DVA Exercise Physiology.
Exercise physiology for veterans — funded through DVA
If you are a current or former member of the Australian Defence Force and hold an eligible DVA card, our Accredited Exercise Physiologist Ash O'Regan is here to support your rehabilitation and long-term health. At Articulate Physiotherapy in Tarragindi, we provide structured, evidence-based exercise programs tailored to the unique physical and mental health needs of veterans — whether you are managing a service-related musculoskeletal injury, chronic pain, a cardiometabolic condition, or mental health presentation.
DVA funded exercise physiology is a significantly underutilised entitlement for many veterans. If you hold a Gold or White card and have a GP referral, there is no out-of-pocket expense for approved exercise physiology sessions.
Am I eligible?
Exercise physiology services may be available to veterans who hold a Veteran Gold Card — covering all clinically necessary conditions regardless of whether they are service-related — or a Veteran White Card — covering treatment for accepted service-related conditions only. If you receive a referral where the condition to be treated has not been specified, your exercise physiologist must contact the referring practitioner. A valid referral is required prior to commencing treatment regardless of card type.
The D904 referral — what it is and how to get one
Your GP will need to complete a D904 referral form — this is the standard DVA allied health referral form that functions as your ticket to funded exercise physiology. The D904 should include your DVA file number, the condition or conditions requiring treatment, and the type of allied health service being referred to (exercise physiology). Gold card holders are covered for any condition which does not need to be specific on the referral form, while for White card holders the condition must be specified in each new D904 referral to be accepted by DVA. In some cases a GP may use their own letterhead instead of the standard D904 form — this is acceptable as long as it contains all required information including your provider number, condition and DVA file number.
You can download the D904 form from the DVA website to bring to your GP appointment, or ask your GP's practice to access it directly. Once you have your D904, bring it to your first appointment at Articulate and we will handle the rest.
How do treatment cycles work?
Referrals are valid for up to 12 sessions of treatment or one year, whichever ends first. This is called a treatment cycle. At your initial consultation we complete a DVA Patient Care Plan which is shared with your GP. Towards the end of the 12 sessions or 12-month period, we prepare an End of Cycle Report to be sent to your GP containing the proposed future treatment plan. Following each treatment cycle, a new D904 referral is required to renew the cycle. Clients can have as many treatment cycles as their GP decides are clinically necessary — there is no cap on the total number of cycles.
TPI Gold Card holders — important exception
The treatment cycle does not apply to exercise physiology or physiotherapy services for TPI Gold Card holders. This means that TPI clients can have as many sessions as are clinically necessary in the period covered by the referral, and do not need the exercise physiologist to report to the GP after 12 sessions. TPI Gold Card holders need an annual or indefinite referral for exercise physiology rather than the standard 12-session D904 treatment cycle.
Is there an out-of-pocket expense?
For eligible DVA Gold and White card holders there are no out-of-pocket costs for approved exercise physiology services. We bill DVA directly, meaning you do not need to pay upfront for approved sessions. Please bring your DVA card and D904 referral to your first appointment.
How can exercise physiology help veterans?
The veteran population presents with a distinctive combination of musculoskeletal, metabolic, neurological and mental health conditions that reflect the specific demands and exposures of military service. Exercise physiology addresses these through structured, progressive exercise programming that is grounded in evidence and tailored to the individual.
Musculoskeletal conditions — lower back pain, knee injuries, shoulder conditions and hip pain from the physical demands of service — respond to progressive strengthening, movement retraining and load management. Exercise physiology builds the physical capacity needed to manage symptoms and return to meaningful activity.
Chronic pain — persistent pain following injury or from central sensitisation — is one of the most common veteran health presentations. Graded exercise exposure is one of the most evidence-based interventions for chronic pain, gradually restoring activity tolerance and reducing pain sensitivity through carefully dosed progressive loading.
Cardiovascular and metabolic conditions — hypertension, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes and obesity are all more prevalent in the veteran population than in the general public. Structured aerobic and resistance exercise programs address cardiovascular risk, improve metabolic health and reduce medication burden.
Mental health conditions — depression, anxiety and PTSD are significantly more prevalent in veterans than in the general population. Exercise has strong evidence as an adjunct treatment for depression and anxiety, and emerging evidence in PTSD — improving mood, reducing anxiety, improving sleep quality and providing a sense of agency and achievement that complements psychological treatment.
Osteoporosis and bone health — weight-bearing and resistance exercise are the most evidence-based interventions for maintaining bone density in veterans managing osteoporosis or at risk from prolonged corticosteroid use or immobility periods.
Falls prevention and balance training — particularly relevant for older veterans managing neurological conditions, peripheral neuropathy or the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury.
Post-surgical rehabilitation — progressive exercise programming following orthopaedic surgery for service-related injuries, working alongside physiotherapy to restore full functional capacity.
Working with your healthcare team
Our exercise physiologist works as part of your broader healthcare team — liaising with your GP, physiotherapist, psychologist or other treating providers to ensure your exercise program is coordinated, safe and aligned with your overall management plan. We are experienced working within the DVA referral framework and are happy to liaise directly with DVA and your GP's practice to make the administrative process as straightforward as possible.
If you are also receiving DVA physiotherapy, our physiotherapy and exercise physiology teams work collaboratively to ensure a consistent approach. See our DVA physiotherapy page for detail on the physiotherapy pathway.
Our Accredited Exercise Physiologist Ash O'Regan is a member of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). For further information about DVA allied health entitlements, visit the Department of Veterans' Affairs at dva.gov.au.
To book your DVA exercise physiology appointment, call us on 07 3706 3407, email [email protected] or book online below.
