New Year, Same Mission: Edition 1, 2025
A Message from Luke Armstrong – Co-CEO & Founder of KSC Claims
As we step into 2025, there is a renewed sense of momentum for the veteran community. The long-awaited implementation of key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is beginning to take shape, promising meaningful reforms to better support those who have served. At the same time, the introduction of Independent Veteran Advocacy (IVA) is set to raise professional standards and ensure veterans receive transparent, expert guidance when navigating the DVA system.
Having served in the ADF myself, I know firsthand how complex and frustrating the transition to civilian life can be, particularly when it comes to accessing entitlements and support services. Veterans have long navigated a complex system to access the support they deserve. In 2025, we are seeing meaningful reforms that reflect a commitment to improving processes and outcomes for veterans and their families. These changes aim to create a more efficient, accessible, and veteran-centric system—one that better serves those who have served our nation.
One of the most significant developments is the government’s renewed focus on improving claims processing times. After years of backlog issues and delays, there is now a strong commitment to delivering faster, more efficient outcomes for veterans. This means that support will reach those who need it most without unnecessary waiting periods or bureaucratic hurdles.
Another major step forward is the implementation of the Independent Veteran Advocacy framework, which aims to professionalise the advocacy space. By ensuring advocates meet clear competency and ethical standards, IVA will help prevent misinformation and inconsistent advice, creating a more reliable and sustainable advocacy system for the future. For too long, veterans have had to navigate a fragmented and inconsistent support network—this change will bring much-needed structure and professionalism.
Looking ahead, the need for a whole-of-life approach to veteran support has never been clearer. Advocacy shouldn’t just start when a veteran lodges their first claim—it should be embedded throughout the entire military lifecycle, from pre-enlistment education to retirement and aged care. Veterans’ needs evolve over time, and the systems designed to support them must be flexible and responsive to those changes. Whether it’s mental health, career transition, financial planning, or aged care services, a holistic approach is the only way to ensure lifelong wellbeing for those who have served.
2025 marks the beginning of a new chapter for veterans in Australia. While challenges remain, the steps being taken now will lay the foundation for a more effective and sustainable system. At KSC Claims , we are committed to keeping you informed, advocating for your benefits, and ensuring that these reforms translate into real-world benefits for every veteran and their family.
Thank you for your service, and for trusting us to stand by your side. Together, we will continue to push for a system that truly works for veterans—now and into the future.
"The reforms we’re seeing in 2025 are a step toward a more efficient and veteran-centric system—one that truly supports those who have served. By streamlining processes and enhancing accessibility, we’re moving closer to ensuring every veteran gets the support they deserve, when they need it." — Luke Armstrong, Veteran & Founder of KSC Claims
P-VAC Informational Roundtable: Shaping the Future of Veteran Care
Upcoming: P-VAC Informational Roundtable – Strengthening Veteran Care & Private Sector Sustainability
On 7th February, we’re hosting the P-VAC Informational Roundtable, bringing together key stakeholders to shape the future of veteran care in Australia. This session will focus on enhancing collaboration between private providers, DVA, and key industry bodies to create a more structured and sustainable approach to veteran services.
A key objective is to support and sustain private businesses operating in the veteran space, ensuring they have a strong, unified voice in policy discussions and a viable long-term framework to continue delivering high-quality care. By centralising advocacy efforts and fostering stronger partnerships with government, P-VAC aims to create a more stable, predictable, and scalable environment for private providers, benefiting both businesses and the veterans they serve.
This is a crucial step towards ensuring veteran-focused businesses can thrive while delivering efficient, high-quality support for those who have served. Stay tuned for more updates!
Institute of Veterans' Advocates Set to Launch in Early 2025 – A New Era for Veteran Advocacy
The veteran advocacy landscape is about to experience a transformative shift with the upcoming launch of the Institute of Veterans' Advocates (IVA) in early 2025. This groundbreaking initiative promises to redefine the way veteran advocacy is approached in Australia, bringing much-needed structure, accountability, and support to advocates while ensuring veterans receive the highest standards of representation throughout the claims process.
A Major Leap Forward for Advocates
For those working within the veteran advocacy sector, the introduction of the IVA marks a monumental step in professionalising the field. The IVA will provide advocates with formal accreditation, specialised training, and clear governance standards—ensuring that all involved in veteran representation are equipped with the necessary knowledge and resources to navigate the complexities of the system. This formal structure will create a more sustainable, ethical, and effective advocacy framework, benefiting both veterans and advocates alike.
In addition, the IVA will establish a framework for best practices, promoting consistency and excellence across the sector. With a well-supported network, advocates will be empowered to deliver better outcomes for veterans, with ongoing access to updated information, resources, and guidance.
Enhanced Support and Transparency for Veterans
For veterans, the IVA's launch brings the promise of improved reliability and transparency in the advocacy services they receive. As the standards of veteran advocacy rise, veterans can have greater confidence that their claims and appeals will be handled with the competence, integrity, and professionalism they deserve.
The IVA will introduce clear oversight to ensure that veterans are receiving top-tier support from trained, accredited professionals. With accountability at the forefront, veterans can trust that their advocates are well-versed in the complexities of the DVA system and will be fighting for their entitlements with the utmost dedication.
A Step Towards Better Outcomes
This reform marks a significant milestone in the evolution of veteran support services. The IVA's commitment to elevating the advocacy sector ensures that veterans will receive more reliable, consistent, and high-quality support throughout their claims journey. As the professionalisation of veteran advocacy continues to evolve, the IVA will play a crucial role in shaping the future of veteran representation and entitlements.
We look forward to seeing the IVA's impact on the veteran community and to the positive changes that this initiative will bring. Stay tuned for further updates as the IVA prepares to launch and revolutionise the way veterans are supported in navigating their entitlements.
