Finding the right care can make a meaningful difference to a veteran’s safety, independence and quality of life. Guardian Nursing Agency is an NDIS and aged care provider supporting veterans, older Australians, people with disability and families across Western Australia and New South Wales. This guide explains how veteran aged care services work, who may be eligible, what the Department of Veterans’ Affairs may fund and how suitable support can be arranged at home.
What Are Veteran Aged Care Services?
Veteran aged care services are supports designed to help eligible veterans, war widows, war widowers and their carers manage everyday life, health needs and changing care requirements. Depending on eligibility and assessed needs, assistance may include domestic help, personal care, respite, home maintenance, community nursing and other clinical support.
In Australia, these services may be accessed through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, commonly known as DVA, or through mainstream aged care programs such as Support at Home and the Commonwealth Home Support Program. Some people may use services from both systems, provided the same support is not funded twice.
The goal is not simply to complete household or personal tasks. Good veteran aged care services protect dignity, respect personal routines and help people remain connected to their family, community and familiar home environment.
Who May Be Eligible for DVA Home Care?
Eligibility for veteran aged care services depends on the program, the person’s Veteran Card, their living situation and their assessed care needs.
For Veterans’ Home Care, a person may be eligible for an assessment when they hold a Veteran Card – All Conditions or Veteran Card – Specific Conditions, live at home and experience difficulty completing activities of daily living because of functional limitations.
The Veteran Card – All Conditions is commonly known as the Gold Card. It generally provides access to treatment for all medical conditions within Australia.
The Veteran Card – Specific Conditions, commonly known as the White Card, covers accepted service-related conditions and certain other approved care.
However, holding a card does not automatically guarantee every service. DVA or an authorised assessment agency considers the person’s functional limitations, clinical needs, existing supports and relevant program rules before approving veteran aged care services.
Which DVA-Funded Home Care Supports May Be Available?
Several DVA programs can help eligible veterans continue living at home. However, the services approved will depend on the person’s Veteran Card, assessment, clinical needs and current support arrangements.
Veterans’ Home Care for Practical Daily Assistance
Veterans’ Home Care, commonly known as VHC, provides lower-level practical assistance to support independent living.
Depending on the approved care plan, veteran aged care services through VHC may include:
- Domestic assistance
- Personal care
- Respite care
- Safety-related home and garden maintenance
Domestic assistance can help with essential household tasks such as cleaning, laundry and maintaining a safer living environment.
Personal care may include support with showering, dressing, grooming and other daily routines.
Home and garden maintenance is generally focused on keeping the home safe and accessible. It is not designed to cover major renovations, general gardening or improvements unrelated to the veteran’s safety.
DVA Community Nursing at Home
DVA Community Nursing is intended for eligible Veteran Card holders who have an assessed clinical need for nursing or personal care at home.
Services must be delivered by a DVA-contracted Community Nursing provider and may include:
- Clinical assessments
- Care planning
- Wound care
- Personal care
- Medication-related support
- Ongoing health monitoring
- Care-plan reviews
A person receiving Community Nursing must hold either a Veteran Card – All Conditions or a Veteran Card – Specific Conditions.
For a Specific Conditions Card holder, DVA will generally fund care when the clinical need relates to an accepted service-related injury or condition.
A written referral is normally required from an authorised health professional, such as:
- A general practitioner
- A treating hospital doctor
- A hospital discharge planner
- A nurse practitioner specialising in community nursing
The Community Nursing provider checks the person’s eligibility, assesses their needs and develops a suitable care plan. The veteran’s GP generally retains ongoing clinical oversight of the care.
For families managing chronic illness, reduced mobility or recovery after hospitalisation, clinically coordinated veteran aged care services can reduce avoidable stress and help the veteran remain safely at home.
Respite Care for Veterans and Carers
Respite gives an unpaid carer time to rest, attend appointments or manage other responsibilities.
DVA respite options may include:
- Planned in-home respite
- Residential respite
- Emergency short-term home relief
Emergency respite may be available when a regular carer suddenly becomes unavailable and the veteran would otherwise be left without appropriate support or require hospital admission.
DVA may fund a set number of in-home respite hours or residential respite days during a financial year, subject to current program rules and approval.
Respite delivered within applicable Veterans’ Home Care limits generally does not attract a co-payment.
It is an important part of veteran aged care services because sustainable care must support both the veteran and the person providing regular unpaid assistance.
How Are Veteran Aged Care Services Funded?
Funding for veteran aged care services varies according to the program.
Many eligible services are paid by DVA. However, small co-payments may apply to some Veterans’ Home Care supports.
At the time of writing, Veterans’ Home Care co-payments are generally calculated at $5 per hour, subject to service-specific limits.
