Date amended:
External

It is the role of the DVA Rehabilitation Delegate to assist the client's recovery and improved functioning as effectively as possible.

One of the most positive steps in assisting with a client's recovery is making a referral to an approved Rehabilitation Provider for a full or specific rehabilitation assessment. These assessments are a requirement for all DVA's rehabilitation clients. Consistent with section 44 of the MRCAExternal website, section 36 of the DRCAExternal website and section 1.2.2 of the VVRS InstrumentExternal website, these assessments must be completed, with recommendations, before any rehabilitation services can be approved.

Once the decision has been made to refer a client, an approved Rehabilitation Provider is sought to undertake the assessment of the client's needs and capability to undertake rehabilitation.

The Rehabilitation Delegate is required to make a request in writing for the specific provider to undertake the rehabilitation assessment and other specific assessment as required (e.g. a home assessment or a vocational assessment).

As part of the referral, the Rehabilitation Delegate is to provide the Rehabilitation Provider with a transaction record number (TRN) and when contacted by the Rehabilitation Provider, a password to enable the provider to access relevant and appropriate information sourced from the client's file, such as medical reports, copies of ADFRP rehabilitation plans etc.

The date of the referral is to be recorded in R&C ISH to indicate the critical and mandatory timeframes involved from referral to the service provider to completion and receipt of the assessment report:

  • 7 calendar days for the Rehabilitation Provider to contact the client and begin the assessment process; and
  • 21 calendar days for completion of the assessment report, as outlined in the instructions in section 3.8.1 of this library.

The Rehabilitation Delegate is to ensure that:

  • the client is to be kept informed of the referral process, both directly and in writing;
  • client confidentiality is to be maintained; and
  • the progress is monitored through the referral and to the completion of the assessment.

 

Identifying Rehabilitation Clients

The aims of DVA’s whole-of-person rehabilitation approach are outlined in section 1.2 of this library.

DVA’s approach provides an opportunity to look at each client's whole-of-person needs as they adjust to a new normal after a service related injury or disease. As clients will not always present with 'typical' rehabilitation needs, or may have a limited understanding of the range of services available in rehabilitation, it is recommended that a rehabilitation assessment be considered for most clients.

Potential rehabilitation clients are identified in a number of ways:

  • following acceptance of liability for a service injury or disease, a needs assessment may identify whether a person should be referred for a rehabilitation assessment.  The needs assessment must consider medical, psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation needs;
  • an ADF Rehabilitation consultant may inform DVA that a currently serving member is likely to be medically separated from the ADF in the near future;
  • clients with who have an accepted claim for a condition related to their ADF service may request a rehabilitation assessment, at any time;
  • some clients with an accepted claim for liability may be participating in a state government rehabilitation program through their civilian employment conditions of service - this does not preclude a DVA rehabilitation assessment because the range of benefits available to assist the client could vary and the assessment should provide information on the range of services available through DVA;
  • a person with eligible service (only) under the VEA may make an application for assistance under the VVRS;
  • ESO advocates or other legal representatives may refer a client for rehabilitation assistance;
  • where a person is an ADF Cadet under 18 years of age, a family member or guardian may refer a client for rehabilitation assistance;
  • an activities of daily living/home assessment to investigate a need for household services, attendant care services or aids and appliances should also consider the broader rehabilitation needs of the person; and
  • any claim for incapacity payments, or permanent impairment payments, whether an initial or subsequent claim, should trigger consideration of the need to refer for a rehabilitation assessment. 

A medical certificate of total incapacity for work does not preclude a rehabilitation assessment. A rehabilitation assessment is an important tool to identify a client's whole-of-person needs and can assist both incapacity and Rehabilitation Delegates to gain information about the support that the client requires.

A review of medical reports from treating doctors, or independent specialists assessing permanent impairment or incapacity for employment, may also identify rehabilitation needs. It is therefore important that rehabilitation and compensation Delegates communicate well to ensure a client-centric focus and to promote sharing of information.

In each of these cases, a referral for a rehabilitation assessment should be made as soon as practical.

 

Issues to Consider When Making the Referral

Issues that must be considered when making a referral are outlined below.

Urgency of the assessed need/s

Where needs are urgent and require immediate attention, or a client is at risk because of their service related conditions, this should be clearly communicated in the rehabilitation referral with a request that the assessment should occur as quickly as possible.

