Acute Support Package: help when your family hits a crisis

The Defence, Veterans' and Families' Acute Support Package (often shortened to ASP) gives short-term, flexible support to help eligible veterans and their families adjust when something new and hard happens that could push the family into crisis. It replaced the old Family Support Package.

DVA works with you on a support plan that sets out which services it will fund, for how long, and the funding amount. Generally you choose who provides the services, and DVA pays the provider directly.

• It isn't cash. The package doesn't give financial assistance or income support payments.
• It isn't an emergency service. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000. Other urgent contacts are at the end of this guide.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package; CLIK – Part 14 Acute Support Package

Most groups are linked to a veteran who is under 65 and receiving, or eligible to receive, one of these payments (we'll call them the qualifying payments):

• Incapacity Payments under the MRCA (see incapacity payments). A current nil-rate determination counts, as does a recent nil-rate determination backed by a current medical certificate.
• the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA;
• a Special or Intermediate rate of Disability Compensation Payment under the VEA; or
• Veteran Payment under the VEA. See Pensions & TPI.

"Related person" includes: the veteran's partner (married, de facto, or recognised under Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander custom), parents and step-parents (the veteran's or their partner's), grandparents, children and stepchildren (the veteran's or their partner's), grandchildren, siblings and half-siblings, and anyone in a parent-child relationship with the veteran.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package

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Meeting the payment and relationship rules isn't enough on its own. DVA also has to decide it's appropriate to grant a package for your situation. It uses this guidance:

• New and challenging life circumstances: something you have no control over that has happened recently and is affecting your wellbeing or ability to function. It can also be an existing situation whose impact on you and your family has recently changed.
• Crisis: a breakdown in the family's usual pattern of functioning that leads to an unstable, dangerous or highly undesirable outcome. You can apply if you're at risk of crisis, not only once you're in one.

DVA says every family's situation is different and it will talk your circumstances through with you.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package

DVA may fund services that provide:

• Help around the home, such as cleaning and meal preparation, so the family can keep daily life going under extra stress.
• Support for children, such as childcare, and wellbeing, academic and extracurricular services, including tutoring, music lessons and sport.
• Help to take part in the community, such as short courses and group activities.
• Broader positive lifestyle changes, such as counselling to address problematic behaviours, and psychosocial services that build resilience and confidence or social connection.

Not covered

• Cash, financial assistance or income support.
• Medical or dental treatment, or diagnosis.
• Legal proceedings and court costs.
• General financial distress, such as cost-of-living pressures felt across the wider community.

For money in a crisis, see the DVA Crisis Payment and other options in Find support near you.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package

After the 24 months (veteran, related person or former partner packages): from the next day, DVA may fund up to four courses of counselling every 12 months, for a continuous 36 months, for each person in the support plan.

Extra for children of a veteran, on top of the limits above:

• up to $10,000 every 12 months until the child starts primary school; or
• up to $5,000 every 12 months while the child is at primary school (before high school).

Amounts as shown on DVA's page (last updated 19 August 2026). Check DVA for current figures.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package

1. Call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372), 8am–5pm, Monday to Friday. There's no application form. You can also call just to talk through your situation.
2. Be ready for questions. DVA may ask for personal information and proof of your relationship to the veteran. It may also ask for reasonable evidence of the need for services, to decide which ones belong in your plan.
3. Agree a support plan: the services, the funding period and the amount. Generally you choose your providers.
4. Use the services. DVA usually pays the providers directly.

Work with veteran families (as a provider, advocate or support worker)? DVA has printable overview and eligibility factsheets on its Acute Support Package publications page.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package; DVA – Acute Support Package factsheets

If you disagree with a decision about access to, or support under, the Acute Support Package, you can ask DVA to review it. Call 1800 VETERAN and check your decision letter for details. DVA's general information is on its appeals page. A free advocate can help you ask.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package

If the package doesn't fit, DVA can connect you with other DVA programs and government or community services. Call 1800 VETERAN to talk it through. These guides may also help:

• Family & kids: education schemes, tutoring and family programs.
• Caring for a veteran: respite, Carer Gateway and carer payments.
• Find support near you: Hubs, housing and money help that doesn't need a DVA claim.
• Help at home: ongoing household and personal care support.
• Mental health support: Open Arms and free treatment.

Services Australia lists other government programs you may be able to get.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package; DVA – Support for families

• Emergency: call 000 if you might hurt yourself or someone else.
• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 (24/7, free).
• Open Arms Safe Zone Support: 1800 142 072. Free, anonymous counselling.
• ADF Mental Health All-hours Support Line: 1800 628 036 (24/7, for ADF members and families).
• Lifeline: 13 11 14.
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 (24/7) for domestic, family or sexual violence. See also DVA's family and domestic violence help.
• MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78.
• National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007 for financial hardship.
• Housing: DVA (1800 VETERAN, weekdays) can connect you with local homelessness services. Open Arms may help with short-term crisis accommodation.

Source: DVA – Acute Support Package; DVA – Urgent help and support

• Call early. You can ask when you're at risk of crisis. You don't have to wait until things fall apart.
• Say what's changed. Explain what has happened recently and how it's affecting the family's day-to-day life. That's what DVA assesses.
• Think about providers before you call. If you already use a cleaner, childcare centre, tutor or sports club, mention it. You can generally choose who provides services.
• Have proof of relationship handy if you're a family member, such as a marriage certificate or a child's birth certificate.
• Keep it separate from cash help. If the problem is money, ask about the Crisis Payment or the National Debt Helpline as well.

General guidance only. DVA decides each request on its own facts. Check the official page linked above.

• dva.gov.auDVA – Acute Support Package
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Acute Support Package factsheets
  View source
• clik.dva.gov.auCLIK – Part 14 Acute Support Package
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Urgent help and support
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Crisis payment
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Family and domestic violence help
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Support for families
  View source
• dva.gov.auDVA – Lodge an appeal
  View source
• openarms.gov.auOpen Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
  View source

All links opened and checked 2026-10-08.