Strive is a DVA registered rehabilitation provider delivering services throughout Queensland as a subcontractor on behalf of Carfi. Strive has been delivering rehabilitation services to Veteran’s for over 10 years, assisting with transition from Defence to living in the civilian world, identifying new career pathways and helping to set up meaningful support networks for Veteran’s and their families.
What is DVA rehabilitation?
DVA rehabilitation is available for eligible Veteran’s under various legislative schemes, however aims to assist Veteran’s establish a network of supportive treating practitioner’s, identify meaningful psychosocial goals and where appropriate, help Veteran’s identify meaningful vocational and employment pathways into the civilian workforce.
DVA assesses a Veteran’s eligibility for rehabilitation and will then send a referral to a registered DVA rehabilitation provider such as Strive. Strive will then work with the Veteran to identify their rehabilitation goals and begin the journey towards helping the Veteran achieve these goals.
How can I get a referral?
To obtain a referral for rehabilitation you can contact DVA directly by calling 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) or visiting their website and let them know that you would like to access rehabilitation support.
If you are specifically wanting to work with Strive, you can let them know you would like to be referred to Strive Occupational Rehabilitation on behalf of Carfi.
Alternatively, you can speak to an Advocate who can assist you with contacting DVA to set up a rehabilitation referral.
Where does Strive service?
Strive services all of Queensland and Northern NSW and has physical office locations in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville and Cairns. As an organisation Strive has been in operation for over 20 years.
What can you expect from a Strive Consultant?
Once a rehabilitation referral has been received, your Strive Consultant will be in contact with you to introduce themselves and book in a time to meet with you for your initial assessment. We understand that each person’s journey is unique and so are their goals and needs. The initial assessment is to help the Consultant to understand you and your journey and for you to identify what your rehabilitation goals might be for the next 3 to 12 months under the DVA Rehabilitation Program.
Your Strive Consultant will help you develop your rehabilitation plan and goals, and from there help you begin taking the steps to achieve these goals. Your Strive Consultant will also help communicate with your Treating Team to ensure all rehabilitation goals set are suitable and appropriate based on your health conditions and capacity.
Along the way your Strive Consultant will be your primary point of contact to discuss any of your rehabilitation needs, and your Strive Consultant will keep in regular contact with you based on your requirements.
Your Strive Consultant will have an Allied Health background and will be skilled in working with Veteran’s. Your Strive Consultant will be helpful, compassionate, responsive, professional and knowledgeable to help guide you on your rehabilitation journey.
What support may I be able to access as part of DVA rehabilitation?
This depends on how DVA assesses your eligibility based on various criteria; however for most Veteran’s rehabilitation can involve some or all of the following:
Medical management:
After leaving the Defence Force it can be very difficult to find the right Treating Practitioner’s to help you manage your health conditions and injuries. Knowing where to start and how to get referrals can be overwhelming. At Strive we can assist you in linking in with a range of health and medical professionals throughout Queensland to help get you the right support at the right time for your needs.
This can involve a Strive Consultant attending your Doctor’s appointment with you to help talk about the referrals you may need, and helping to get the relevant referral paperwork and appointments scheduled in so you can continue your recovery.
Our goal is to help you find the right people to be able to manage your health conditions independently, but knowing where to start is often overwhelming. That’s where we can help.
Psychosocial activities:
After having the discipline of a structured routine in Defence, it can feel overwhelming with having a lot of spare time after discharge. Learning to navigate the daily routine outside of Defence and linking with new psychosocial activities can be challenging.
As part of the psychosocial aspect of DVA rehabilitation programs, your Strive Consultant will spend time understanding your individual interests and needs and may assist with linking you to activities in your local area which can increase social connectedness, well being and belonging.
The psychosocial aspect of DVA rehabilitation can help you with activities such as:
- Gym or health club memberships
- Short health and wellbeing courses
- Yoga or meditation courses
- Linking in with Veteran specific organisations like Mates 4 Mates, Young Veterans, RSL
- Life skills courses
- Finance courses
- Learning a new language
- Learning a musical instrument
Vocational rehabilitation:
For Veteran’s who are wanting to re-enter the workforce and have the medical capacity to do so, your Strive Consultant can help with you identifying what type of work you may be best suited for and to help you identify your future career goals.
Vocational rehabilitation can involve things like vocational counselling, which is exploring different career pathways, resume development, assistance with job applications, identifying your transferrable skills or Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) from your service, as well as assistance with cover letter writing and interview coaching.
Vocational rehabilitation can sometimes involve a Vocational Assessment which may help to determine if a tertiary pathway may be most appropriate to look at TAFE of University courses.
Vocational rehabilitation can be to help seek full-time, part-time or casual work based on your medical capacity.
Why work with Strive?
Don’t just take our word for it. Here is some of the feedback we’ve had from our Veteran community: