Family & kids: support for veterans' children and families

Until 30 June 2026 DVA ran two education schemes for veterans' children: the Veterans' Children Education Scheme (VCES) under the VEA, and the MRCA Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS) under the MRCA. Since the Veterans' Legislation Reform started on 1 July 2026, there is just one: MRCAETS.

• Already on VCES? Your child was moved across to MRCAETS automatically. You don't need to reapply.
• VCES rules carried over: the old VCES eligibility pathways for children of VEA veterans were written into MRCAETS, so those children can still qualify.
• New for DRCA families: for the first time, children of DRCA veterans may be able to get MRCAETS. This depends on the veteran meeting an MRCA test (see the next section).
• Applying from now on: all new requests for education help, and other family supports, are decided under the MRCA.

You'll still see the name VCES on older forms, tutoring websites and in conversation. In practice it now means MRCAETS.

Source: DVA – Education Scheme; DVA – Education Scheme (legislation reform); CLIK – Part 14 note on 1 July 2026 changes

Eligibility depends on the veteran's situation and on the child's age and dependency. These are the main pathways DVA lists. DVA makes the final decision, so ask the Education Scheme team if you're not sure.

The child: generally must be under 16, or aged 16 to 25 and studying or training full time (apprenticeships, traineeships and cadetships count). Under the MRCA test they must also be wholly, mainly or partly dependent on the veteran, which can include step-children and other children the veteran stands in the place of a parent to.

Other pathways: DVA also lists the VEA Orphan Pension pathway, and a pathway for children (including adult children) of Vietnam veterans who have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder or assessed as vulnerable by a qualified professional.

Source: DVA – Education Scheme: eligibility criteria

Once DVA accepts a child onto MRCAETS, a range of benefits may be available. Extra supports such as tutoring or special assistance are only available to students already accepted onto the scheme.

• Education allowance: paid once a year for primary students, and fortnightly for secondary and tertiary students. The rate depends on living arrangements: at home, away from home, homeless, or double orphan. There is no income or assets test. See current amounts on the MRCA compensation payment rates page.
• Additional tuition: up to $3,500 a year as standard (DVA can approve more, see below) for short-term tutoring to help a child catch up after things outside their control, such as illness, changing schools or losing a family member. Someone qualified at the school must confirm there's a gap between the child's potential and actual results. Apply on form D9212.
• Special assistance: up to $3,000 a year when hardship (for example disability, learning difficulties, family disruption or a natural disaster) is affecting a child's schooling. Examples include speech therapy, OT, educational or neurodivergent assessments, psychology sessions and assistive technology. Apply on form D9553 with professional evidence and quotes.
• Fares allowance (D9063) and rent assistance (D0742) for eligible students who live away from home.
• Guidance and counselling about study progress, plus the Student Start-up and Relocation Scholarships for tertiary students. DVA works these out automatically.
• Energy Supplement and Income Support Bonus, paid automatically to eligible students.

Family Tax Benefit: for children under 16 you can get both Family Tax Benefit and the DVA education allowance. From 16 you have to choose one. Even if you choose FTB, the child may still get tutoring and special assistance.

Tax: the education allowance is tax-free until the student turns 16. After that it usually counts as the student's taxable income, unless it's paid because the veteran died.

Source: DVA – Education Scheme benefits

The official rule Official

DVA's policy manual (CLIK) says the standard maximum for Additional Tuition is $3,500 per student per year. A DVA Executive Level 1 officer can approve a further $2,000 a year per student where it's needed. Requests above those limits need approval from the Commissions.

Continuing tuition needs evidence. Additional Tuition is approved for a set period. To continue it, the assessment form must show the child still needs it, and the request must include a report from the tutor covering the work done, the progress made and why continuing would help.

Source: CLIK – Education scheme benefits: Additional Tuition

What one veteran parent did Experience

The tutoring provider lodged an Additional Funding Request with DVA's education scheme team. DVA usually wanted:

1. A letter from the school supporting more tutoring (there's a template below for teachers).
2. Two progress reports from the tutor showing how the child is going.
3. Two quotes from the provider for the extra funding.

Do this for each child. Every child needs their own request and their own paperwork, even if they're with the same tutor.

Template letter teachers can adapt (print it on school letterhead):

Copy letter

Source: veteran parent experience (Oct 2026); official limit from DVA – Application for Additional Tuition (D9212)

• Check eligibility first. Call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) or email educationschemes@dva.gov.au and ask the Education Scheme team.
• Lodge the main claim. Apply online in MyService, or use form D2697 (students under 16) or form D2566 (students 16 and over).
• Attach documents: certified proof of identity, confirmation of enrolment showing year level, and proof of dependency if the student isn't the veteran's biological child.
• Ask for extra help separately. Additional tuition (D9212), special assistance (D9553), rent assistance (D0742) and fares allowance (D9063) each have their own form.

Email completed forms to educationschemes@dva.gov.au, or post them to DVA Education Schemes, GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001.

Source: DVA – Education Scheme: making a claim

The Long Tan Bursary helps children and grandchildren of Australian Vietnam veterans (service between 31 July 1962 and 30 April 1975) with the cost of tertiary study. DVA says 37 bursaries are awarded each year, each worth up to $12,000 over 3 years of continuous full-time study.

