DVA Psychologist

Our DVA psychology service is available to Veteran Card holders (Gold or White), including current and former ADF members, reservists with at least one day of full-time service, and other eligible veterans. Sessions are entirely online, so you can live anywhere in Australia and access ongoing professional support. 

Yes. Interrelate’s psychologists are DVA-approved psychologists – also known as veterans affairs psychologists. They are fully accredited with AHPRA and registered with Services Australia, which automatically registers them to provide services to DVA clients. As DVA-approved psychologists Australia-wide, our team is experienced in supporting veterans, ADF members and their families through the conditions and challenges that come with service life. 

Yes – a DVA Gold Card can be used for psychologist sessions for any clinically necessary condition, with no requirement for the condition to be service-related. You’ll need a current referral from your GP (or, for an initial treatment cycle, from a medical specialist, treating hospital doctor or hospital discharge planner). Have your Veteran Card details ready when you book. 

Yes. Our DVA white card psychologists support White Card holders in two ways. For service-related conditions accepted on your White Card, treatment is fully funded by DVA. For mental health conditions under Non-Liability Health Care – including PTSD, depression, anxiety and alcohol or substance use disorders – treatment is also fully funded, without the condition needing to be formally accepted as service-related. As experienced DVA white card psychologist providers, we’ll guide you through either pathway. You’ll need a current GP referral in both cases. 

DVA psychologist fees are set by the DVA Schedule of Fees, published by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and updated regularly. By accepting a Veteran Card, providers agree to accept the DVA fee as full payment – which means no gap fee, no top-up and no out-of-pocket cost to you. Interrelate’s DVA clinical psychologist fees, like our standard DVA psychologist fees, are fully aligned with the current DVA fee schedule psychologist arrangements. For full transparency on clinical psychologist fees DVA-wide, call us on 1300 473 528. 

Yes. DVA clients need a valid GP referral to see a psychologist, typically issued via the DVA referral form (D0904). For an initial treatment cycle, the referral could alternatively come from a medical specialist, treating hospital doctor or hospital discharge planner. Once a treatment cycle ends, you’ll need a new referral from your GP to continue with further sessions.

The DVA treatment cycle is the standard arrangement for allied health referrals, including psychology. A single referral lasts up to 12 sessions or 1 year, whichever ends first. After that, your GP reviews your progress and can issue a new referral for another cycle if ongoing support is clinically needed. There’s no cap on the number of treatment cycles you can have – as many as your GP determines are clinically necessary.

If you want to switch psychologists – or you’re returning to therapy after a break and have found a psychologist not included in DVA referral cycle arrangements with your current provider – your GP can issue a new referral that names Interrelate. Once we have a valid referral in place, we can begin treatment under the current cycle. Call us on 1300 473 528 and we’ll help you work through it.

Veterans often tell us they can’t find a psychologist who accepts DVA payment in their area, particularly outside major cities. As a not-for-profit committed to accessible care, Interrelate accepts DVA payment for all eligible Veteran Card holders – Gold and White – and our sessions are entirely online, so location isn’t a barrier. If you’ve struggled to find DVA-approved psychologists Australia-wide in your local area, call us on 1300 473 528, and we’ll connect you with one of our DVA-registered psychologists.

Both DVA and Medicare can help pay for psychology sessions, but they work differently. Medicare-funded psychology is available to anyone with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from their GP and covers up to 10 sessions per calendar year. DVA-funded psychology is available to eligible Veteran Card holders and works in 12-session treatment cycles, renewable indefinitely with a new GP referral. DVA fully covers the cost via the DVA fees for psychologists – meaning no out-of-pocket cost – while Medicare-rebated sessions can leave a gap depending on the provider. You can’t use both funding pathways for the same session. If you’re unsure which is right for you, call us on 1300 473 528.

Interrelate’s DVA-approved psychologists Australia-wide are experienced in supporting veterans through PTSD, military trauma, transition out of service and the broader emotional impact of military life. To book, browse our team profiles and choose the DVA psychologist Australia-wide who feels right for you, or call us on 1300 473 528 and we’ll match you with the most suitable clinician for your needs. You’ll need a current GP referral and your Veteran Card details ready when you book.