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Shoulder to Shoulder: Veterans

Getting Support

Getting Support

Just a quick update as might be relevant here:

I have a white card ok with no liability mental health plan , which is a blanket thing now I think. I have been trying to access it on and off for years now, no one had ever heard of it, esp GPs, where DVA claims the process starts ie a referral.

had a stare down with GP other week, showing them docs etc , they denied everything I said about the plan. oh thats not my belief. so went back few wks later , having found a place to get referred to, so they tried to do it on Medicare , ie min 12 mths wait list as they could not get their head around I anything I told them .

..then ..

Got an email from RSL other day asking for feedback on DVA, which had been having all the trouble with GP. I replied , complaining, thought that's the end of it.

Got email saying from CEO (who knows) offering to do things and saying best to deal with them first. well hallelujah. only reason joined RSL ok 4 years ago was to try and get help but couldnt even go there mostly, let alone ask people

I wrote in email not real veteran anyway, as did not go overseas and finished my term like 40 years ago now,but they wrote some nice things back, saying well you did same training etc.

Made me think lying in bed this morning with gut pains from drinking. Maybe I do deserve better ? maybe I can still become a person ??..


..so someone is going to come and see me at home. also got 3 appts w psych thru Open Arms to fit in when go to class else take forever for them to come to city near me.

6 replies

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In response to: Getting Support

Re: Getting Support

This sounds like some positive movement @TAB and some hopeful thinking in there. Have you had any more updates?

In response to: Re: Getting Support

Re: Getting Support

I had home visit from RSL Welfare officer after ph call fm RSL. @RachSANECEO nothing earth shattering. Good to have a chat , but they had boundaries . Ie let a few things thru to keeper. Might be able to get $200 for travel to psychologist , which is booked to coincide with course am doing. So that nearly covers fuel and accom to stay over in town after day at course. Rsl guy claims I can get personal trainer . I am sceptical but haven't tried yet . Poss volunteering at military museum as well

In response to: Re: Getting Support

Re: Getting Support

personal trainer would be good. Love the idea of volunteering, there are some good studies of the sort of general benefits of volunteering across mental health and wellbeing. did you manage to catch our webinar? DRA talked a bit about their volunteer program.

In response to: Re: Getting Support

Re: Getting Support

@RachSANECEO not sure what webinar is, but I was busy. Not sure what DRA is , guess I could look it up.

I saw psych yest. there was some confusion as to how I got there(that might matter for stats)

at around the same time (2weeks ago) I

  • attempted to get GP referral for psych using non liability cover on white card. GP argued, refused to believe such a thing existed, and botched up referral , putting it on medicare. I rang place my friend found told them, they said , yes , wont accept that for DVA, poss could do on medicare, but with 12 mth wait
  • in meantime I had tried to ring DVA for clarification they would not answer the phone, centrelink style.. so I made appt for them to ring me. they rang a few times over different days I found out later, just not on the day they said they would ha ha
  • so I thought , stuff it , and rang open arms even tho name seemed off-putting. got psych appts.
  • still have to try and get GPreferral
  • oh, just happened to get email from RSL asking about dva experiences as prob said, so told them and they sent welfare guy, who was well meaning, if ill-informed and a bit thick as in assumes I am a pensioner and do nothing whatsoever. I have full-time study load plus trying to keep medical, dental, physio, DES job network, dole etc,in check, car maintained, my self fed and sort of clean takes up a lot of my time. like he wanted a report back fm me re psych (which wont be doing again, none of his beeswax) then says oh you can come and meet volunteering person ! Im like, yeah got xrays at hosp 2moro, then shopping, then dental appt, so , yeah, nah .. then havent begun my assignments for course was at on tues as only got home wed afternoon after hanging back for psych and all I wanted to do was sleep.

so, things got to be on my terms, well meant directions/suggestions or not it seems. always someone wanting to stir the pot. I'm doing this for Me. No-one else.

In response to: Re: Getting Support

Re: Getting Support

@TAB

DRA stands for Disaster Relief Australia. They work with a lot of ex servicemen to provide relief to victims of disasters. After a fire or flood or whatever they send in a team of people for 7 days. This gives you time to consolidate as a team and time to make relationships on the ground. You can volunteer with them in any number of different capacities. You can be in a support role if you don’t fancy being full on in a direct on the ground role. The fellow in the webinar was very interesting and made it seem really a very worthwhile thing to do for the community.

In response to: Re: Getting Support

Re: Getting Support

okay thanks @Oaktree

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