A DVA advocate is a trained volunteer at an ex-service organisation (ESO) who helps you prepare and lodge a DVA claim, ask for a review, or appeal a decision, free of charge. You can find one near you through the Advocacy Register.
What a DVA advocate can help with
- preparing and lodging claims through MyService
- asking DVA to review a decision
- appeals to the Veterans' Review Board and the Administrative Review Tribunal, including representing you at hearings
- getting information and referrals for health, rehabilitation, housing, transport and transition to civilian life
Are DVA advocates free?
Yes. Advocates trained through the Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP) work with ESOs that don't charge a fee for compensation and wellbeing advocacy. An ESO may ask for a small amount to cover incidental costs. ATDP-trained advocates are covered by professional indemnity insurance. They aren't DVA staff, and many are veterans or family members of veterans.
Finding a DVA advocate near you
The Advocacy Register lists ESOs with their address, contact details, services and the level of qualified advocates they have. It doesn't list individual advocates. Choose an ESO near you and contact it. The ESOs listed will try to help even if you can't become a member.
Search the register by location to find advocates in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart and regional areas.
Find a DVA advocate on the Advocacy Register
Other free help with a DVA claim
- DVA's Claims Lodgement Assistant program connects you with trained DVA staff. Email [email protected].
- DVA offices and Veterans' Access Network sites give in-person help with lodging a claim.
- Serving members can see a Veteran Support Officer on base by emailing [email protected].
- DVA's general line is 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372), Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm AEST.
You can also lodge and track a claim yourself in MyService.
Ex-service organisations
An ex-service organisation (ESO) supports current and former ADF members and their families. People often call them veterans' associations. Depending on the organisation, they offer:
- advocacy to get payments and other benefits
- visits at home, in hospital or in an aged care home
- help finding financial support, work or study
- social activities
Use the Advocacy Register to find an ESO near you that offers free advocacy.
Read DVA's page on ex-service organisations
Free legal help for veterans
Legal Aid in each state and territory can give some free legal help with DVA claims and reviews. The rules differ in each state.
- NSW: Legal Aid NSW's Veterans' Advocacy Service helps anyone who has served in the ADF, and their dependants, and isn't means tested. It can represent you at the Veterans' Review Board, the Administrative Review Tribunal and the Federal Court. Call (02) 9219 5148.
- ACT: Legal Aid ACT's Veterans' Legal Service gives free, confidential legal help to current and former ADF members and their families, including with DVA claims, reviews and Veterans' Review Board appeals. Call 1300 654 314.
- Other states and the NT: Legal Aid can help with appeals to the Administrative Review Tribunal against some Veterans' Review Board decisions. Help usually isn't means tested but depends on the merits of your case, and in some states it's limited to war veterans or war-caused conditions.
See DVA's list of Legal Aid help for veterans in each state
DVA lawyers and paid advocates
You can use a lawyer, but you pay for their services. Some small businesses also offer advocacy for a fee. DVA says to check that a paid advocate is adequately trained and holds professional indemnity insurance before you go ahead. Paying doesn't give your claim priority.
Appointing a representative
You can authorise a friend, relative or organisation to deal with DVA on your behalf, within the authority you give them. You can set this up in MyService or with DVA's representative form.
Read about appointing a representative
Rules that are easy to miss
You can let several people ask DVA about your claims, but only one person or organisation can act for you or receive your payments at a time. Choose carefully. If your representative doesn't answer a notice from DVA, you're treated as not having answered it, which can lead to an overpayment. Once you've appointed someone, DVA sends its letters and calls through them, so ask to be copied in if you want to see everything.
Checked against DVA's website on 25 September 2026.