Information & Support
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Most comprehensive Australian Veteran support linking Network.
58 comprehensive TOPICs and growing
The Av Connect Program makes information available on the understanding that we are not thereby engaged in rendering professional advice. We will make every reasonable effort to maintain current and accurate information. Users should carefully evaluate the accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance of this information for their purposes before relying on the material. Users should always obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances.
DISABILITY & SUPPORT
For Veterans and their families
DVA offers practical support to help you stay independent and in your own home. For complex or high-level care needs, your GP can refer you to DVA's Community Nursing program.
Tax concessions on cars for people with a disability
Eligibility for veterans
You're eligible for car tax concessions if you are a veteran with a disability and you:
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intend to use the car for your personal transport from the date you get the car, for either
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two years
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until the car has travelled 40,000 kilometres
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have served in the Australian Defence Force or any other Commonwealth armed force and as a result of that service any of the following apply
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you lost a leg or both arms
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total and permanent loss of use in a leg or both arms
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you receive a totally and permanently incapacitated (TPI) pension
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you receive a special rate disability pension.
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Eligibility for people with disability
You're eligible for car tax concessions if you:
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have a certificate that certifies you have lost the use of one or more limbs to the extent that you are unable to use public transport – this can either be
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a permanent certificate issued by Medibank Health Solutions (MHS)
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a current certificate of medical eligibility from a medical practitioner – these are valid from 9 December 2020 and can be permanent or temporary
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intend to use the car to travel to or from gainful employment from the date you get the car, for either
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two years
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until the car has travelled 40,000 kilometres.
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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life, but when emotions such as hopelessness and despair take hold and just wont go away, you may have depression. Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. Just trying to get through the day can be overwhelming. But no matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. By understanding the cause of your depression and recognising the different symptoms and types of depression, you can take the first step to feeling better
While there are many factors that can influence a person's decision to commit suicide, the most common one is severe depression.
 Depression can make people feel great emotional pain and loss of hope, making them unable to see another way to relieve the pain other than ending their own life.
A mental disorder, also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitting, or occur as a single episode. Many disorders have been described, with signs and symptoms that vary widely between specific disorders. Such disorders may be diagnosed by a mental health professional.
There may be multiple risk factors for mental health problems at any point in life. Older people may experience life stressors common to all people, but also stressors that are more common in later life, like a significant ongoing loss in capacities and a decline in functional ability. For example, older adults may experience reduced mobility, chronic pain, frailty or other health problems, for which they require some form of long-term care. In addition, older people are more likely to experience events such as bereavement.
Significant mental health problems can and do occur in young children. Children can show clear characteristics of anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as autism, at a very early age.
Mental health can be adversely affected by exposure to a range of hazards or factors in the workplace, including, for example: 1. high job demand 2. low job demand 3. poor support 4. poor workplace relationships 5. low role clarity 6. poor organisational change management 7. poor organisational justice 8. poor environmental conditions 9. remote or isolated work, and 10. violent or traumatic events.
Mental health emergencies can happen at any time and to anyone. Examples might be a person who is suicidal, a person experiencing a panic or anxiety attack, a person experiencing trauma, an incident of self-harm or a person who is psychotic. It also includes natural disasters, pandemics and accidents. There are many incidences that may affect someone's mental health.
Emergency services personnel who play a critical role in protecting and helping people and communities in need may have PTSD. They may be police officers, fire fighters or ambulance personnel, or belong to a volunteer organisation such as the State Emergency Service (SES) or Rural Fire Service and frontline organisations that provide volunteers and emergency relief.
PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD.
During the school years, mental health problems are among the leading causes of lower grades, friendships and relationships and substance use or abuse, and they can have a lifelong impact. Early intervention is so important for mental health programs.
Bullying can affect an adult, child or teen's mental health and wellbeing. It can be associated with low self-esteem, and can contribute to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. It can also lead to feelings of helplessness and being suicidal.
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Effects of bullying Workplace bullying can seriously harm worker mental health with depression, psychological distress and emotional exhaustion common outcomes for bullied workers.
Domestic and family violence can have a significant negative impact on the mental health of the victims, or other family members who witness it. Constantly feeling unsafe in your own home or with the people who are supposed to love and care for you can lead to feeling afraid, unable to relax, powerless to change the situation, or ashamed to tell others.
When it comes to mental health, the culture of the society that surrounds us influences our attitudes about seeking help, the type of support we need, and whether or not we decide to seek help at all. Cultural norms can account for minor differences in how people communicate their symptoms to major omissions of which symptoms they report.
Domestic
Although being LGBTI is absolutely not a mental illness, many LGBTI people experience mental health struggles. The LGBTI community struggle with acceptance and discrimination.
Psychosocial disability is the term used to describe disabilities that may arise from mental health issues. Whilst not everyone who has a mental health issue will experience psychosocial disability, those that do can experience severe effects and social disadvantage.
Habitica
Habitica is a video game to help you improve real life habits. It "gamifies" your life by turning all your tasks (Habits, Dailies, and To Do's) into little monsters you have to conquer. The better you are at this, the more you progress in the game. If you slip up in life, your character starts backsliding in the game.