30/07/2026
Do this today😊
Please read, it's extremely important to DVA veterans.
Everyone that hasn't done this spread it to the wider DVA veteran community ASAP 31 July 2026 deadline. Now!
DVA is about to transfer your personal data to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
1. It's called the Longitudinal Wellbeing Project. It links your DVA file with the ABS Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA).
You can opt out. But you have 6 days.
Once the data is transferred and linked, it's de-identified meaning they CANNOT remove you from the dataset after the fact.
Miss the deadline, your data is in there permanently.
DVA buried this in a webpage update on 5 July. Three weeks' notice for an irreversible data transfer.
DVA says the data is used for "research and policy development only" and "does not affect individual entitlements, payments, claims or services."
That's what they say now!
Once your data is sitting in a cross-agency dataset managed by ABS, you have zero control over what future governments decide to do with it.
While you're at it, you can also opt out of:
2. All DVA public research
3. The Veterans' MATES program (your billing data sent to University of South Australia)
Do all three in one email.
Here's a template.
Copy it. Fill in your details. Send it to:
[email protected]
Subject: Request to Opt Out of Data Sharing for Research and Public Purposes - DVA File [YOUR FILE NUMBER]
To the DVA Privacy Team,
I request that my personal information be excluded from all discretionary data sharing, research programs, and public research purposes.
Name: [YOUR NAME]
DOB: [YOUR DOB]
DVA File: [YOUR FILE NUMBER]
I request:
1. Exclusion from the Longitudinal Wellbeing Project. I do not consent to my information being transferred to the ABS as part of PLIDA. I understand the deadline is 31 July 2026.
2. Opt-out from all DVA public research.
3. Opt-out from the Veterans' MATES program.
I request written confirmation that each opt-out has been actioned and recorded on my file.
[YOUR NAME]
A DVA research project examining the long-term wellbeing of ex-serving members and their families, is being expanded to include current serving ADF members who are also DVA clients.
