Veterans & their families
Care for those who have served.
Neuropsychological assessment and psychological therapy for current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, and eligible dependants. If you hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) card that covers the care you need, there is usually no cost to you.
Support for veterans
Your history, treated with respect
Thank you for your service.
We will treat your history with respect, work at a pace that suits you, and explain every step before we begin.
What we provide under DVA
Assessment, therapy and reports
- Psychological therapy for conditions such as posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, anger, sleep difficulty and adjustment after service
- Neuropsychological assessment of memory, attention, concentration and other thinking skills, and how these affect daily life and work
- Reports written to answer the question your referrer or DVA needs answered
- Telehealth by secure video or phone, which works well for therapy, interviews and feedback sessions, so you do not have to travel
Cards we accept
What your card covers
DVA issues different cards, and what is covered depends on the card you hold.
Gold Card (DVA Health Card, All Conditions)
Covers treatment for all clinical conditions, whether or not they are related to your service. If you hold a Gold Card, the care we provide is generally covered.
White Card (DVA Health Card, Specific Conditions)
Covers treatment for accepted service-related conditions, and for any mental health condition under DVA's non-liability health care arrangements. If you hold a White Card, we will check that the care you need falls within what your card covers before we begin.
If you are not sure what your card covers, call us on 0452 452 262 and we will help you work it out. We will always confirm cover with you before anything is booked, so there are no surprises.
The referral pathway
How a DVA referral works
DVA-funded care generally begins with a referral from your GP or treating doctor.
For psychological therapy
Your GP can refer you to a psychologist under DVA arrangements. A mental health treatment plan is helpful but is not always required for DVA clients; your GP can advise.
For a neuropsychological assessment
Your GP or specialist provides a referral that names the question to be answered. We will tell you exactly what your referrer needs to include.
Your GP or treating doctor refers you using the standard DVA request and referral form (DVA form D0904). Under DVA's allied health arrangements a referral covers a treatment cycle of up to 12 sessions or one year, whichever ends first, and your GP can provide further cycles as your care needs them. You do not need to sort out the paperwork on your own. If you have a card and a concern, contact us and we will tell you exactly what your referrer needs to provide.
Conditions we commonly see
You are eligible more often than you might think
We regularly support veterans with posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety, problems with anger or irritability, difficulty sleeping, and the strain of adjusting to civilian life. We also assess changes in memory and thinking, including after a head injury, and changes that emerge with age.
Mental health treatment is available to every current and former ADF member under DVA's non-liability arrangements, regardless of whether the condition is linked to service and regardless of how or when you served. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, we will help you find out.
What we need to begin
To get you started
- Your name and contact details, and your DVA card type and number
- A referral from your GP, treating doctor or specialist
- The concern or question you would like addressed
- Any relevant history, prior reports or scans
- Consent for us to communicate with your GP and treating team
Common questions
DVA questions, answered plainly
Do I need a referral for DVA-funded care?
DVA-funded care generally begins with a referral from your GP or treating doctor. For psychological therapy, a mental health treatment plan is helpful but is not always required for DVA clients; your GP can advise. If you are not sure, call us and we will tell you what your referrer needs to provide.
What does my card cover?
A Gold Card covers treatment for all clinical conditions, whether or not they relate to your service. A White Card covers accepted service-related conditions, and any mental health condition under DVA's non-liability arrangements. We always confirm cover with you before anything is booked.
Is there a cost to me?
If you hold a DVA card that covers the care you need, there is usually no cost to you. We check this before we begin, so there are no surprises.
Can I have appointments by telehealth?
Yes. We offer secure video and phone appointments, which work well for therapy, interviews and feedback sessions, so you do not have to travel.
How to start
Call us on 0452 452 262, email referrals at brainandmind.com.au, or ask your GP to send a referral. Your GP can also use our Make a referral form. We acknowledge every enquiry on receipt, and a clinician reviews what is needed before we contact you.
Request an appointmentIf you or someone you care for is in crisis, call Open Arms, Veterans and Families Counselling on 1800 011 046, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000. We are not a crisis service.