Why veterans require a different approach to healthcare

As ANZAC Day approaches, much of the national conversation centres on remembrance. For healthcare professionals, it is also a moment to reflect on a more practical question: are we equipped to care for those who have served?

Veterans are often treated as part of the broader patient population. In reality, they represent a distinct cohort, shaped by experiences, systems and expectations that differ significantly from civilian life. That distinction is not always reflected in how care is designed or delivered.

More than a clinical profile

Veterans experience higher rates of chronic disease, persistent pain and mental health conditions compared to the general population.

But their healthcare needs are not defined by clinical presentation alone.

Military service and the transition out of the Australian Defence Force (DFA) influence how veterans engage with care. Help-seeking behaviours, trust in providers, and expectations of treatment are often shaped by service experience, creating a layer of complexity that standard care models do not always address. In practice, this can affect when and how veterans seek care, and how they respond to treatment over time.

A system that adds complexity

Access remains one of the most immediate challenges.

Like the broader population, veterans are impacted by general practitioner (GP) shortages and increasing wait times. But they must also navigate two systems: Medicare and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

For those who entered service at a young age and received care exclusively within the military system, this transition can be unfamiliar and, at times, overwhelming. Understanding entitlements, referral pathways and claims processes can add an additional layer of friction to accessing timely care.

The result is more than administrative friction.

Delays in care, confusion around eligibility, and difficulty finding experienced providers can lead to under-management of health conditions, particularly those requiring early and consistent intervention. In some cases, these barriers are enough to delay or prevent engagement with care altogether.

Why service-informed care matters

For clinicians, this highlights the importance of a service-informed approach.

Understanding military culture, operational exposure and the DVA framework allows providers to better identify and manage the nuanced needs of veteran patients. This applies across physical health, including musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain, as well as mental health conditions that may present differently from those seen in civilian populations.

Care that recognises both the clinical and contextual factors of a patient’s experience is more likely to build trust, improve engagement and support better long-term outcomes. It also supports more consistent care, particularly for patients managing multiple conditions across different providers.

A more coordinated model of care

One response to this fragmentation has been the development of more integrated, veteran-specific models of care.

Organisations such as Total Veteran Healthcare are working to reduce fragmentation by combining general practice, allied health and specialist services within a coordinated framework. This includes a “whole-of-patient” approach, where physical and mental health conditions are managed together by multidisciplinary teams familiar with the complexities of veteran care.

Central to this model is continuity of care, with a service-aware GP coordinating treatment across multiple providers. Rather than navigating referrals independently, veterans are supported through a more structured pathway that brings these elements together.

This level of coordination reflects the reality of veteran healthcare needs. Many patients require input from multiple providers at once, sometimes across physical, psychological and social support services delivered over an extended period.

These models also place a stronger emphasis on access and navigation, helping veterans move through the DVA system, understand their entitlements, and connect with appropriate providers, whether in person or via telehealth.

The opportunity for the sector

ANZAC Day serves as a reminder of service and sacrifice. For the healthcare sector, it is also an opportunity to reflect on how care is delivered.

Supporting veterans effectively requires more than clinical expertise. It calls for an understanding of service experience, a commitment to coordination, and a focus on improving access, particularly in a system that many veterans find difficult to navigate.

Ensuring veterans receive the care they need, when they need it, is not just good practice,” says CCO of Total Veteran Healthcare, Joel Tunstall, “it is an extension of the respect we show them on ANZAC Day and beyond.”