The veteran support landscape is undergoing significant transformation, with major reforms set to reshape the way veterans access advocacy and assistance. As the Australian Government moves to implement key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and prepare for the Veterans’ Harmonisation Bill, due for enactment in June 2026, the sector is facing a pivotal period of change.
Two critical industry developments—the Proposed Veterans Advocacy Committee (P-VAC) and the Institute of Veterans Advocates (IVA)—are set to improve industry collaboration, professional standards, and long-term sustainability in private-sector services.
P-VAC: Strengthening Private Industry’s Role in Veteran Support
Navigating the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) system requires a broad spectrum of support services, including legal, medical, financial, and advocacy assistance. Despite playing a vital role in supporting veterans, private-sector providers have historically lacked a unified voice in policy discussions and industry decision-making.
The Proposed Veterans Advocacy Committee (P-VAC) has been established to address this gap—bringing together private businesses, peak bodies, and individuals under a single banner to advocate for sustainable private-sector services within the DVA system.
The inaugural P-VAC meeting, held on February 7, brought together key industry representatives to discuss transparency, sustainable business models, and the need for direct engagement with DVA. This initiative seeks to ensure that private service providers have a structured and meaningful role in shaping veterans' support services while complementing government and volunteer-led initiatives.
"P-VAC provides a much-needed platform for private providers to engage with government, ensuring high-quality, sustainable services remain available to veterans," said Luke Armstrong, Founder and co-CEO of KSC Claims. "By fostering collaboration, we can drive meaningful reform and create a more robust support system that serves veterans' needs effectively."
IVA: Raising Standards and Accountability in Veteran Advocacy
As part of the private industry-led collaboration through P-VAC, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) announced the establishment of the Institute of Veterans Advocates (IVA) on 24 February 2025. The IVA will serve as a peak body to regulate advocacy services and enhance professional standards across the sector.
The proposal has received strong support from the veteran community, with 95 submissions received during public consultation, including input from ex-service organisations, advocacy groups, and individual veterans.
Veteran advocacy has traditionally been delivered through a mix of volunteer organisations, ex-service groups, and private providers, with varying levels of training, oversight, and accountability. While many advocates provide exceptional support, the absence of clear regulations has led to concerns about inconsistent service quality, misinformation, and delays in veterans receiving their entitlements.
The IVA will introduce competency standards, ethical guidelines, and accreditation processes to ensure all advocates—whether volunteers or fee-for-service providers—adhere to professional best practices.
This reform aims to improve service quality, protect veterans from inadequate representation, and strengthen trust in the advocacy system. By implementing structured accreditation, ongoing professional development, and regulatory compliance measures, the IVA will create a more reliable and transparent framework for veterans navigating the DVA process.
The Future of Veteran Support
With P-VAC advocating for private-sector engagement and IVA enforcing higher professional standards, the veteran support landscape is evolving to ensure better outcomes for those who have served. These changes come at a critical juncture, as the government advances its broader reform agenda to enhance veterans’ welfare and streamline claims processes.
The next 18 months will be crucial in shaping how veterans receive assistance, with collaboration, professional integrity, and service sustainability at the forefront of these reforms. The role of private industry, alongside government-led initiatives, will be key in delivering a fairer, more effective, and accountable support system for Australia’s veterans.
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