At Sunstone, we are committed to supporting our veterans in their journey to access the support and benefits they deserve. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) is an Australian Government agency responsible for providing health care, rehabilitation services, and other support to veterans and their dependents, as well as Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and Australian Federal Police (AFP) members. In this blog post, we will explore the DVA claims process through the lens of one veteran’s experience and highlight the importance of professional advocacy in navigating this complex system.
Military service often involves physically and mentally demanding situations, putting ADF personnel at risk of injury or long-term health issues. From working on ships at sea to peacekeeping operations and war-like deployments, the hazards that service members face are numerous and varied. Consequently, the Australian Government has developed a system to provide ongoing support to veterans after they leave the service.
Accessing support from DVA is not automatic, and veterans must go through a claims process to verify and validate their claims. The quality of a claim submission can directly affect the time it takes for assessment and the likelihood of success. For many veterans, this process can be time-consuming, anxiety-provoking, and filled with potential pitfalls.
To ensure a smoother and more efficient claims process, many veterans choose to enlist the help of a professional DVA advocate. Professional advocates, like Sharon Elliott of MilCompClaims, can assist in developing claims that are thorough, well-documented, and accurately reflect the veteran’s experiences and conditions. This level of expertise can help minimize delays and increase the chances of a successful outcome.
Despite the advantages of working with a professional advocate, there is still a significant backlog in the processing of DVA claims. This backlog means that many veterans, including those with physical and mental injuries, must wait patiently for their claims to be processed and the support they need to be provided.
Our supported veterans, who served across the armed forces and had multiple operational deployments, are grateful for the taxpayer-funded support provided by the DVA. This support is crucial for those who have suffered from the wear-and-tear of their service, including hearing loss, arthritis, and other chronic conditions.
Sunstone is proud to support veterans in their journey through the DVA claims process. By acknowledging the challenges they face and promoting the use of professional advocacy, we hope to help our veterans access the support they deserve. Their sacrifices and dedication have made a lasting impact, and it is our honor to give back to those who have served our country.
From enterprise architecture and strategic analysis, planning and procurement to capability, project and program management and delivery.
From enterprise architecture and strategic analysis, planning and procurement to capability, project and program management and delivery.
