The Wellbeing and Support Program commenced on July 2018 as a pilot program, which is now being extended as an on-going program within DVA. WASP is a voluntary, time-limited program that supports veterans and their families with complex medical and/or psychosocial circumstances to access the DVA entitlements, health supports and services they require to manage their wellbeing and DVA business as independently as possible.

WASP is intended to achieve greater coordination of veterans’ treatment and supports, greater communication between treating practitioners, earlier identification and intervention of support needs, enhanced oversight of the veteran’s wellbeing, increased understanding of DVA claiming processes, and smoother access to DVA and community support services entitlements.

To assist achieve these goals, WASP provides a dedicated, contracted community health professional (the Case Worker) to undertake an intensive support role for the veteran, engaging the client to discuss and understand their health and wellbeing goals. The Case Worker’s primary function is to assist the veteran to establish and/or engage with health providers in the community and to implement psychosocial activities to assist with meeting the veteran’s goals for improving their overall wellbeing.

This RFT seeks to establish a Standing Offer Panel comprising suitably qualified and experienced organisations to provide contracted WASP Case Workers and associated case management services to DVA’s entitled persons that reside throughout Australia, including major cities, inner and outer regional areas, and remote or very remote areas.

DVA encourages tenders from suitable organisations that have the capability to supply the Services.

Mandatory Essential Requirements includes:

(1) tendering organisations must be Comcare approved as a Rehabilitation Program Provider ;

(2) nominated Case Workers must be relevantly qualified as defined by Comcare and possess a minimum of two years’ hands on case management experience, working across a broad cross-section of clients in the areas of psychosocial and medical management needs; at least six months’ experience working with DVA clients or other clients from a similar environment, such as police or emergency service personnel; at least 12 months’ experience assisting clients with complex medical conditions (including mental health) and complex psychosocial needs; and, prior to commencing the Services, completing and passing (80% pass rate for each Case Worker) the e-learning module “Understanding the Military Experience”.

The Statement of Services at Schedule 4 to the Deed of Standing Offer provides a description of the services required by DVA, including the Essential Requirements. Through this tender, DVA intends to engage suitably experienced and qualified organisations from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors across Australia.

Services are expected to commence on 1 July 2022 for an initial contract period of 3 years.