Our wins – Veterans and physiotherapy
The win
Following sustained APA advocacy, the Australian Government’s 2026–27 Budget delivered significant improvements for veterans’ access to physiotherapy.
From 1 July 2027, standard physiotherapy consultation fees for DVA cardholders will increase from $75.10 to $110. This is accompanied by simpler referral arrangements and the introduction of a new annual allied health entitlement, making it easier for veterans to access the care they need.
Together, these changes recognise the vital role physiotherapy plays in veterans’ health and represent an important step towards strengthening access to timely, high-quality care.
What we did
The APA has been advocating for fairer remuneration and sustainable models of care that reflect the complexity of veterans’ health needs. This decision follows significant and work by the APA, including ongoing and sustained influence directly with office of the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, engagement with government stakeholders and substantial campaigning within the community.
Our Veterans Health Campaign mobilised physiotherapists, veterans and the wider community, amplifying their voices and experiences to government.
We also commissioned an independent review by Nous Group in 2025 into a sustainable hourly rate for the provision of physiotherapy services. The report provides an evidence-informed assessment of the economics of physiotherapy service delivery and highlights the extent to which previous funding arrangements failed to reflect the true cost of providing high-quality care to veterans.
Why is this important
Physiotherapy is essential in supporting veterans to manage pain, recover from injury, improve function, and maintain independence.
The reforms help remove barriers to care by making access simpler and strengthening funding, ensuring more veterans can benefit from early intervention and continuous treatment.
Next steps
The APA welcomes this reform and will continue to work constructively with government and the DVA as implementation progresses.
Importantly, while the introduction of a $5,000 annual allied health entitlement for Veteran Card holders is a positive step and reflects a welcome commitment to improving flexibility and access to care, questions remain about how the cap will operate in practice. The coming 12 months will showcase the detail required on how that cap will operate in practice and what it will mean for patients with higher needs, continuity of care and practitioner participation.
The DVA has advised the APA that implementation details will be developed through extensive consultation with the sector. These discussions will be critical to ensuring the new arrangements support access to care, maintain service continuity, and remain workable for providers.
The APA will build on our momentum and work closely with the DVA through these ongoing phases of consultation.
Relevant information:
- 2025 Factsheet (PDF)
- 2024 Veterans' Health Campaign
- 2023 Survey (PDF)
- March 2022 APA Submission (PDF) – Royal Commission into Defense and Veteran Suicide