Frequently Asked Questions
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Question: I am having trouble with membership form – what should I do?
Answer: You can use the contact form on our website to contact us and we will reach out to you to assist you. Just let us know in the contact form how you’d prefer to be contacted. We generally prefer email though can accommodate other preferences too.
Question: I am studying to become an advocate – can I join the IVA?
Answer: Yes. You can become an ‘Affiliate’ of the IVA at no cost while you are studying. You must intend to join the IVA within a reasonable time of becoming an Affiliate. You can also join as an Affiliate if you have a lapsed qualification and you want to be involved with the IVA while you get current.
Question: I am currently representing veterans but don’t work for an ESO so cannot access the ATDP Course. How do I get accredited by IVA?
Answer: The IVA recognises the Course in Military Advocacy as the standard for veterans’ advocacy training and requires individuals to be assessed against the CiMA competencies to be accredited as advocate.
Don’t worry if you don’t currently have access to this course. You can still apply to join the IVA at the relevant accreditation level you judge is appropriate. Once you do that, IVA will provide pathways for access to the Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP) to enable you to become an accredited advocate, either through recognition of prior learning or through undertaking the course. To consider which level might be appropriate for you, check out the information on the ATDP and the Course in Military Advocacy here: ATDP
Question: I am a lawyer and would like to join the IVA – can I do this?
Answer: Yes. The IVA has a ‘Professional Membership’ category that you can join under as a Legal Professional for $22. Professional Members are not IVA Accredited Advocates, though they can seek this accreditation through the IVA upon joining. Professional Members will not be listed as IVA Accredited Advocates on the Register of Members, rather they will be listed by their Profession.
Question: I am a medical professional who works with veterans and I’d like to join the IVA – is this possible?
Answer: Yes you can. The IVA has a ‘Professional Membership’ category that you can join under for $22. Professional Members have the same rights (such as joining the IVA, accessing CPD, participating in events and being listed on the Register of Members). Those who are not also accredited advocates will be listed on the Register of Members by their Profession.
Question: Does IVA represent all veterans’ advocates?
Answer: IVA only represents its membership, not all veterans’ advocates. IVA membership is open to all advocates, regardless of whether they are a free service or a fee-for-service (F4S) provider.
Question: I’m an advocate and I need help dealing with a Government department – is there anything you can do to help?
Answer: If you are member of the IVA, we are here to represent you. We encourage our members to let us know of issues and concerns so that we can understand any systemic issue and seek to address those with the relevant department on your behalf.
Question: Is IVA trying to stop paid advocacy services?
Answer: No. IVA respects a veteran’s right to choose a provider that is right for them. IVA encourages paid advocacy services to join the IVA and become IVA Accredited Advocates. In accordance with its By-Laws, F4S providers and free providers have the same rights and entitlements. The only distinction is that the IVA requires that F4S providers provide their clients with a clearly explained cost agreement that sets out the basis for charging (generally fixed fee or hourly rate) and not to charge fees on a percentage/contingency basis (except where this works to lower the fees payable by their client).
Question: Is IVA independent from DVA and other agencies?
Answer: Yes it is. The IVA has been set up independent from Government, incorporated as a not-for-profit company, and registered as a charity under the ACNC. It is a professional association that operates for the benefit of its members, which means that members will have the ultimate control over its management and direction.
Question: If IVA gets grant funding from DVA, doesn’t this compromise its independence?
Answer: No. IVA was able to access grant funding that is then used to operate the organisation in the best interests of veterans and the members of the IVA. Like ESOs and other organisations being in receipt of grant funding does not mean that the organisation is not independent from Government.
We have produced a detailed factsheet about IVA's independence. You can view this here:Fact Sheet - Government Funding and IVA Independence
Frequently asked questions for veterans and families
Do I have to use an advocate?
No. You may deal directly with DVA or another agency, obtain support from family or another trusted person, or choose an advocate.
Does IVA choose an advocate for me?
No. IVA provides a professional accreditation and assurance framework. The Advocacy Register can help you find services, but the final choice is yours.
Does IVA accreditation guarantee my claim will succeed?
No. It gives assurance about training, standards and accountability. Outcomes depend on the law, evidence and circumstances of the matter.
Can one advocate help with everything?
Not necessarily. Check whether the advocate holds wellbeing training, compensation training or both, and whether their level covers claims, reviews or tribunal representation.
