IPAR - Veteran Support page - MOO221090_FA

Proudly supporting veterans and their families across Australia

IPAR is proud to provide tailored services to current serving, transitioning and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force, as well as their families.

We are passionate about supporting veterans like you and your loved ones to return to health and wellbeing. We do this by engaging with you and your partner or support person, listening to your story, and gaining an understanding of exactly what you and your family needs.

Together, we develop strategies and activities to help you achieve your goals. We also work closely with your doctors and other people who may be assisting you to get well, to ensure that all activities are safe for you to participate in.

Who do we help?

How do we help?

Household Services

Meet our team

IPAR and Invictus Australia

Get in touch

Who do we help?

At IPAR, we can help any veteran who needs support. This could be:

Anyone who identifies as an ex-serving member
Veterans transitioning from the Australian Defence Force (ADF)
Veterans who have been out of the ADF for many years but need additional supports or assistance now
Veterans who may have only become aware of certain entitlements they may have, but do not know how to access them
Veterans who need help to find new employment, even if they do not have any accepted conditions
Veterans recovering from an injury or illness, or who were recently in hospital and need support to be at home and/or with their recovery
Veterans who may be struggling with complex needs, such as homelessness, substance use and legal issues
Veterans who are deemed Totally and Permanently Impaired (TPI) but would like assistance to connect with a community group or become a volunteer
Partners of veterans who need to find new employment
Partners of veterans who may need additional supports and access to psychological services to assist them to achieve their employment goals
Veterans and spouses who may need further assistance, even if they have received assistance previously
Veterans who are currently living overseas and need some assistance

Request support from IPAR

How do we help?

There are many things IPAR can assist you with around health, wellbeing and employment for you and your family. Here are just a few examples:

Finding and linking in with medical practitioners and allied health personnel
Providing education to you and your family about how to access care you may be eligible for
Linking you in with services to support with things around the house such as cleaning and doing the lawns
Sourcing and linking you in with advocacy support
Supporting you to engage in community groups or activities you enjoy
Helping you find the right service and the right support in the right area – such as financial support, housing and renting support, access to NDIS services and legal support
Supporting you with finding new employment and offering job seeking assistance including developing your résumé, assisting you to apply for jobs and practice interview skills
Linking you to veteran-friendly employers or Veteran Employment Programs in specific industries
Exploring re-training opportunities that may be available to you and how and where you may be able to access this
Providing support so that you can stay in your current role, or find a new suitable role

Request support from IPAR

If you need immediate support, please reach out to:

Open Arms: phone 1800 011 046
Safe Zone Support (the anonymous Open Arms support line): phone 1800 142 072
Lifeline: phone 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: phone 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service: phone 1300 659 467
1800 RESPECT for National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Services: 1800 737 732

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
13 YARN (Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter): 13 92 76
Emergency: 000

Household Services

Do you have an injury or illness that makes it difficult to complete tasks around the home? Help is available.

If you or a loved one have military service and conditions accepted under MRCA or DRCA and need support with activities at home, please talk to your doctor. Support can be provided for the long term (up to 5 years), or for short periods while you are recovering.

How do I access household support?

You or your doctor can submit a claim form for Household Services Support (D9319). Once accepted, you will be referred to a specialist to conduct an assessment and make recommendations of what services would benefit you in your home.

Who can complete the assessment?

IPAR’s qualified Occupational Therapists and Exercise Physiologists complete these assessments. Simply send your completed D9319 form to veterans@ipar.com.au. If you need assistance getting this form to us, your GP clinic can help.

What if my conditions are accepted under VEA only?

You may be eligible for Veteran Home Care (VHC). This provides some practical help so you can continue to live independently. It can include domestic help (such as house cleaning, home and garden maintenance, bill paying and shopping collection), personal care (such as showering, toileting or eating) and respite care.

Request support from IPAR

Meet our team

IPAR has a dedicated Veteran Support Team that is committed to supporting you and your family to ensure that you are linked in with the best people to assist your recovery and to achieve your goals. Our aim is to ensure our services are veteran-centric and holistic in nature.

The Veteran Support Team consists of:

Veteran Experience Manager

National Technical Manager – Veteran Services

Veteran Subject Matter Experts and Mentors

120+ allied health consultants

National Veteran Experience Manager

Peta Siggers is our National Veteran Experience Manager. Peta supports and provides education to IPAR consultants who work with veteran clients and their families and uses a lived experience approach to ensure our services are veteran-centric and holistic. Peta connects and builds relationships with other veteran and family supports in the wider community to ensure that IPAR remains up to date regarding supports available and how to facilitate engagement for our clients.

Peta believes that supporting the family is just as important as supporting the veteran and encourages the veteran’s support person to be involved in their rehabilitation.