These may include:
- Domestic assistance: a maximum co-payment of $5 per week
- Personal care: a maximum of $10 per week when two or more hours are delivered
- Home and garden maintenance: a maximum of $75 over a 12-month period
- Respite care: no co-payment within the applicable program limits
A person who cannot afford an applicable co-payment may be able to apply for a waiver, subject to current eligibility requirements.
Community Nursing is funded for eligible clients when the service meets an assessed clinical need and is delivered under the DVA program by a contracted provider.
Coverage for a Specific Conditions Card holder must generally relate to an accepted condition when the program rules require that connection.
Because individual circumstances differ, veterans and families should confirm current approvals, service limits and possible costs before care begins.
A transparent provider should clearly explain the care plan, scheduled hours, responsibilities and any applicable charges.
Can DVA and My Aged Care Be Used Together?
Yes. Eligible older veterans may combine veteran aged care services funded by DVA with My Aged Care services when the supports complement each other rather than duplicate each other.
For example, an eligible veteran may receive domestic help or personal care through Veterans’ Home Care while accessing transport, meals or another approved service through the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
However, the same task cannot be funded by DVA and My Aged Care at the same time.
Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Program on 1 November 2025. It provides ongoing and short-term care pathways for eligible older Australians whose needs extend beyond or differ from their DVA-funded assistance.
Coordinating veteran aged care services across different funding programs requires clear communication.
Veterans should tell assessors and providers about all current services so funding is used correctly and any gaps in care can be identified.
How to Access Veteran Home Care Support?
1. Confirm the Relevant Veteran Card
Check whether the person holds a Veteran Card – All Conditions or Veteran Card – Specific Conditions.
It is also important to establish whether the requested service must relate to an accepted service-related condition.
2. Request the Correct Assessment or Referral
To begin arranging veteran aged care services through Veterans’ Home Care, contact the VHC Assessment Agency to discuss functional limitations and daily support needs.
The assessment considers:
- The veteran’s ability to manage everyday activities
- Their existing support network
- Their health and mobility
- Their home environment
- The assistance needed to continue living safely at home
The VHC Assessment Agency can be contacted on 1300 550 450.
For Community Nursing, an authorised health professional must generally provide a written referral directly to a DVA-contracted Community Nursing provider.
Referrals are usually sent to the selected provider rather than directly to DVA.
3. Review the Approved Care Plan
Before starting veteran aged care services, review the approved tasks, service frequency, program limits and possible co-payments.
The care plan should reflect the veteran’s:
- Priorities
- Personal preferences
- Daily routines
- Cultural needs
- Current abilities
- Health and safety requirements
Veterans and their families should understand what the support worker or nurse will do, how often they will visit and who to contact when circumstances change.
4. Choose a Suitable Home Care Provider
Look for respectful communication, trained and screened workers, dependable service delivery, clear incident-management processes and experience coordinating DVA and mainstream aged care support.
Local service availability is also important for people seeking care in Perth, Sydney, regional Western Australia or New South Wales.
A provider should confirm whether appropriate workers are available in the veteran’s area before a commencement date is agreed.
5. Request a Review When Needs Change
Health, mobility and carer circumstances can change over time.
Contact the relevant assessment agency, healthcare professional or provider when the existing support plan is no longer adequate.
Veterans’ Home Care participants are generally contacted for reassessment at scheduled intervals. However, veterans do not have to wait for a planned review when their health, abilities or care arrangements change.
What Should Families Look for in a Veteran Care Provider?
A suitable provider of veteran aged care services should recognise that accepting help can be a significant decision.
Veterans may value:
- Reliability
- Privacy
- Direct communication
- Respectful care
- Consistent support workers
- Control over who enters their home
- Clear information about services and costs
Care should respect the veteran’s service history without making assumptions about their experiences.
It should also recognise cultural identity, language, family relationships, personal preferences and established household routines.
Before selecting a provider, consider asking:
- How are care workers and nurses screened?
- Can consistent carers be arranged?
- Does the provider have experience with DVA-funded care?
- How are missed or delayed visits managed?
- Who can the family contact after hours?
- Can the provider coordinate personal, domestic, respite and clinical support?
- How will changes in the veteran’s condition be reported?
- Are fees or co-payments clearly explained in advance?
Families should also consider whether the provider communicates effectively with GPs, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, assessors and family representatives.
Finding dependable veteran aged care services should feel clear, respectful and centred on the veteran’s individual needs. Guardian Nursing Agency is an NDIS and aged care provider offering personalised home support, DVA-related care, personal assistance, respite and clinical services across Western Australia and New South Wales. GNA Services supports a person-centred approach, with care organised around safety, independence, dignity and individual goals. Contact us to discuss service availability, your location and the next steps for arranging suitable care.
