Free mental health care for Veterans: How to access psychology through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)

By Zoe Pearce, Senior Receptionist

At Mind to Mind Psychology, we are proud to serve those who have served. 

We understand that accessing anything through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) – including mental health care – can be frustrating. It also can be overwhelming to have to deal with even more paperwork. Thankfully, we can support you through your GP. 

The following will walk you through how anyone who has served in the Australian Defence Force can receive psychological care with us, what’s needed, and what to expect from the process.

Accessing Psychological Support Through DVA

Who is eligible for DVA?

If you’ve served at least one day in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), including as a reservist, you can be eligible for fully funded mental health care through DVA.

What can DVA cover?

Broadly, DVA can cover various mental health services, including:

• • Psychological therapy and counselling for conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress.

• • Treatment by mental health professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health social workers.

• • Prescribed medications related to mental health conditions.

• • Relevant medical services, including pathology and imaging required for mental health assessments.

• • Access to programs like Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling, which offers peer support, treatment programs, and crisis accommodation support.

At our practice, we are able to provide psychological therapy either in-person, or through tele-therapy options. 

How can I get psychological support through DVA?

To access psychological support through DVA, you’ll first need to obtain a referral from your general practitioner (GP).

Step 1: Make an appointment with your general practitioner (GP).

Step 2: Chatting with your GP.

Your GP will ask about how you’ve been feeling and how your mental health is affecting your daily life. If your GP agrees that psychological support would be beneficial, they will work with you to create a referral and discuss a psychologist who they feel can best support you.

If you prefer, you can also research psychologists yourself and ask your GP to refer you to someone who feels like the right fit.

In many cases, the GP’s office will send this referral directly to the psychologist’s clinic.

Step 3: Book an appointment with a psychologist.

Once you have organised your referral, you can book an appointment with a psychologist. If your GP has referred you to a specific clinic, they may reach out to you directly to arrange your first session.

How many sessions can I get?

While DVA is able to provide fully-funded psychological support, a GP referral will typically allocate 12 sessions, this is called a treatment cycle. These cycles ensure that there is communication between your psychologist and GP, ensuring that your care team is informed of any changes to how you have been feeling.

At the end of this 12-session cycle, your psychologist will communicate with your GP, updating them on your progress. If further support is needed, you will need to head back to your GP and arrange another referral for your next treatment cycle, for an additional 12 sessions.

This process can be continued indefinitely, but it doesn’t need to be consecutive. You can always organise another referral in the future after a pause in seeking support. That means you can access as much support as you need, for as long as you need, when you need it. 

How else can I get support as a Veteran?

If traditional therapy isn’t exactly for you, there are other options that can be accessed through DVA, which we’ve linked below. 

• • Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling: Offers a range of support services, including peer support and treatment programs.
  • Self-Help Resources: Open Arms provides digital self-help tools to assist with managing mental health and well-being.