Peta has qualifications in Health Science, Rehabilitation Counselling, Addiction Studies and is currently studying toward a Graduate Certificate in Suicidology. She is passionate about supporting good mental health and suicide prevention.

In her own words: “I followed my father and his father into the Army and served as a Medic for 15 years, deploying overseas and supporting our Defence personnel at home. During my time in the Army I was drawn to roles that involved wellbeing and rehabilitation support and complex case management so after experiencing my own injuries while in service, I commenced my transition pathway with the aim of becoming a Rehabilitation Counsellor and supporting our veteran community.”

National Technical Manager – Veteran Services

Gavin Lewis is our National Technical Manager for Veteran Services and has extensive experience supporting veterans in our community including the navigation of the claims process, accessing the different supports available through various stakeholders and ex service organisations, as well as accessing employment support through established key partnerships.

Gavin has been supporting the veteran community for five years at IPAR and is passionate about the development of resources and supports that assist veterans in transitioning into civilian life.

Gavin spent 23 years in the construction industry as a project manager and tradesman before completing his Bachelor of Psychology and transitioning into rehabilitation counselling. Gavin is passionate about supporting others with their return to health and wellbeing and their transition to new employment roles.

Veteran Rehabilitation Services Specialist

With 10 years’ experience as an Occupational Therapist in the rehabilitation setting, and four years working solely with veteran clients, Meg Rawley has developed a sound understanding of the unique needs of the veteran community, including those associated with complex physical and psychological rehabilitation.

Meg’s approach to services and support encompasses compassion, empowerment and trauma-informed care. Meg is a subject matter expert in veteran rehabilitation and support services and complex client support. She provides coaching, leadership and technical support to IPAR’s national Veteran Support Team.

Our consultants

Our consultants are all qualified in different areas of allied health. Although they won’t be directly providing treatment to you, they are able to support you to engage and communicate with your doctors and other health practitioners. Your consultant can assist you to identify your rehabilitation goals and link you in with supports specific to your needs. All of the consultants who work within the Veteran Support Team at IPAR are passionate about supporting veterans and their families. They bring their experience and expertise to support you and your family on your unique journey to health and wellbeing.

Request support from IPAR

We are a proud sponsor of Invictus Australia

IPAR enjoys a formal partnership with Invictus Australia which helps us to further support the health and wellbeing of you and your loved ones.

Invictus Australia seeks to strengthen the physical and mental wellbeing of you and your family through the power of sport. It promotes and encourages all levels of participation, whether you are interested in playing, administration, coaching, officiating or the many volunteering opportunities that make a local sporting club or event tick. No matter how you choose to become involved, Invictus Australia and IPAR believe in the power of sport to assist in recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.

Your IPAR consultant will be able to connect you to local sporting and recreational activities via Invictus Australia.

Find out more:

Volunteering in Sport – Adaptive sport – Parkrun & Invictus Australia collaboration – Invictus Australia & Rowing Australia collaboration

How do I get in touch?

If you have any questions about how IPAR can assist you, or someone you care about, please email veterans@ipar.com.au and one of our Veteran Support team members will be in touch in the next business day.

Being referred to IPAR

There are many ways you can be referred to IPAR. To request support from IPAR, simply fill out the form on this page or email veterans@ipar.com.au.

Request for support form

If you need immediate support, please reach out to:

Open Arms: phone 1800 011 046
Safe Zone Support (the anonymous Open Arms support line): phone 1800 142 072
Lifeline: phone 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: phone 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service: phone 1300 659 467
1800 RESPECT for National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Services: 1800 737 732

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
13 YARN (Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter): 13 92 76
Emergency: 000

Disclaimer

Information provided on this website, and by the Veteran Support Team in response to an enquiry, is general in nature only.

The information on this website does not take into account any specific issues or circumstances of any particular person and it may not be appropriate for your circumstances. You should not use or rely on the information on this website as professional advice and it is no substitute for individual professional advice. Your use of this website does not establish any professional or other relationship between you and IPAR.

The information which the Veteran Support Team might provide to you consists of directing you how to link in with suitable services in the community, or how to facilitate a referral to IPAR via referral pathways. Our Veteran Support Team does not provide advice regarding your health or other issues. If any of our Veteran Support Team have any concerns about your immediate safety or wellbeing, we may provide support by contacting the relevant emergency services.

Proudly supporting veterans and their families across Australia

Who do we help?

How do we help?

Household Services

Meet our team

IPAR and Invictus Australia

Get in touch

Who do we help?

How do we help?

Household Services

Do you have an injury or illness that makes it difficult to complete tasks around the home? Help is available.

How do I access household support?

Who can complete the assessment?

What if my conditions are accepted under VEA only?

Meet our team

Our consultants

We are a proud sponsor of Invictus Australia

Find out more:

How do I get in touch?

Request for support form

News

Archive News