The intent of the Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package (ASP; the Package) is to provide support to working age veteran families at risk of or in crisis due to new and challenging life circumstances. Circumstances are about more than an event, they are about the impact on the family’s ability to function. The Package is designed to help families adjust and equip them to manage independently into the future.
For more information, see Service Coordination procedural document outlining Principle Statements for the Package.
The Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package (Acute Support Package) is established under the following legislation:
The Acute Support Package is implemented under the following Principal Instruments:
The Expansion of Acute Support Package Instruments 2023 that commenced on 1 July 2023, amended the above Principal Instruments, to:
The 2023 amending Instruments were repealed on 15 September 2023, however, the amendments made to the Principal Instruments 2022, remain in effect.
Note: Division 1 of Part 3 of Chapter 3 of the Legislation Act 2003 operates to automatically repeal a legislative instrument whose only legal effect is to repeal or amend another legislative instrument after a specified period of time. However importantly, the repeal of the instruments under this division does not affect any amendment or repeal made by the amending instruments.
The Principal Instruments (and any amendments to the Principal Instruments), made under each of the three Acts (above) contain additional eligibility criteria, specify financial and time limits to access support under the Package, and detail the types and limits of services. These details are contained in the Principal Instruments to maintain sufficient administrative flexibility and responsiveness to support the individual needs of veterans and their family members, in line with the intention of the program.
The Package is administered by the Service Coordination team in the Coordinated Client Support (CCS) Branch. Client contact, eligibility assessment, and development and management of individual support plans are undertaken by Service Coordination Complex Case Managers. Delegates in Service Coordination are responsible for decisions relating to the granting of an Acute Support Package. Service Coordination staff have specific case management training in order to effectively and sensitively manage cases.
For matters of administration – Service Coordination Contact: Acute.Support.Package@dva.gov.au [1]
Policy is owned by Family Policy Section, Policy Development Branch, Veteran & Family Policy Division.
For matters of policy – Policy Contact: FAMILY.POLICY@dva.gov.au [2]
Links
[1] mailto:Acute.Support.Package@dva.gov.au
[2] mailto:FAMILY.POLICY@dva.gov.au