13/05/2026
The new federal budget raises serious questions for veterans and their families.
From 1 July 2027, veterans will face a $5,000 yearly cap on allied health services, including psychology. At the new DVA psychology rate of $260 per session, that works out to around 19 sessions a year before extra approval is needed. For veterans dealing with PTSD, trauma, crisis, transition, family breakdown or suicidal thoughts, is that really enough?
At the same time, Invictus Australia has reportedly had its federal funding cut, while the Kookaburra Kids Defence Program, which supports children from Defence and veteran families, appears to have no confirmed ongoing funding beyond its previous extension.
So the question has to be asked: after the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Su***de, why are veteran support services being capped, cut or left uncertain?
A veteran in therapy now potentially has to think:
- “Am I using sessions too fast?”
- “Will I get approved for more?”
- “What happens if DVA says no?”
- “Do I hold sessions back in case things get worse later in the year?”
That mentality alone can discourage treatment-seeking.
The key unanswered questions are:
- How easy is it to exceed the cap?
- Who decides?
- How fast are approvals?
- Will veterans need reassessment every time?
- Will psychologists avoid complex DVA clients because of admin burden?
- Will high-needs veterans get stuck in bureaucratic limbo?
Veterans were promised better. Their families were promised better. Is this what better looks like?
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