Ex-service organisation (ESO) advocates can play an important role in connecting veterans and family members with DVA services and support for wellbeing and claims assistance.
Importantly, the services ESO advocates provide are free. There is no need for veterans or family members to pay or give up a portion of their entitlements when an advocate provides advice or helps them to submit a claim to DVA.
They provide a holistic approach with a focus on wellbeing and understand the full range of DVA services and programs available to you.
We recently spoke with Bruce, whose partner Belinda served with the RAAF from 1988 until shortly before she passed away in 2021.
As a war widower, Bruce knows first-hand the value of seeking support from an ESO advocate. Bruce says he doesn’t think that he would have managed without the help of an advocate.
‘When Belinda passed, I lost my business partner, my best friend, and my wife all at the same time,’ he told us. ‘I was so grateful to have someone I could turn to for help – who knew the DVA claims system. I knew the process could be time-consuming and stressful at any point in time, let alone when I was trying to come to terms with such a great loss.
‘It was important to me that I found an advocate I could connect with and trust. It took me a couple of goes before I found someone who understood my case and understood Belinda’s journey.
‘I’ve become aware that women make up an increasing proportion of the ADF, working across many different roles. However, their experiences can be unique from their male colleagues. Women who serve and who have served often feel united by their service. Understanding this helped me to connect with my advocate as she, like my Belinda, served for many years in the ADF.’
Free ESO assistance can often be offered in person, online or over the phone. ESO advocates can help by:
- offering independent advice on making a service pension or compensation claim with DVA, and informing you about the legislation that covers your service pension or compensation claim
- helping you complete your service pension or compensation claim by making sure you have all the correct documentation
- supporting you to lodge your service pension or compensation claim
- keeping in touch with you throughout the process to provide updates and reassurance
- requesting a review of a decision or assisting with requests for reviews
- providing information and referrals for services to improve general health and wellbeing.
Some advocates might even go a step further. For instance, Bruce continues to work alongside his advocate in the hope of enacting legislative change so that women, who make up about 20% of the ADF, have a better chance of achieving improved health outcomes.
‘It’s my chance to make a difference to women who serve,’ he says. ‘They are our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, partners and friends.’
Bruce doesn’t hesitate in recommending ESO advocate services to others – especially those who are not veterans themselves.
‘It might feel foreign at first, but the connection to people who just get it, is a game-changer,’ he says. ‘I didn’t just get help managing my claims and understanding what welfare support I could access; I’ve been introduced to a whole new community and support network.
‘If you need assistance to lodge a compensation claim with DVA or to enhance your wellbeing journey, and don’t know where to start, engaging an advocate might be the answer you’re looking for.’
DVA trains ESO advocates through our Advocacy Training and Development Program to meet national training standards.
It’s important to remember that DVA does not give any third-party organisations, providers or advocates special access or treatment. Using either a free advocate or a provider who charges for their services does not guarantee a successful claim or faster processing.
ESO advocates can be found on the Advocacy Register, which is a national database that provides contact details for free advocacy services across Australia.
For more information, please visit the What to consider if you're looking for help page of the DVA website.
Veterans and families also have the option to engage directly with DVA online by using MyService. Through MyService, you can lodge claims and track their progress, request a call-back, download important documents and statements, apply for a Veteran Card, book transport and more.
You can also contact us through our Veterans' Access Network shopfronts or by visiting a Services Australia shopfront. See the Contact us page for more information.
Knowing all too well the warmth and value a hug can offer, after the death of his wife, Bruce founded the Belinda McGowan Foundation. The Belinda McGowan Foundation provides cuddle beds in rural, remote, and regional hospitals.
Visit thebelindamcgowanfoundation.org.au for more information.