Skip to main content
PTSD News
1 min readAustralia veterans

DVA Funds Psychedelics for Veteran PTSD

Following 2023 TGA approval, DVA will cover psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for eligible veterans where standard treatments have failed.

Night-time Victorian cliff with starry sky and symbolic canvas representing psychedelic therapy breakthroughs for veteran PTSD, balanced driftwood for recovery.
Night-time Victorian cliff with starry sky and symbolic canvas representing psychedelic therapy breakthroughs for veteran PTSD, balanced driftwood for recovery.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has approved funding for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression. MDMA-assisted therapy will be available for PTSD, and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, where standard evidence-based treatments have not succeeded. (1)

The decision follows Therapeutic Goods Administration approval of these substances in July 2023 and subsequent Repatriation Commission endorsement. Funding is restricted to authorised psychiatrists and requires strict eligibility criteria; it is not a first-line option and carries potential risks that continue to be monitored. (2)

Veterans are encouraged to discuss persistent symptoms with their GP or mental health provider for referral to approved providers.

Footer Sources: