As a veteran who has served our nation, you deserve access to professional healthcare that comes to you-in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. DVA Community Nursing provides comprehensive clinical nursing services delivered by qualified AHPRA Registered Nurses who understand the unique needs of veterans and their families.
Our DVA Community Nursing services cover the full spectrum of clinical healthcare needs. We provide expert wound care and dressing management for surgical wounds, chronic ulcers, and pressure injuries. We assist with medication management, helping you understand your medications, organizing doses, and ensuring safe administration. For veterans living with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, COPD, or arthritis, we provide ongoing symptom monitoring and management, working closely with your GP to keep conditions stable and prevent complications.
When you’re facing end-of-life or require palliative care, our nurses provide compassionate support focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life during this important time. We conduct regular health checks and assessments, monitoring your vital signs and overall wellbeing to identify concerns early. After surgery or hospital stays, we provide post-operative care and recovery support, helping you heal safely at home and working to reduce readmission risk. For daily clinical needs-from catheter care to insulin injections, stoma management to clinical observations-our Registered Nurses deliver professional care with the respect your service has earned.
Every visit combines clinical expertise with genuine understanding of veteran experiences. We coordinate seamlessly with your GP, specialists, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to ensure comprehensive, integrated care. Whether you hold a Gold Card or White Card, we’re here to support your health and independence at home.
Your service to Australia will never be forgotten. Our service to you reflects that gratitude.
The Benefits of Clinical Nursing at Home
Hospital visits and medical appointments can be challenging:
Travel difficulties and fatigue, stress of clinical environments, waiting times and scheduling conflicts, difficulty managing multiple health conditions, feeling rushed during appointments, coordination between different specialists, concern about hospital-acquired infections.
How to Access:
Your GP or specialist requests DVA authorization for community nursing services. We coordinate with DVA regarding service approval and documentation. As a DVA Approved Provider, we handle authorization processes and billing directly with DVA. Contact us to discuss your needs-we’ll guide you through the access process and coordinate with your healthcare providers and DVA.
DVA Community Nursing at home provides:
- Professional clinical care in your familiar, comfortable environment
- Registered Nurses who take time to know you and your health history
- Regular monitoring that identifies problems before they become serious
- Reduced need for hospital visits and emergency department attendance
- Coordination between all your healthcare providers
- Clinical expertise combined with respect for your service
- Support for both you and your family
- Care delivered with understanding of veteran experiences
Helping with End of Life and Palliative Care
Helping with Other Clinical Need Tasks
Helping to Manage Symptoms of Medical Conditions
Helping after an Operation or Stay in Hospital
We’re Here To Help:
Clinical nursing services manage your health conditions, medications, wounds, and medical needs, while personal care and domestic assistance support daily living activities, home management, and independence.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between DVA Community Nursing and regular aged care services?
DVA Community Nursing is clinical healthcare delivered by AHPRA Registered Nurses-wound care, medication management, health monitoring, post-operative care, and other nursing tasks requiring professional qualifications. Regular aged care services (personal care, cleaning, meals) are provided by support workers. Community Nursing addresses medical and clinical needs; personal care supports daily living. Many DVA clients receive both types of services coordinated together.
Do I need my doctor to refer me for DVA Community Nursing?
Yes, your GP or specialist needs to request DVA authorization for community nursing services. Clinical nursing must be medically necessary and appropriate for your conditions. We work with your doctor to coordinate the authorization process. If you’re unsure whether you need nursing services, contact us-we can discuss your needs and coordinate with your GP to determine appropriate care.
How often will the nurse visit?
Visit frequency depends on your clinical needs and DVA authorization. Some veterans need daily visits (e.g., daily wound care), others need twice-weekly or weekly visits, and some need flexible visits as conditions change. Unlike Home Care Packages with fixed budgets, DVA services are authorized based on clinical need, not financial caps. We work with your doctor to determine appropriate frequency for your specific health conditions.
Will I see the same nurse each time?
We aim for continuity wherever possible. Having the same Registered Nurse visit regularly means they know your health history, recognize changes quickly, build trust and rapport, and provide consistent quality care. Occasionally you might see a different nurse due to leave or scheduling, but we minimize changes to maintain continuity and familiarity.
What if my health gets worse or I develop new conditions?
We monitor your health continuously and adjust services as needed. If your condition deteriorates, new health issues emerge, or clinical needs increase, we coordinate with your GP about increased nursing support and work with DVA to authorize additional services. DVA funding is flexible-services adapt to your current needs rather than being fixed. Your safety and health are the priorities.
Can DVA Community Nursing help me avoid going to hospital?
In many cases, yes. Regular nursing monitoring identifies problems early before they become emergencies, professional wound care prevents infections and complications, medication management reduces adverse reactions, chronic disease monitoring keeps conditions stable, and post-hospital care reduces readmission risk. However, if you need emergency care, we’ll arrange hospital transport and communicate with emergency services. Our goal is keeping you healthy at home when appropriate, while ensuring you get hospital care when necessary.
What happens if I need nursing care outside normal hours?
Our standard service hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM. For urgent clinical concerns outside these hours, contact your GP, after-hours doctor service, or call 000 for emergencies. If you have ongoing needs requiring weekend or evening nursing care, discuss this with us-we can explore options or coordinate with other DVA providers for extended coverage.
Do you work with my existing doctors and specialists?
Absolutely. Coordination with your healthcare team is essential. We communicate regularly with your GP about your nursing care and health status, send clinical reports and observations to your doctors, follow treatment plans prescribed by your specialists, arrange pathology tests when your doctor orders them, and ensure everyone involved in your care is informed and coordinated. You remain at the center, with all providers working together.
What qualifications do your nurses have?
All our community nursing services are delivered by AHPRA-registered Registered Nurses with current registration, extensive aged care and community nursing experience, DVA service delivery training and understanding, and ongoing professional development maintaining clinical currency. Our RN founder Theresa Ziwenga provides clinical governance and supervision. We don’t use unqualified staff for clinical nursing tasks-only qualified, experienced Registered Nurses deliver clinical care.
How much does DVA Community Nursing cost me?
For DVA-authorized services provided by approved providers like Gratifying Care, there are no gap fees or out-of-pocket costs. We bill DVA directly at their set rates. You don’t receive invoices, pay upfront, or claim reimbursement.
Gold Card holders: All approved nursing services covered for any health condition.
White Card holders: Nursing services covered for accepted service-related conditions only. This financial support recognizes your service-you receive professional clinical nursing care without cost concerns.
Getting Started with DVA Services
Contact Us If You:
- Are a veteran or war widow with Gold or White Card entitlements
- Need professional nursing care at home for health conditions
- Require assistance with daily living activities and home management
- Want integrated clinical and personal care from one provider
- Seek DVA Approved Provider with clinical expertise
- Need coordination between nursing care and personal support
- Value consistent team members who understand veterans
- Want professional care delivered with respect and dignity
- Require wound care, medication support, or symptom management
- Need post-hospital care or chronic disease monitoring
- Want personal care respecting military service and experience
- Seek reliable domestic assistance maintaining home independence