• Basic eligibility: Australian residency, full-time study (online or on campus) at an Australian university, TAFE or RTO, and eligibility for ongoing payments under Youth Allowance, MRCAETS or a similar Commonwealth benefit such as Abstudy or Austudy.
• Only once: you can receive the bursary once only. Professional training courses (for example College of Law) are excluded.
• When: applications open on 18 August (Vietnam Veterans' Day) and close on 31 October. Results usually come out in early March the next year.
• Who runs it: the Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust (AVCAT) assesses applications on DVA's behalf, based on academic merit and personal circumstances. Apply through the AVCAT website.

AVCAT also offers other scholarships for children and grandchildren of veterans. Check its website for current rounds.

Source: DVA – Long Tan Bursary; AVCAT

If your family hits new, hard circumstances that could tip into crisis, DVA's Acute Support Package may fund short-term help such as childcare, kids' activities, home help and counselling.

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling is free, confidential and open 24/7 on 1800 011 046. It's DVA's own service and you don't need a claim or a DVA card to use it.

• Who can use it: anyone with at least one day of continuous full-time ADF service, plus their partners and children. Ex-partners who are co-parenting can also use it. If a service person has died, parents and siblings may be eligible. See Open Arms eligibility.
• Family and couple counselling: help with deployment and reunion, leaving the ADF, relationship strain, blended families, trauma, and helping children through changes such as starting a new school. See Open Arms – Family.
• Group programs: free workshops and group programs, such as Stepping Out for members and partners going through transition. Many programs on anxiety, anger, depression and trauma are open to adult children.
• For parents: the Open Arms – Children page has tips on spotting when a child is struggling, plus links to booklets and children's programs.

Still serving or transitioning? The Defence Member and Family Helpline (1800 624 608, 24/7) is run by Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS, formerly DCO). It can help with childcare, schooling, relocation and crisis support, and families can use it during transition. Defence Families of Australia (DFA) is the official advisory body for ADF families. Both mainly serve current ADF families, so ex-serving families should ask what's available to them.

Young people can also call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (ages 5 to 25).

Source: Open Arms – Eligibility; Open Arms – Family; Defence – Member and Family Helpline

• Kookaburra Kids – Defence Kids: camps, activity days and online sessions, with age-appropriate mental health education, for 8 to 18-year-olds from current and ex-serving ADF families. Run in partnership with DVA. No mental health diagnosis is needed. Programs run in every state and territory, mostly around capital cities and major Defence areas.
• Legacy: supports families where the veteran has died, or has been wounded, injured or made ill by their service. For children this can include help with school costs, uniforms and laptops, after-school activities, camps, mentoring and tertiary scholarships (see young families & children). In early 2026 Legacy dropped its operational-service requirement, so families of former permanent ADF members and of reservists with continuous full-time service may now be eligible. Services vary between local Legacy clubs.
• Soldier On – parenting programs: online group programs for veteran and Defence families, such as Tuning into Kids, Tuning into Teens and Circle of Security. You start with a chat with their psychology team (1300 620 380).

Check each organisation's eligibility rules and costs directly. They can change from year to year.

This table summarises what each organisation says on its own website, as at 2 October 2026. A listing here is not an endorsement or recommendation. We have no commercial relationship with any of these organisations. DVA lets families choose any tutor who holds a valid Working with Children Check. DVA does not approve or endorse particular tutoring businesses.

Some tutoring websites mention DVA approving extra funding above $3,500. DVA's own page states up to $3,500 a year. See Additional Funding Requests for how one family applied for more, and confirm any higher amount with DVA directly.

• Get MRCAETS approval first. Tutoring and special assistance funding are only available once DVA has accepted your child onto the scheme. Be wary of any provider that says otherwise.
• Involve the school early. A qualified person at the school has to support an Additional Tuition application, and DVA expects the tutoring to add to what the school provides, not replace it.
• Ask a tutoring provider: does the tutor hold a current Working with Children Check? What is the hourly rate, and how many sessions will $3,500 cover? Will there be any gap fee? How will progress be reported to DVA?
• Reapply each year. Additional tuition is approved for one calendar year at a time.
• At age 16, compare FTB with the education allowance. You can't get both from 16, so work out which suits your family better.
• Under pressure as a family? Ask DVA about the Acute Support Package. It can cover childcare and children's activities during a crisis.
• Get free help. Legacy and ex-service organisations can help with DVA paperwork at no cost.

Experiences collected October 2026. Got a correction? Use the feedback form.

• dva.gov.auDVA – Education Scheme (MRCAETS)
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Education Scheme: legislation reform resource
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Children of Veterans: legislation reform resource
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Long Tan Bursary
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Acute Support Package
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• clik.dva.gov.auCLIK – Part 14 Acute Support Package (1 July 2026 note)
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• openarms.gov.auOpen Arms – Family
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• openarms.gov.auOpen Arms – Eligibility
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• openarms.gov.auOpen Arms – Children
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• kookaburrakids.org.auKookaburra Kids – Defence Kids
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• legacy.com.auLegacy – Get Support
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• legacy.com.auLegacy – Eligibility expansion (Feb 2026)
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• soldieron.org.auSoldier On – Parenting Programs
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• defence.gov.auDefence – Member and Family Helpline
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• dfa.org.auDefence Families of Australia – About us
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• avcat.org.auAVCAT
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• clik.dva.gov.auCLIK – Education scheme benefits (Additional Tuition limits and continued tuition)
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All links opened and checked 2026-10-02.