A message of thanks, and farewell, as we look to the future
The Defence and Veterans Legal Service closes today after successfully completing its objective to help people participate in the Royal Commission.
I’m writing on behalf of our staff to thank you and to provide information about support services for veterans. I also want to briefly reflect on our journey and the future.
It has been an immense honour to be entrusted with the stories of our clients. Their courage in sharing those stories with the Royal Commission has been our driving force and we are deeply grateful for their trust.
We helped about 1,500 people to make submissions to the inquiry and provided 7,000 free legal support services across Australia.
I am incredibly proud of our staff and the unwavering dedication they have shown. It's heartening to see our collective efforts have been recognised in the final report of the Royal Commission. Royal Commissioners said they “commend DAVLS for its services to veterans” and said “its approach has emphasised the need for trauma informed services, with strong relationships and referral pathways with ESOs”.
With funding from the federal government, we were set up to help people make submissions to the Royal Commission and to resolve legal problems that were sometimes highlighted in their submissions.
While the Royal Commission’s final report is a crucial step for our clients, it does not mark the end of their journey. For our clients this is not a conclusion but, rather, a new chapter. The issues they face are often complex and will require governments and other agencies to carefully consider, and implement, the Royal Commission recommendations.
We fervently hope the Royal Commission will be a transformative moment in Australian history and that its recommendations will create lasting and positive changes for past, present and future member of the ADF.
Sincerely,
Jasmine Stanton
Director of the Defence and Veterans Legal Service
Thank you
Providing legal support has been a team effort and we are grateful for the support we have received from so many individuals and organisations across Australia. Your assistance made an enormous difference to the lives of many people.
Since late 2021, our dedicated staff have worked with many organisations and people to deliver services. At a professional and personal level, it has been a privilege to assist current and former ADF members as well as their families and supporters.
All our staff across Australia thank our clients for the opportunity to work with them, for their trust in us, and for enhancing our understanding of issues that affect veterans.
Free help with DVA claims
Are you thinking of lodging a claim with DVA?
Across Australia there are qualified advocates, in Ex-Service Organisations, who can advise and assist you for free.
You can search the register of free accredited advocates here.
These advocates undertake approved training and can help with:
- claims and appeals under all relevant Acts
- advice on DVA services and their complex rules and processes
- welfare support and referrals.
If you are still serving, Veteran Support Officers are located on Defence bases to provide personalised support and education to serving members and their families. See more information here.
Paid advocacy services: questions and costs to keep in mind
Some businesses are offering to help with DVA claims in return for fees that can be large.
Some of these fees amount to many thousands of dollars and those charges are not necessarily related to the volume of work that has been done or the specific tasks that have been undertaken.
Keep in mind that your claim will not be given a higher priority by DVA if you use a business that charges fees.
It is important you get a copy of any contract with a fee-for-service business before you sign up with them. Take the time to review the contract before signing it. And keep in mind that they might charge a substantial fee if you later terminate the contract.
Make sure you understand all the charges, as well as the qualifications of the person assisting you with a claim. Some businesses do not have significant expertise in veterans’ entitlements law.
Here are some questions to ask and points to consider when using a fee-for-service advocacy business.
- What training and qualifications do the company staff members have?
- How are fees determined? Are they based on the specific tasks done by the company or are they based on the company taking a percentage of the DVA payout you receive?
- If the charges relate to them taking a percentage of the payout, what is the anticipated amount? (Speaking generally, the average payout is about $275,000. If a business charges a 10% commission, its fee will be $27,500. However, the commission paid to businesses is sometimes more than $50,000.)
- Is there a limit to the amount they will charge?
- Do you understand exactly what services will be provided?
- Do you understand all the contract conditions?
- What penalties are in the contract?
- Is there a chance to get independent advice before you sign the contract?
- Is there a reasonable cooling off period after you sign the contract?
Free legal support
Our service was established by National Legal Aid in collaboration with Legal Aid Commissions across Australia.
If you require legal support, contact the legal aid commission in your state or territory.
Non-legal support services
Non-legal support, including counselling, is provided by a range of services including a number that specialise in helping veterans.
