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Fair healthcare for our veterans

4 February, 2025:

Today I raise a serious issue about access to health care for our veterans. I've been contacted by several physiotherapists in my electorate of Mackellar. They are deeply concerned about the veteran community's access to essential physiotherapy services through the Department of Veterans' Affairs funding scheme. Currently DVA reimbursement rates are insufficient to cover the cost of care, including pain management, rehabilitation, fall prevention and musculoskeletal health. These services are essential to veterans' physical and mental wellbeing.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide highlighted the impact of chronic pain on veterans' mental health. I've been told that many physios, out of commitment to their veteran patients, have continued to provide care despite incurring out-of-pocket costs. This is unsustainable. Fewer and fewer physios will be able to continue providing the care our veterans need and deserve. So I urge the government to raise the DVA reimbursement rate to align with NDIS rates so that our veterans can continue to access the important care they need. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide clearly highlighted the serious struggles many veterans face, and we must ensure our veterans have access to the healthcare services they need.