What if my advocate is an Associate Advocate?
Associate Advocates work under supervision. Ask who the supervising advocate is and how supervision will operate.
Are IVA Professional Members also accredited advocates?
Not automatically. Professional Members may be lawyers, health professionals or other specialists. They are only IVA Accredited Advocates if they separately meet the advocate accreditation requirements.
Membership Structure FAQs
Why does my organisation need to join before I can become an individual member?
IVA’s professional framework recognises that advocacy is delivered by individuals working within an organisational or service-delivery environment.
Requiring both the individual advocate and the relevant organisation to participate enables IVA to support professional standards, capability development, communication and accountability at both levels.
It also helps IVA understand where advocacy services are being provided and target assistance to the organisations and advocates who need it.
Does organisational membership mean that IVA accredits the organisation?
No. IVA accredits eligible individual advocates. Organisational membership shows that the organisation participates in IVA’s professional framework and agrees to comply with the requirements applicable to organisational members.
Importantly, it does not mean that IVA guarantees or endorses every service provided by the organisation.
Which organisation must join?
The organisation, branch, sub-branch or provider through which the individual currently delivers advocacy services must be an IVA Organisational Member.
Where an advocate works or volunteers through more than one organisation, each organisation should be identified in the individual’s application.
IVA will contact the applicant where further information or organisational verification is required.
Our branch is part of a national or state ESO. Which fee applies?
Where the relevant principal national, state or other federated ESO entity is already an IVA member, an affiliated branch or sub-branch can join for $55 per year.
Where the principal entity has not joined IVA, the branch or sub-branch can still join, but the standard $275 organisational membership fee applies.
Does the principal organisation’s membership automatically cover every branch?
No. The principal organisation’s membership makes the discounted branch and sub-branch rate available. Each participating branch or sub-branch must still apply for membership in its own right.
This allows IVA to communicate directly with local branches, understand their advocate workforce and provide support relevant to their needs.
Why must branches join separately?
Local branches and sub-branches often recruit, support and supervise advocates and deliver services directly to veterans and families. Separate branch participation enables IVA to:
- maintain accurate organisational and advocate relationships;
- communicate directly with local service providers;
- understand local capability and training needs;
- provide targeted support; and
- identify where advocacy services are operating.
What is a "principal" of a federated organisation?
A principal of a federated organisation is ordinarily the national, state, territory or other central entity with which a number of branches or sub-branches are formally affiliated.
IVA may request information about the organisational structure to confirm the appropriate category.
Our organisation is not part of a federated structure. What do we pay?
An individual ESO or free advocacy provider that is not part of a federated structure pays $275 per year.
When does the reduced F4S provider fee apply?
The $550 commercial provider rate applies where the provider charges fixed fees of no more than $1,000 per client for their entire matter.
IVA must confirm eligibility for the reduced rate. The applicant may be asked to provide its standard cost agreement, published fee schedule or other supporting information.
Providers that do not meet those requirements pay the standard commercial membership fee of $2,750
What is meant by “for their entire matter”?
For the purpose of assessing eligibility for the reduced commercial membership rate, a matter is the defined advocacy service or engagement for which the client is charged. This means that the fee is fixed no matter how many conditions are claimed for or if multiple agencies (eg CSC and DVA) are involved.
The cost agreement must clearly describe the scope of the matter and the total fixed fee payable.
IVA may seek clarification where services are divided into multiple stages or engagements.
What happens if our fees later increase above $1,000 per matter?
The organisation must notify IVA if it no longer meets the criteria for the reduced membership rate.
The standard commercial rate may apply from the next renewal date or another date determined under IVA’s membership arrangements.
Can an organisation join even if it does not currently have an IVA member advocate?
Yes. An organisation may join to support future individual applications and access to training for their advocates, access organisational benefits, contribute to IVA’s work and demonstrate its commitment to professional veteran advocacy.
Can an advocate apply before their organisation has joined?
An advocate may apply before their organisation joins, but the application cannot be finalised until the relevant organisation has become an IVA Organisational Member.
Does the Organisational Membership requirement apply to Professional Members?
No. The organisational participation requirement applies to individual advocates who provide advocacy services as IVA Accredited Advocates.
Separate eligibility requirements apply to Professional Members and Affiliates.
