DVA Attendant Care Provider Changes and Requirements in 2026: What ACIS and NDIS Providers Need to Check

A change to the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) attendant-care policy has practical implications for organisations providing personal care to veterans.

In May 2026, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission adopted a policy preference for using accredited or registered personal-care providers when compensation is paid for attendant care. DVA's policy, amended on 8 July 2026, identifies three recognised provider pathways: organisations accredited by the Australian Community Industry Alliance (ACIA), NDIS-registered providers delivering personal care, and registered personal-care providers with My Aged Care.

A separate change from 1 July 2026 means all new DVA claims for attendant-care compensation are assessed under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), regardless of the legislation under which the veteran's service-related condition was previously accepted.

For providers, the sensible next step is to check which recognition pathway actually applies, whether the organisation is authorised and competent to deliver the particular approved service, and whether its operational evidence supports safe delivery. The changes do not mean that every attendant-care organisation must obtain ACIS certification or that accreditation alone guarantees DVA referrals. DVA attendant care provider requirements 2026.

What did DVA change in 2026? (DVA attendant care provider requirements 2026)

The DVA Household Services and Attendant Care Policy Manual, section 2.4, states that on 4 May 2026, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission agreed that compensation for personal attendant care should be directed to providers with recognised accreditation or registration. DVA says the policy applies to new claims for attendant-care compensation submitted from the date of that decision.

DVA identifies three provider categories from which veterans should choose:

Organisations accredited by ACIA, which endorses certification against the Australian Community Industry Standard (ACIS).

NDIS-registered providers that deliver personal-care services.

Registered personal-care providers with My Aged Care.

These are alternative routes in the published DVA policy. ACIS certification is therefore not described by DVA as a universal extra requirement on every appropriately registered NDIS or My Aged Care personal-care provider.

The practical test is more specific: does your organisation fit one of those routes, and can it deliver the individual veteran's approved personal-care services safely and within scope?

What counts as attendant care?

DVA defines attendant-care compensation around regular and essential personal-care tasks that a veteran cannot perform because of an accepted service-related condition. Examples include bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing and feeding.

This pathway does not fund medical or clinical services or nursing care through this attendant-care compensation pathway. DVA maintains separate pathways for relevant clinical or nursing needs.

That distinction affects service descriptions, staff capability, referral acceptance and invoicing. A provider offering a broad mix of disability support, household assistance, nursing and personal care should not assume that every service in its catalogue is covered by an attendant-care approval.

DVA also instructs veterans to ensure their chosen provider only delivers services that DVA has approved. See the DVA attendant-care guidance, last updated 10 August 2026.

Why does 1 July 2026 matter?

From 1 July 2026, the MRCA assesses new claims for attendant-care compensation are assessed under the MRCA. This includes new claims from veterans whose service-related conditions were previously accepted under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) or the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA).

DVA also explains that recipients who were already receiving attendant-care compensation under DRCA on 1 July 2026 can generally continue their existing approved services until the renewal date stated in their determination letter, when their compensation is reviewed under the MRCA. Do not tell existing clients that their approved care stopped on 1 July.

The MRCA interaction with Veterans' Home Care (VHC) also needs careful handling. DVA states that VHC itself was not abolished by the change. However, where a person is approved for MRCA attendant-care compensation, they cannot continue to receive the VHC Personal Care service for the same period. Providers should check the relevant program approvals and discuss any ambiguity with DVA before changing services or funding arrangements.

Does a provider need ACIS certification?

Not in every case.

DVA's policy recognises ACIA-accredited organisations or suitable registered NDIS personal-care providers, or registered My Aged Care personal-care providers. Registration under an unrelated service scope, an application in progress or an expired certificate should not be treated as proof that a provider meets the relevant description.

For organisations choosing the ACIS route, the ACIA certification information describes ACIS 5.0 as its current standard. ACIA explains that certification audits are undertaken through a JAS-ANZ accredited conformity assessment body. Existing ACIS-certified organisations should confirm their applicable ACIS 5.0 audit and transition position directly with ACIA and their certification body.

Certification readiness is not the same as certification. A consultant can support gap analysis, systems implementation and audit preparation; certification decisions belong to the authorised certification process.

Five checks for community and injury service providers

The following is DHD's suggested management review, not an additional checklist prescribed by DVA.

1. Confirm the provider pathway

Record the organisation's current ACIS certification status or relevant NDIS/My Aged Care registration details, including scope, validity, conditions and evidence that personal-care services fall within its operations. Where status is unclear, seek clarification from the appropriate scheme or body.

2. Match services to individual DVA approvals

Review referral acceptance and service scheduling processes to verify that staff understand the veteran's approved tasks, service period, limits, and any changes requiring confirmation. Separate personal care from nursing, household assistance, and other services that sit under different arrangements.

3. Check staff capability and safeguarding

Confirm the personnel assigned to personal care have appropriate competencies, supervision, screening and escalation pathways. Check whether the organisation can evidence consent, privacy, incident response, complaints handling, dignity and choice in its actual records, not merely in policy documents.

4. Test claims and records

Trace a small, de-identified sample from service approval through rostering, service delivery, timesheets or progress notes, invoicing and payment. Check that service descriptions are supported, approvals are current and duplicate funding is prevented. Do not include identifiable veteran information in public examples or general marketing material.

5. Address gaps before pursuing new work

Prepare a short corrective action plan with responsible persons, dates and evidence of completed changes. Prioritise issues involving eligibility, personal-care competency, participant safety, services outside approval, inaccurate claims and weak records.

An organisation with existing ACIS certification, NDIS registration or aged-care registration may already have much of this evidence. The task is to establish whether it is current, applicable and operating effectively.

What should providers avoid assuming?

That ACIS certification is compulsory for every DVA attendant-care provider. DVA recognises other relevant registered personal-care provider pathways.

That any NDIS registration of any kind is sufficient. The policy specifically refers to registered providers who deliver personal care.

That the 2026 change covers all DVA services. The guidance concerns compensation-funded attendant care, not every DVA program, VHC service, household service or nursing service.

That existing approved DRCA care automatically ended on 1 July. DVA describes continuity until the relevant review or renewal point.

That certification guarantees eligibility, referrals or payment. Service need, approval, service scope, scheme rules and operational requirements still matter.

A useful next step for leaders

Start with a one-page review that identifies which DVA provider pathway your organisation is relying on, what services it actually delivers, the evidence supporting its recognition status, and any gaps in safeguarding, workforce, records, or approval controls.

If ACIS certification is the preferred pathway, check the current ACIS 5.0 process and engage the appropriate certification body when certification is sought. If you rely on an existing NDIS or My Aged Care registration is being relied upon, verify that it is current and relevant to personal care.

DVA remains the authoritative source for individual claim and service-approval decisions. ACIA and the relevant regulators remain the appropriate sources for certification and registration status.

How DHD can assist

DHD Consultancy works with community and injury service organisations to strengthen governance, safeguarding, workforce systems, evidence management and audit readiness. Its existing service offer includes ACIS certification readiness, gap analysis, pre-audit evidence reviews and corrective action support, alongside NIISQ and broader community-service quality-system work.

A focused review can help providers establish what they already have, what is missing and what should be improved before pursuing certification or expanding into another service stream. It does not replace a certification audit, registration decision or DVA determination, and DHD does not guarantee referrals or scheme approval.

Learn more about DHD's Community & Injury Services support, or contact DHD for a scope-specific discussion.

This article is general information, not legal, clinical, financial or procurement advice. Provider eligibility and individual funding approvals must be confirmed against the current DVA guidance, the relevant registration or certification scheme, and the circumstances of the approved service.