Understanding the Veteran Life Stages Model: A Comprehensive Approach to Supporting Our Veterans
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) have long been committed to ensuring veterans receive the support they deserve, both during and after their service. In line with this commitment, the DVA has developed the Veteran Life Stages Model—a framework designed to understand and address the unique needs of veterans at various stages of their lives and post-service journeys.
This model takes into account the diverse experiences of veterans, recognising that their needs evolve over time. By mapping out the different life stages, the DVA aims to provide tailored services that offer the right support, at the right time, for each individual veteran.
The Life Stages: Key Phases of a Veteran’s Journey
The Veteran Life Stages Model is divided into several key stages, each with distinct needs, challenges, and support requirements. Understanding these stages helps ensure that veterans receive the most relevant care and resources throughout their lives.
Holistic and Tailored Support
One of the key strengths of the Veteran Life Stages Model is its emphasis on providing holistic, personalised support. By recognising the unique needs of veterans at each stage of their journey, the DVA can deliver services tailored to individual circumstances. Whether it’s supporting a young veteran entering civilian life, managing the stresses of posting cycles or deployments, assisting with post-service career transitions, or offering end-of-life care for older veterans, the goal is to ensure veterans feel respected, supported, and valued at every step of their journey.
Moving Forward: A Veteran-Centric Approach
The Veteran Life Stages Model is a vital component of the DVA’s broader commitment to veteran-centric advocacy. By adopting a life-stage approach, the DVA ensures that no veteran is overlooked, and every stage of their life is supported by tailored services that meet their changing needs.
Veterans and their families can rest assured that the DVA will be there, providing comprehensive support across the full spectrum of their lives—from transition to civilian life, through to the later years and beyond. As the model continues to evolve, it will serve as a cornerstone for strengthening the veteran support system, ensuring better outcomes for generations to come.
Royal Commission 2024: A Landmark Year for Veterans’, with 2025 Set for Action
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, a pivotal event in 2024, has marked a significant turning point in the journey toward better support and recognition for our veterans. After years of hard work, intense scrutiny, and deep reflection, the Commission’s findings have set the stage for meaningful reform. As we move into 2025, the focus now shifts to implementing the Commission’s far-reaching recommendations, heralding a new era of improved advocacy, care, and support for veterans and their families.
2024: A Year of Groundbreaking Discoveries
The Royal Commission's final report, released in 2024, unveiled a complex and troubling picture of the challenges faced by many of our veterans. The Commission's comprehensive inquiry included extensive consultations with veterans, families, advocates, and experts, uncovering systemic issues and gaps in the support services available to those who have served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The report highlighted not only the immense emotional, mental, and physical toll of military service but also the struggles that persist after veterans transition to civilian life. The Royal Commission’s findings underscored the urgent need for a more robust, transparent, and veteran-centric support system to address the ongoing impacts of service-related trauma, mental health issues, and the struggle to navigate complex claims processes.
Despite the deep challenges revealed, the Royal Commission also celebrated the resilience and strength of our veterans, whose voices led to this landmark reform. The Commission's work has been a crucial step forward in confronting these issues head-on and beginning the process of healing for veterans and their families.
2025: A Year of Action and Transformation
With the Royal Commission’s findings now in hand, 2025 is poised to be the year of action. The Australian Government, along with advocacy groups, DVA, and other key stakeholders, will begin the critical work of implementing the Commission’s 122 recommendations—recommendations designed to reshape the future of veteran care, ensuring better outcomes, greater accountability, and enhanced services.
Among the key recommendations is a improvement of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), with a focus on increasing the transparency of the claims process, improving mental health support services, and ensuring more timely responses to veterans in need. The implementation of these reforms will be a monumental task, but it is one that must be pursued to deliver on the promises made to our veterans.
Additionally, the establishment of a dedicated veteran support agency, improved training for DVA staff, and stronger collaboration between veteran services and the ADF will be vital to ensuring that veterans receive the comprehensive care and support they deserve. Increased funding for services such as mental health programs, rehabilitation, and transition assistance is also set to be a priority, ensuring that veterans have the resources they need to successfully reintegrate into civilian life.
Perhaps most notably, the Royal Commission’s recommendations include a greater focus on prevention and early intervention, with measures to reduce the risk of veteran suicide and improve long-term outcomes for those affected by service-related trauma. The national conversation surrounding veteran care has shifted dramatically, and 2025 will see these conversations evolve into concrete, actionable reforms.
A New Beginning for Veteran Advocacy
As we move into 2025, the commitment to action will be stronger than ever. The success of the Royal Commission in 2024 has set the foundation for real, lasting change—ensuring that veterans are not only acknowledged for their sacrifices but supported in every phase of their lives. The roadmap laid out by the Commission will, if executed effectively, change the trajectory of veteran care and support, ensuring that those who have served Australia receive the respect, care, and recognition they deserve.
The year ahead promises to be one of profound transformation, as the recommendations from the Royal Commission are put into action. The ultimate goal is to build a system where veterans receive the comprehensive, compassionate care they need, backed by the reforms and structures that will bring about lasting change.
The road to optimal veteran support is long, but with the findings of the Royal Commission guiding us, 2025 will be a pivotal year for veterans—and a year of action that promises better outcomes for all who have served.
In Closing: As we work towards strengthening the support systems for veterans and advocating for necessary reforms, KSC Claims remains committed to empowering veterans and their families. Together, we can ensure a brighter, more secure future for all those who have served our country.
Stay tuned for next month's updates!
KSC Claims is a company founded and run by Australian Veterans Luke Armstrong and Matt Dumars, with the sole aim of helping Australian veterans.
Have DVA related questions? Let’s chat: