A new incentive is live
The Australian Government introduced the Veteran Mental Health Incentive on 1 July 2026. The scheme gives GPs and psychiatrists extra funding so they can spend more time with veterans and provide ongoing, coordinated mental health care to Veteran Card holders.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs says the aim is to make mental health support easier for veterans to access, and to help the clinicians who look after them.
What practitioners can claim
Under the Veteran Mental Health Incentive, GPs can receive an additional payment up to four times a year. It applies when a GP prepares or reviews a Mental Health Treatment Plan for a Veteran Card holder, and for longer appointments that support a veteran’s ongoing mental health care.
Psychiatrists can claim an additional payment up to twice a year for a veteran’s continuing care.
The funding
The Australian Government has committed $58.3 million over three years to the Veteran Mental Health Incentive, followed by $21 million a year on an ongoing basis. The incentive is already available to GPs and psychiatrists who treat Veteran Card holders.
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General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
