Supports for aged care teams

This page is to help you and your team access free advice lines, online training and webpages with information to better understand DVA clients and their unique experiences.

Veterans’ Affairs Pharmaceuticals Advisory Centre

The Veterans’ Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC) is a pharmaceutical phone centre that GPs or other health professionals can contact to get approval for medical scripts under the RPBS.

Find out more on the pharmacy information for providers page.

VETs HeLP is a dedicated platform providing health professionals with easy access to a range of evidence-based educational resources crucial for delivering high-quality care to veterans and their families.

On this platform you will find CPD-accredited learning opportunities, including interactive webinars, online case scenarios, podcasts and audits, as well as a range of practical tools and information to support shared decision-making within your practice setting.

Fund out more at VETs HeLP.

Training - Understanding military service

It is important you and your team who are working with veterans to understand military culture, as this can be central to the development of a positive relationship and delivery of effective treatment.

DVA offers a range of free online training courses, webinars and resources to assist health care professionals better support the health needs of veterans and their partners. Many of these courses will provide your team with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.

Where a certificate is awarded through DVA Train, health professionals may use it to claim Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. First time users will need to register to access DVA’s training platform - DVAtrain.

Find out more about available training on:

• the training page for DVA providers with courses on veterans’ mental health and non-liability health care
• Open Arms - Veterans and Families Counselling website with online training courses and webinars to help clinicians, practice nurses and other clinical staff to better support the mental health needs of veterans.

Training – Providing trauma informed care

Phoenix Australia's website contains a comprehensive list of resources related to veteran mental health which you may find useful, including factsheets and videos.

Many people in aged care have experienced trauma, loss and/or grief at some point in their lives, which can impact both residents and staff. Phoenix Australia resources provide a person-centred approach that can build a sense of safety, control and empowerment for the trauma-affected individual, and help you and your team look after their own wellbeing.

Veterans can be affected by trauma from wartime or peacekeeping deployment, or from experiences closer to home, like an accident or being bullied. As they enter aged care, they can still be experiencing the impacts of trauma.

This Veterans webpage has information on:

• Trauma, Loss and Grief (factsheet)
• Trauma, Loss and Grief: Supporting Veterans (factsheet)
• Impacts of trauma on Veterans (factsheet)
• Trauma and Dementia in Veterans (factsheet)
• Self-care for family and carers (factsheet)

The Aged Care Managers webpage has information on:

• Trauma, Loss and Grief (video 3:49 minute)
• What is Trauma-Informed Care (video 4:10 minute)
• Building Connections video (video 2:59 minute)
• Caring for older people: How can trauma affect me? (factsheet)
• Caring for older people affected by trauma: How do I look after myself? (factsheet)
• Self-care (video 2:35 minute)
• Self-care: Looking after your wellbeing and the health of your staff (video 2:56 minute)

Veteran Specialisation

Your residential aged care home can be become a veteran specialised provider through the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's Specialisation Verification Framework.

The Specialisation Verification – Aged Care provider guidance manual provides detailed information on the application process:

For detailed information on the evidence requirements please see the detailed evidence requirements for providers webpage.

Once verified, people looking for an aged care provider that can meet the needs of veterans, will be able find the specialised provider on the My Aged Care website using the Find a provider tool.