If you are a current or former member of the Australian Defence Force and hold an eligible DVA card, our Accredited Exercise Physiologist Ash O'Regan is here to support your rehabilitation and long-term health. At Articulate Physiotherapy in Tarragindi, we provide structured, evidence-based exercise programs tailored to the unique physical and mental health needs of veterans — whether you are managing a service-related musculoskeletal injury, chronic pain, a cardiometabolic condition, or mental health presentation.
DVA funded exercise physiology is a significantly underutilised entitlement for many veterans. If you hold a Gold or White card and have a GP referral, there is no out-of-pocket expense for approved exercise physiology sessions.
Am I eligible?
Exercise physiology services may be available to veterans who hold a Veteran Gold Card — covering all clinically necessary conditions regardless of whether they are service-related — or a Veteran White Card — covering treatment for accepted service-related conditions only. If you receive a referral where the condition to be treated has not been specified, your exercise physiologist must contact the referring practitioner. A valid referral is required prior to commencing treatment regardless of card type.
The D904 referral — what it is and how to get one
Your GP will need to complete a D904 referral form — this is the standard DVA allied health referral form that functions as your ticket to funded exercise physiology. The D904 should include your DVA file number, the condition or conditions requiring treatment, and the type of allied health service being referred to (exercise physiology). Gold card holders are covered for any condition which does not need to be specific on the referral form, while for White card holders the condition must be specified in each new D904 referral to be accepted by DVA. In some cases a GP may use their own letterhead instead of the standard D904 form — this is acceptable as long as it contains all required information including your provider number, condition and DVA file number.
You can download the D904 form from the DVA website to bring to your GP appointment, or ask your GP's practice to access it directly. Once you have your D904, bring it to your first appointment at Articulate and we will handle the rest.
How do treatment cycles work?
Referrals are valid for up to 12 sessions of treatment or one year, whichever ends first. This is called a treatment cycle. At your initial consultation we complete a DVA Patient Care Plan which is shared with your GP. Towards the end of the 12 sessions or 12-month period, we prepare an End of Cycle Report to be sent to your GP containing the proposed future treatment plan. Following each treatment cycle, a new D904 referral is required to renew the cycle. Clients can have as many treatment cycles as their GP decides are clinically necessary — there is no cap on the total number of cycles.
TPI Gold Card holders — important exception
The treatment cycle does not apply to exercise physiology or physiotherapy services for TPI Gold Card holders. This means that TPI clients can have as many sessions as are clinically necessary in the period covered by the referral, and do not need the exercise physiologist to report to the GP after 12 sessions. TPI Gold Card holders need an annual or indefinite referral for exercise physiology rather than the standard 12-session D904 treatment cycle.
Is there an out-of-pocket expense?
For eligible DVA Gold and White card holders there are no out-of-pocket costs for approved exercise physiology services. We bill DVA directly, meaning you do not need to pay upfront for approved sessions. Please bring your DVA card and D904 referral to your first appointment.
How can exercise physiology help veterans?
The veteran population presents with a distinctive combination of musculoskeletal, metabolic, neurological and mental health conditions that reflect the specific demands and exposures of military service. Exercise physiology addresses these through structured, progressive exercise programming that is grounded in evidence and tailored to the individual.
Musculoskeletal conditions — lower back pain, knee injuries, shoulder conditions and hip pain from the physical demands of service — respond to progressive strengthening, movement retraining and load management. Exercise physiology builds the physical capacity needed to manage symptoms and return to meaningful activity.
Chronic pain — persistent pain following injury or from central sensitisation — is one of the most common veteran health presentations. Graded exercise exposure is one of the most evidence-based interventions for chronic pain, gradually restoring activity tolerance and reducing pain sensitivity through carefully dosed progressive loading.
Cardiovascular and metabolic conditions — hypertension, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes and obesity are all more prevalent in the veteran population than in the general public. Structured aerobic and resistance exercise programs address cardiovascular risk, improve metabolic health and reduce medication burden.
Mental health conditions — depression, anxiety and PTSD are significantly more prevalent in veterans than in the general population. Exercise has strong evidence as an adjunct treatment for depression and anxiety, and emerging evidence in PTSD — improving mood, reducing anxiety, improving sleep quality and providing a sense of agency and achievement that complements psychological treatment.
Osteoporosis and bone health — weight-bearing and resistance exercise are the most evidence-based interventions for maintaining bone density in veterans managing osteoporosis or at risk from prolonged corticosteroid use or immobility periods.
Falls prevention and balance training — particularly relevant for older veterans managing neurological conditions, peripheral neuropathy or the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury.
Post-surgical rehabilitation — progressive exercise programming following orthopaedic surgery for service-related injuries, working alongside physiotherapy to restore full functional capacity.
Working with your healthcare team
Our exercise physiologist works as part of your broader healthcare team — liaising with your GP, physiotherapist, psychologist or other treating providers to ensure your exercise program is coordinated, safe and aligned with your overall management plan. We are experienced working within the DVA referral framework and are happy to liaise directly with DVA and your GP's practice to make the administrative process as straightforward as possible.
If you are also receiving DVA physiotherapy, our physiotherapy and exercise physiology teams work collaboratively to ensure a consistent approach. See our DVA physiotherapy page for detail on the physiotherapy pathway.
Our Accredited Exercise Physiologist Ash O'Regan is a member of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). For further information about DVA allied health entitlements, visit the Department of Veterans' Affairs at dva.gov.au.
To book your DVA exercise physiology appointment, call us on 07 3706 3407, email [email protected] or book online below.
Who to book in with:
If you are unsure about which appointment type is right for you, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our friendly reception staff by calling 07 3706 3407 or emailing [email protected].