Last amended: 17 December 2020
The definition of a rehabilitation program in section 41(1) of the MRCA includes references to treatment provided for in section 13 of the MRCA. Specifically a rehabilitation program is defined in MRCA as a program that consists of or includes any one or more of the following:
- medical, dental, psychiatric and hospital services (whether on an in-patient or outpatient basis);
- physical training and exercise;
- physiotherapy;
- occupational therapy;
- vocational assessment and rehabilitation
- counselling;
- psychosocial training.
This definition provides for a person to receive the management, coordination and support they need to pursue the treatment they reasonably require to restore their physical and/or mental health. However treatment should always be provided via the mechanisms and rules contained in Chapter 6 of the MRCA.
Please note, that as a general rule medical treatment should not be provided under Chapter 3 of the MRCA. However, Chapter 3 the of MRCA does enable the provision of medical management rehabilitation under a rehabilitation plan to help a veteran to understand, access and navigate the civilian health system. For the policy guidelines, see Chapter 5 Medical Management Rehabilitation of the CLIK Rehabilitation Policy Library.
A physical rehabilitation program could consist of other health services and treatments, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, gym work, hydrotherapy, massage therapy, and home based exercise and stress management where appropriate. Delegates need to be aware that different approval processes may apply for different injury management and treatment approaches provided via the mechanisms and rules contained in Chapter 6 of the MRCA.
The only circumstances under which an individual gym-pool membership could be considered within the DVA rehabilitation program would be as a short-term (no more than 3 months), one-off activity under a psychosocial or vocational rehabilitation plan. The current policy guidelines regarding gymnasium-pool membership can be found in Chapter 6.7.1 Short-term Gym-Pool Membership of the CLIK Rehabilitation Policy Library.