It is also expected that in these cases, psychosocial rehabilitation activities will be recommended, which will assist the client to focus on learning to manage their health and wellbeing as effectively as possible. It is important that as much targeted support as possible is provided for these clients, and that any treatment needs are discussed with the Rehabilitation Delegate, even though these needs cannot be met through a rehabilitation plan.

It is anticipated that a higher frequency of contact may occur between the Rehabilitation Delegate and the Rehabilitation Provider in these cases.

Choosing a provider

It is expected that Rehabilitation Delegate will consider the skills, qualifications and experience of Rehabilitation Providers, when choosing who to refer the client to. It is also important that consideration is given to the specific and individual needs of the clients. For example, the client’s service related condition(s), injury management requirements, whether specific assessments such as vocational assessments or testing, functional capacity assessments or psychosocial assessments have been requested, the client’s location, gender, age or cultural background are likely to influence the choice of provider.

Rehabilitation Providers, delivering whole-of-person rehabilitation services to clients, must meet DVA’s requirements as specified in Chapter 11 of this library.

Where referrals are being made for assessments for specific services such as household services, attendant care services, aids and appliances or assistance with motor vehicles, then the assessing providers must be appropriately qualified and experienced, but do not need to meet the other DVA requirements.

Where a person has been undertaking an ADFRP or R4R rehabilitation program, while still serving with the ADF, it is preferred that wherever possible, they continue to receive rehabilitation services from the same provider once DVA becomes the rehabilitation authority. This is because this helps to ensure a more seamless transition from Defence to DVA. The client’s preferences will also help to guide this decision.

Once a referral is made to a Rehabilitation Provider using R&C ISH processing, it is assumed that the Rehabilitation Provider will accept the referral, unless they contact the Rehabilitation Delegate and confirm that they are unable to do so.

Issues for Reservists not on Continuous Full Time Service (CFTS)

The Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) is the rehabilitation authority for all Reservists not on CFTS. Rehabilitation services are delivered through the R4R (Rehabilitation for Reservists) Program. The following issues are important for Rehabilitation Delegates to be aware of:

  • the ADF is responsible for acute health care for periods when the person is on active duty;
  • the person is expected and encouraged to lodge a claim for compensation as soon as possible after the injury or disease occurs;
  • once the person is identified by the CDF as 'likely to be discharged' or a determination has been made that the person 'has ceased to be a member for the purposes of the MRCA' through a transfer of rehabilitation authority through section 10 of the MRCA, the MRCC becomes the rehabilitation authority from the date specified and agreed;
  • the person's civilian employment or education may be in jeopardy due to the person's injury or illness, so the person may have an immediate need for rehabilitation; and
  • there may be a need to liaise with the person's civilian employer or education provider to support the person to manage their condition in a work or education environment, or to facilitate their involvement in a vocational rehabilitation program.
Issues for ADF Cadets, Officers of Cadets and Instructors of Cadets

DVA is the rehabilitation authority for ADF Cadets, Officers of Cadets and Instructors of Cadets. Rehabilitation Delegates must be aware of the following issues:

  • the ADF has no responsibility for health care (other than emergency health care/first aid at the time of illness or injury) or rehabilitation;
  • the person, or if the person is an ADF Cadet under the age of 18, their parent/foster parent/step parent/guardian, is expected and encouraged to lodge a claim for compensation as soon as possible after the injury or illness;
  • once liability for an injury or illness is accepted, a rehabilitation assessment should be conducted as quickly as possible;
  • the rehabilitation assessment may need to be specifically tailored to take account of the person's age, as they may have a limited understanding of the rehabilitation process and their rights and responsibilities;
  • the person's civilian education or employment may in jeopardy due to their injury or illness;
  • there may be a need to liaise with the person's school or other education provider to support the person to manage their condition or to facilitate their involvement in a rehabilitation program; and
  • the person may need additional support to manage their rehabilitation program.

 

Referral types

There are two types of rehabilitation referrals.

  • The first type, the full rehabilitation assessment is required for the majority of clients.
  • However, the second type, a specific service assessment, may be an 'add-on' if appropriate for the client at the time, or as a separate and 'one-off' activity.