Find support near you (no DVA claim needed)

Most of this site is about DVA claims, because compensation and treatment for service-related conditions start there. But a lot of wellbeing, family and practical support doesn't need a claim, an accepted condition or a diagnosis. Don't wait for DVA to accept something before you ask for help.

Source: Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Connecting with a Hub; Open Arms – How to get support; Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Find a service

The Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency opened on 1 July 2026. Its Find a Service directory lists veteran, community and government support services across Australia. Type your suburb or postcode, or answer a few questions if you're not sure where to start.

Open Find a Service

You can search for help with:

• education and skills
• employment and meaningful activity
• family, children and caring
• financial wellbeing
• health and wellbeing
• housing
• meaning and spirituality
• safety and security
• social support and connection

Prefer to talk to someone? Call the Agency on 1800 823 922 (8:30am–5:00pm weekdays, local time). Its resources for people supporting a veteran are useful for families and carers.

Source: Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Find a service; Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency

Hubs are local, non-clinical places where veterans and families can connect with others and get help from several services in one spot. They take a "no wrong door" approach: if they can't help, they'll connect you with someone who can.

• What they help with (varies by Hub): health and wellbeing, mental health and counselling, family and parenting support, housing, employment, education and money help, advocacy, social activities, and referrals to DVA, Defence and community services.
• Who can go: veterans from all service backgrounds and periods of service, reservists, partners, families, carers, and serving members who are transitioning out.
• Not a crisis service. You don't need to be in distress to contact one. For urgent help, see below.

The Agency's Hubs page lists these (October 2026). Check the Hubs page for contact details, as more may be added:

No Hub near you? Search Find a Service for local support instead.

Source: Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Connecting with a Hub; Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Veterans' and Families' Hubs

Homelessness isn't only sleeping rough. DVA says it can also mean couch surfing, staying in a relationship to keep a roof over your head, or struggling to pay rent or a mortgage. A relationship breakdown, lost income or a serious injury can put you at risk. Ask for help early.

Housing

• DVA: 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372), 8am–5pm weekdays. DVA can connect you with local homelessness services, check you're getting all the DVA support you're eligible for, and provide personalised case management. Out of hours, call Open Arms on 1800 011 046.
• State and territory homelessness lines (you can call directly):

Some ex-service organisations also run homelessness services. DVA lists them on its homelessness support page.

Money

• DVA Crisis Payment. A one-off, non-taxable payment for people in severe financial hardship who need to leave home because of extreme circumstances, stay in the home after family violence once the perpetrator has left, or have just left prison or psychiatric confinement. You must get (or have claimed) a Service Pension, Income Support Supplement or DVA-paid Age Pension, and apply within 7 days. It's one week of Service Pension: $618.85 single or $466.50 each for a couple (rates from 20 September 2026). Veteran Payment recipients can't get it.
• National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007 (weekdays 9:30am–4:30pm). Free, confidential financial counselling for debts, bills, rent and mortgage problems.
• Financial Information Service: 132 300 (Services Australia). Free information about how changes affect your finances. Not financial advice.
• In Find a Service, choose Housing or Financial wellbeing to see local options.

Source: DVA – Homelessness support; DVA – Crisis payment; DVA – Housing and accommodation; National Debt Helpline; DVA – Information for carers (Financial Information Service)

• Emergency: call 000.
• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 (24/7).
• Open Arms Safe Zone Support: 1800 142 072. Free, anonymous counselling for serving and ex-serving members and their families.
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7), or text 0477 13 11 14.
• Defence Member and Family Helpline: 1800 624 608 (24/7).

More 24/7 lines are on the Agency's urgent support page.

Source: Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Get urgent support

• Start with one call. If you don't know what you need, a Hub or the Agency (1800 823 922) can point you to the right service.
• Do both. Getting support now doesn't stop you making a DVA claim. If a condition might be linked to your service, you can still lodge a claim. See Making a DVA claim.
• Bring your family. Partners, kids and carers can use many of these services in their own right.
• Housing at risk? Call early. It's much easier to keep a tenancy than to find a new one.

General guidance only. Check the official pages linked above for eligibility.

• veteranwellbeing.gov.auVeteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Find a service
  View source
• veteranwellbeing.gov.auVeteran and Family Wellbeing Agency
  View source
• veteranwellbeing.gov.auVeteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Veterans' and Families' Hubs
  View source
• veteranwellbeing.gov.auVeteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Connecting with a Hub
  View source
• veteranwellbeing.gov.auVeteran and Family Wellbeing Agency – Get urgent support
  View source
• openarms.gov.auOpen Arms – How to get support
  View source
• advocateregister.org.auAdvocate Register
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Homelessness support
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Crisis payment
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Housing and accommodation
  View source
• ndh.org.auNational Debt Helpline
  View source

All links opened and checked 2026-10-08.