THIS YEAR’S BUDGET AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES DVA Budget 2019-20 THIS YEAR’S BUDGET AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES ​‌Unofficial‌​

Summary $11.5 billion has been allocated for Veterans’ Affairs in 2019-20 an increase of $300 million from 2018-19 allocated to invest more in our veterans and their families This will support around 283,000 clients (veterans and dependants) The funding breakdown: $6.7 billion for income support and compensation $4.7 billion for health services $79 million is allocated to commemorations ​‌Unofficial‌​

At a glance ​‌Unofficial‌​

What we will cover Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ measures Cross-portfolio measures – ATO and Department of Social Services Cross-portfolio measures – Department of Health ​‌Unofficial‌​

DVA Budget measures NEW AND CONTINUING INITIATIVES THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING ​‌Unofficial‌​

DVA measures Putting veterans and their families first continuing investment for veterans and their families to get the treatment and support they need, when they need it Enhanced support tailored employment support continuing the provisional access to medical treatment trial delivering people at risk awareness and intervention training Better health outcomes health assessments for those who used anti-malarials new items and price variations on the RPBS exclusively available to DVA entitled clients special domestic circumstances SEATO Commemorations Commemorating Australians who have served, and continue to serve ​‌Unofficial‌​

Summary of measures $219.3 million to continue the work of delivering the Veteran Centric Reform – Putting Veterans and their Families First $24.4 million for programs to provide veterans’ employment and health support $6.2 million to enable former de-facto partners to receive the partner service pension after they separate from a veteran $3.5 million for commemorative services, including a scoping study for a commemorative site on the Island of Lemnos, Greece on a former site of an Australian field hospital $2.1 million for the Government response to the Senate Inquiry into anti- malarials mefloquine and tafenoquine ​‌Unofficial‌​

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Veteran Centric Reform – putting veterans and their families first DVA and DHS will receive $219.3 million over two years to deliver: improved telephone system expanded face-to-face services expanding online access data driven organisation efficient back office cost-effective providers ​‌Unofficial‌​

Supporting Veterans Additional funding supporting veteran employment and health $16.2 million for providing grants to organisations which support veterans to assist or facilitate them finding employment $7.2 million for extending the provisional access to medical treatment trial to provide clients with access to treatment for specified conditions before their claim is approved $4.0 million for enhancing volunteer capability to recognise people at risk and to provide intervention and support ​‌Unofficial‌​

Partner Services Pensions – eligibility alignment $6.2 million funding allows Partner Service Pension to be extended for 12 months post-separation from the veteran partner, for all former partners, regardless of marital status It removes inequity between de-facto and married partners who separate from a veteran It provides continuing support for those separating due to domestic violence ​‌Unofficial‌​

Commemoration of Australians who served overseas in World War I $3.5 million funding provides for: 2020 Anzac Day commemorative dawn service in France ($2.7 million) managing security and attendance at overseas commemorative services ($0.4 million), and a scoping study for a commemorative site on the Island of Lemnos, Greece ($0.5 million) to commemorate the role of Australian nurses and doctors during the Gallipoli Campaign on the former site of an Australian field hospital. ​‌Unofficial‌​

Assistance for veterans prescribed anti-malarial medications The Government is committing $2.1 million to support veterans who are concerned about having taken the anti-malarial drugs mefloquine or tafenoquine. Delivering a national program that will provide concerned veterans with the option to receive a comprehensive health assessment to identify service-related illness, disease and injury. Where appropriate, the veteran will be referred to further specialist health assessment, treatment and support. ​‌Unofficial‌​

Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – new and amended listings New listings such as skin washes and emollients, new wound dressings and a compression system. Also, some price variations to existing items. Objective is to ensure DVA clients continue to access medicines and wound care items. This measure has an overall saving of $0.1 million over forward estimates. ​‌Unofficial‌​

Cross-portfolio measures SHARED MEASURES WITH THE AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ​‌Unofficial‌​

Australian Taxation Office and the Department of Social Services measures $17.1 million to provide greater integrity in the way DVA assesses income support payments by applying Single Touch Payroll data to client records $17.4 million for a one-off Energy Assistance Payment to eligible clients to assist with energy bills. More than 225,000 veterans and their partners, including war widows and widowers, will benefit from this measure. ​‌Unofficial‌​

Cross-portfolio measures SHARED MEASURES WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ​‌Unofficial‌​

Department of Health measures $4.6 million Improving Access to Medicines — Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme — new and amended listings $0.9 million Guaranteeing Medicare — improved access to diagnostic imaging $0.5 million Guaranteeing Medicare — Medicare Benefits Schedule Review — response to Taskforce recommendations $2.1 million Guaranteeing Medicare — strengthening primary care $4.0 million Improving Access to Medicines — supporting community pharmacy ​‌Unofficial‌​