1.1 What is rehabilitation?

DVA's rehabilitation approach

DVA's approach to rehabilitation is much broader than just treatment to promote physical recovery from an injury or illness related to service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

DVA uses a whole of person approach to rehabilitation which can be best explained by the following definition of rehabilitation used by the Australian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine:

"The combined and coordinated use of medical, psychological, social, educational and vocational measures to restore function or achieve the highest possible level of function of persons physically, psychologically, socially and economically; to maximise quality of life and to minimise the person's long term health care needs and community support needs."

As a member of the Heads of Workers' Compensation Authorities Australia and New Zealand (HWCA), DVA's rehabilitation approach uses the HWCA principles of practice for rehabilitation providers. 

The aims of DVA rehabilitation are defined in section 1.2 of this library.

DVA's whole-of-person rehabilitation focus is underpinned by research into the health benefits of good work. More information about the health benefits of good work can be found in section 9.1 of this library.

Types of rehabilitation support

There are three types of rehabilitation support that DVA clients can access. These are:

Medical management rehabilitation

Medical management rehabilitation intends to assist veterans to understand and learn to utilise the civilian health system. The aim of medical management rehabilitation is that veterans will be able to independently access treatment and support for their accepted conditions.

Further information about medical management rehabilitation can be found in Chapter 5 of this Library.

Psychosocial rehabilitation

Psychosocial rehabilitation is to assist with overcoming barriers that may be impacting upon a veteran’s wellbeing or ability to function independently. Barriers may arise due to a veteran’s perception of their injury or illness, changes in their life, their self-identify and place in the community. Psychosocial rehabilitation can assist with changing these perceptions by providing education and experiences to the client to challenge these perceptions and develop new skills and thinking in relation to their barriers.

The aim of psychosocial rehabilitation is to provide a sustainable outcome to remove the barrier long term.

Psychosocial rehabilitation provides for a wide range of supports as the barriers it addresses do not need to relate specifically to an accepted condition, and because what presents as a challenge or barrier to each client will be unique.

A client's rehabilitation program may focus solely on a package of psychosocial interventions. However, it is more likely that psychosocial activities will be offered in conjunction with other types of rehabilitation activities.

Further information about psychosocial rehabilitation can be found in Chapter 6 of this Library.

Vocational rehabilitation

Vocational rehabilitation has the aim to assist the veteran obtain or sustain suitable “good work” in the civilian workforce. Good work is defined as work that is safe, enables a person to be productive and engaged and contributes to financial stability, independence and personal interaction.

The DVA Rehabilitation Program can support veterans translate their values, skills, qualifications and work history into a civilian setting, assist with necessary upskilling to increase competitiveness in job seeking and help with understanding and navigating the labour market. Veterans will be assessed on their level of need to determine the amount of support required.

Further information about vocational rehabilitation can be found in Chapter 9 of this Library.

Rehabilitation providers

DVA utilises Comcare approved or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (MRCC) endorsed rehabilitation providers to work with individual clients to develop whole-of-person rehabilitation plans tailored to their unique needs and circumstances.

Further information about rehabilitation providers can be found in Chapter 11 of this Library.