Veterans’ Entitlements Treatment Principles Amendment (Outreach Program Counselling) Determination 2024
Instrument R1/2024
I, Matthew James Keogh, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, approve for the purposes of subsection 90(6) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, the amendments by the Repatriation Commission of the Treatment Principles in the following instrument.
Dated 21 March 2024
Matthew James Keogh
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
The Repatriation Commission, under subsection 90(5) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, makes the amendments of the Treatment Principles in the following instrument.
Dated 1 February 2024
The Seal of the
Repatriation Commission
was affixed to this instrument
in the presence of:
Alison Frame | Kate Pope |
| PSM |
President | Deputy President |
Mark Brewer | Kahlil Fegan |
AM CSC and Bar | DSC AM |
Acting Commissioner | Commissioner |
1 Name
This instrument is the Veterans’ Entitlements Treatment Principles Amendment (Outreach Program Counselling) Determination 2024.
2 Commencement
This instrument commences on the start of the day after it is registered.
3 Authority
This instrument is made under subsection 90(5) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.
4 Schedules
Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.
Schedule 1—Amendments
Treatment Principles (No. R52/2013)
1 Paragraph 1.4.1, definition of “Australian Government’s Better Access initiative”
omit
2 Paragraph 1.4.1, definition of “outreach program counselling”
omit
an entitled person
insert
a person
3 Paragraph 1.4.1, definition of “outreach program counsellor”
substitute
“outreach program counsellor” means:
(a) a psychologist who is registered as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia; or
(b) a social worker (mental health) who is accredited as a Mental Health Social Worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers:
being a person approved by the Department or the Commission to provide outreach program counselling under Part 7.7A.
4 Paragraph 1.4.1, definition of “Principles”
substitute
“Principles” means this instrument.
5 Paragraph 1.4.1, definition of “Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service” or “VVCS”
substitute
“Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service” or “VVCS” means the service funded by the Department known as Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling.
6 Paragraph 1.4.1, definition of “VVCS criterion”
omit
7 Paragraph 1.4.1, definition of “VVCS OPC Provider Notes”
omit
entitled
8 Paragraphs 7.7A.1, 7.7A.2 and 7.7A.3
substitute
7.7A.1 The treatment of outreach program counselling is established under this Part and may be provided by an outreach program counsellor to an eligible person in accordance with the Principles.
Note 1: paragraph 7.1A.1 requires outreach program counselling to be provided in accordance with the VVCS OPC Provider Notes.
7.7A.2 A person is eligible for outreach program counselling if:
(a) the person is eligible for VVCS under the Act; and
(b) in the opinion of the Commission:
(i) the person is unable to reasonably have access to a VVCS Centre due to the physical isolation of the person’s place of residence in Australia; or
(ii) despite the person having reasonable access to a VVCS Centre, there is a special reason for the person requiring outreach program counselling; and
(c) the outreach program counselling is provided to the person by an outreach program counsellor pursuant to a referral from the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service.
9 Schedule 1 item 25
omit
http://www.vvcs.gov.au/Services/outreach.htm
substitute
https://www.openarms.gov.au/resources/provider-resources
10 Schedule 1 item 26
omit
http://www.vvcs.gov.au/Services/outreach.htm
substitute
https://www.openarms.gov.au/resources/provider-resources
11 Schedule 1 items 27 and 28
omit