Information on funded products by the Department of Veterans' Affairs

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A Vision Australia staff member sitting at a table with an older client. A range of adaptive equipment is in front of them.

Vision Australia works with the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to provide funding for a wide range of aids and equipment to eligible veterans and their families. These aids and equipment are designed to support the health and wellbeing of veterans and assist them in maintaining their independence and quality of life. Entitled veterans, war widows and widowers who are blind or have low vision can have aids and equipment funded by the DVA. They must be a DVA Gold Card Holder or an eligible DVA White Card Holder. All other DVA card holders (Orange or Pension) will have to self-fund their purchases.

The aids and equipment that can be funded include low vision aids (optical/visual aids) and low vision equipment from the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP), which covers adaptive technology equipment, daily living aids and appliances. All aids and equipment are subject to an assessed clinical need and may require prior approval from DVA.

Vision Australia is proud to be an approved contracted DVA supplier of Low Vision Equipment for the RAP. The wide range of products that can be funded assist in maximising the veteran’s vision and enable them to complete a variety of daily living tasks safely, easily and efficiently. Therefore, allowing the veteran to maintain or regain their independence and live the life they choose.

We are dedicated and committed to providing the veterans’ community with high quality products and support.

Why choose Vision Australia?

Vision Australia work in partnership with healthcare professionals to support their clients who are blind or have low vision to maintain their independence and lead a healthy and active lifestyle.

We provide a simple and seamless prescribing service. Which includes

  • Expert product knowledge
  • Extensive product range
  • Guaranteed on-going support
  • Fast turnaround
  • End-to-end customer service

How to prescribe products funded by DVA

Step 1

If you want to order a low vision aids and/or equipment, determine if your client is a DVA Gold Card Holder or eligible DVA White Card Holder. If your client is neither, then they will have to self-fund the purchase.
Note: if your client is an eligible DVA White Card Holder, prior approval from DVA is mandatory, each time they require aids and equipment funded.

Step 2

If yes, complete an Optometric/Optical Service Voucher (D1223) (PDF, 144KB) to order optical/visual aids.
Note – only eye care professionals (Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Orthoptists) or a healthcare professional that works in a Low Vision Clinic can complete this voucher.

To order low vision equipment from the RAP, complete a Low Vision RAP Direct Order Form (PDF, 221KB).
Note – Please refer to the RAP National Schedule of Equipment document from DVA which outlines all the healthcare professionals that can complete this form.

If you require assistance with completing either the optical voucher or RAP form, please contact our DVA Hotline by calling 1300 365 492 or send an email to [email protected].

Step 3

If the optical/visual aid requires prior approval you will need to complete the following form and email it to DVA [email protected] for approval.

If the RAP item requires prior approval you will need complete pages 4 and 5 of the Low Vision RAP Direct Order Form if it’s an AN11 item, or use for template below for all other AN item.

A quote from Vision Australia is also required to support your prior approval application, which can be obtained by emailing [email protected]

Then email all paperwork to DVA [email protected] for approval.

Once you have approval from DVA for the optical/visual aid or RAP item, please email all documentation (optical voucher and/or RAP form plus the prior approval document) to Vision Australia [email protected] so your order can be processed as soon as possible.

If you require assistance with completing the prior approval documents, please contact our DVA Hotline by calling 1300 365 492 or send an email to [email protected].

Step 4

If the optical/visual aid or RAP item does not require prior approval, email the optical voucher or RAP form to Vision Australia [email protected] so your order can be process as soon as possible.

Note:
All optical/visual aids have annual financial payments limits and some RAP items have quantity limits that DVA will fund. If your DVA client has reached their yearly optical aid maximum financial payment or exceeded the quantity limits on a RAP item, then prior approval will need to be obtained from DVA.

Please refer to the latest Visual Aids Fee Schedule for information on annual financial payment limits on optical/visual aids, and the RAP National Schedule of Equipment from DVA for information on annual quantity limits for RAP items.

New 2023-2024 Product catalogue for DVA funded products

The new product catalogue for entitled DVA card holders is now available to download. Simply visit 2023-2024 DVA product catalogue (PDF, 5.74MB) to view the great range of products available. if you have any queries please contact the DVA hotline on 1300 365 492.

Other Information

Vision Australia also offer and provide services to entitled DVA card holders. This includes Low Vision Clinics, Allied Health Services and Library Services.

Please use the link below if you would like to refer your DVA client to Vision Australia to our Low Vision Clinics or access our Allied Health Services.

Refer a patient now

Please email the Vision Australia Library Team [email protected] if your DVA client would like to access our Library Services.

If you have any further queries, please email [email protected] or contact our dedicated DVA Hotline on 1300 365 492 on weekdays between 9:00am and 5:00pm AEST/ADET.