DVA stands for the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Australian Government department that supports veterans and their families. It pays compensation and pensions, funds health care through Veteran Cards, provides mental health support and help at home, and runs commemoration of Australia's wartime history.
What does DVA stand for?
DVA is the Department of Veterans' Affairs. In Australia, "DVA" almost always means this department. It isn't the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which Americans call the VA.
Who DVA supports
- veterans and their dependants
- serving and former serving ADF members
- war widows and widowers
- Australian participants in the British Nuclear Tests
- members of the Australian Federal Police
- students, teachers and historians, through historical information
Not sure if you count? Read what a veteran is in Australia, or see every veteran benefit in one place. DVA also publishes nominal rolls of people who served in the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War.
What DVA does
- Compensation for injuries and illnesses caused by service, through DVA claims and permanent impairment compensation, and pensions such as the Special Rate Disability Pension.
- Health care through the Gold Card, White Card and Orange Card, including mental health care and counselling through Open Arms. See DVA health care.
- Rehabilitation and help returning to civilian life.
- Help at home, such as Veterans' Home Care, Household Services and aids and equipment.
- Help with housing.
- Commemoration, recognition and historical information.
DVA and the law
Veterans' compensation has historically been covered by three Acts: the MRCA, the VEA and the DRCA. From 1 July 2026 all new compensation and rehabilitation claims are assessed under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), whenever you served. Read what changed on 1 July 2026.
What is a DVA number?
Your DVA number, or Veteran File Number (VFN), is printed on your Veteran Card. It starts with a letter for the state you lived in when it was issued, such as N for NSW or Q for Queensland. DVA also gives you a 7-digit Unique Identification Number, shown on your Pensioner Concession Card and DVA letters.
How to contact DVA
Call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372), Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm AEST, or use MyService through myGov.
Read DVA's own description of its work
AusVeterans and DVA
AusVeterans is a private business, not part of DVA. We provide cleaning, lawn mowing and gardening funded through DVA Household Services.
Checked against DVA's website on 25 September 2026.