterinary bills, pet insurances, and vaccinations.

One hundred dogs have already been placed with veterans and those veterans have experienced a shift in their well-being and relationships as a result.

“It’s fantastic to see the positive impact this program is having on veterans,” Mr Keogh said.

“I’ve had individuals share with me the joy of finding a routine and getting out and about again.

“For many people with PTSD simply leaving the house is difficult, the assistance dogs have helped turn that right around.

“It is truly incredible the impact these dogs are making to help our veterans with day-to-day activities and gain back their independence.”

To be eligible for the Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program, veterans must have a Veteran Gold or White Card, have a current diagnosis of PTSD from a psychiatrist and be engaged in treatment with their mental health professional for a minimum of three months.

The free Provisional Access to Medical Treatment program provides access to medical treatment for 20 of the most commonly claimed conditions to veterans who have lodged a claim with DVA.

Mr Keogh said that his Department was aware that veterans waiting for claims to be processed needed support.

“This funding will ensure veterans can continue to access medical treatment for their condition while they wait for their claiims to be processed,” he said.

“Ensuring veterans have access to treatment earlier can make a big difference to their recovery.”

Visit DVA website to learn more about the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment program and the Psychiatrist Assistance Dogs Program.

• Topics:

• Grant / Funding
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Veterans