What is rehabilitation

If you have a service-related injury or condition, we can help put together a plan to get you the support you need. The support will focus on helping you return to at least the same level of independence you had before the injury or condition.

A rehabilitation plan addresses your overall wellbeing, and brings multiple service providers together to work with you on managing your goals and progress.

Who can receive it

You may be eligible for rehabilitation if you have a service-related injury or condition that we have accepted under MRCA or DRCA. The services you can access will depend on your rehabilitation goals.

If you have an injury or condition accepted under VEA, or you have service accepted under VEA, you can access support through the Veterans' Vocational Rehabilitation Scheme (VVRS).

What you can receive

Your rehabilitation plan can include 3 types of services and support:

• medical management
• vocational support
• social support

Medical management

Medical management services can help you:

• manage your medical appointments
• manage your medicines and treatment
• understand complex medical information
• access aids and equipment

These services do not cover the costs of treatment. You can still get help with treatment costs through your Gold Card or White Card.

Vocational support

Vocational services help you to become job ready. They can also help you maintain meaningful work. These services may include:

• assessment to find employment options
• work preparation activities
• work trials
• help finding work
• aids and appliances for your workplace
• courses for training or learning new skills

Social support

Social support can help you develop and improve:

• life management skills
• self-management of health conditions
• family functioning
• social connections
• engagement with family and community

Providers and consultants

A rehabilitation service provider will help you access a range of providers and consultants, including:

• medical and allied health providers
• training providers
• support service providers

This means you may visit multiple providers for your rehabilitation activities.

Aids, equipment and modifications

The Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) can help you access aids and equipment as well as home, vehicle and workplace modifications. If the items you need are not available through RAP, you may be able to access them through your rehabilitation plan.

How you access

If you are still serving and get rehabilitation through Defence, you can continue to receive rehabilitation support from us after you transition. Your ADF rehabilitation consultant will refer you to us, and a DVA rehabilitation delegate will contact you.

Your rehabilitation delegate acts as a link between you and others that are involved in your rehabilitation. They will approve and track your rehabilitation to make sure it is suited to you. They can also help you understand your rights and responsibilities.

In other situations, if we recognise that you are eligible for rehabilitation and could benefit from a rehabilitation plan, we may organise for a DVA rehabilitation delegate to contact you. This could happen while we are conducting a needs assessment with you, or assessing you for other services.

If you have a service-related injury or condition accepted under MRCA or DRCA, you can contact us and ask for a rehabilitation assessment at any time. You can contact us by sending an email to rehabilitation [at] dva.gov.au.

If you do not have an accepted service-related injury or condition, you will first need to:

• claim an injury or condition under MRCA; or
• claim an injury or condition under DRCA

If you are claiming an injury or condition under VEA, you can access services through the Veterans' Vocational Rehabilitation Scheme.

After you have submitted your claim, we will contact you to organise a rehabilitation assessment to identify what support and services you may require. If the support you need includes a rehabilitation plan, we will refer you to a rehabilitation delegate.

Referral and assessments

Your rehabilitation delegate will refer you to a rehabilitation service provider for a rehabilitation assessment to discuss your overall wellbeing and your needs. If you need to be assessed further for specific needs, the rehabilitation service provider may refer you for a specific assessment.

The rehabilitation assessment aims to:

• make sure rehabilitation services will benefit you; and
• work with you to develop your goals

A specific assessment may focus on:

• activities of daily living
• functional capacity
• ergonomics
• home environment
• work environment; and
• vocational or job demands

The provider will work with you to develop a rehabilitation plan. Your plan may include any combination of medical management, vocational support and social support, depending on your needs.

Your rehabilitation plan

Your rehabilitation service provider will help you develop a plan based on your goals. Your plan may include any combination of medical management, vocational support and social support, depending on your needs.

You will need to sign the plan and agree to meet your obligations. If your circumstances change, it is important to contact us so that your plan can be changed to suit. You can contact us be sending an email to rehabilitation [at] dva.gov.au.

We will keep in contact with you and your rehabilitation service provider throughout your rehabilitation. This is to identify your progress and see if your plan or goals need to change. When it is agreed that your goals have been met, the plan will be closed.

Rights and obligations

It is important you understand your rights and obligations. Your rehabilitation consultant will help you understand before you sign your plan. You will be asked to sign either:

• Return to Work - Rehabilitation Rights and Obligations; or
• Non Return to Work - Rehabilitation Rights and Obligations

If you have a dispute with your rehabilitation provider, please let us know. We will try to resolve any issues.

If you do not meet your obligations without good reason, you may lose access to compensation payments. You will still maintain your right to medical treatment.

Things you should know

• If you are currently serving, the ADF will provide rehabilitation services. If you are transitioning from Defence and already undergoing rehabilitation or know you will need to, please contact us. You can contact us by sending an email to rehabilitation [at] dva.gov.au.
• If your type of plan changes, that decision is subject to review or appeal. Plan amendments are not subject to review or appeal.
• Your ability to take part in rehabilitation may change. You can request to have your capacity for rehabilitation assessed at any time.
• You can find information about rehabilitation in the Rehabilitation for DVA Clients (PDF 3 MB) booklet. Please note, any factsheet names and codes mentioned in the booklet may have changed.
• You can email the rehabilitation team at rehabilitation [at] dva.gov.au.

What to tell us

Please let your rehabilitation delegate know if anything changes that:

• affects your ability to meet your obligations
• means your rehabilitation plan or goals need to be updated

Legislation

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988