1. Veterans Exercise

2. Exercise Physiology Improving Wellbeing
Chronic diseases are on the rise in Australia, many of which
can be prevented or managed by addressing lifestyle
factors such as insufficient exercise.
Department of Veteran’s Affairs provide gold card and
white card holders individual and group exercise
physiology services to prevent, manage and reduce the
impact of chronic conditions.

3. What is a Chronic Condition or Disease?
Defined by Medicare as a condition or disease that has or
is likely to be present for at least six months, such as:
• Asthma, cancer, cardiovascular illness, diabetes, a
mental health condition, arthritis or musculoskeletal
condition
A General Practitioner may also identify the risk of
developing a chronic disease, by identifying a minimum of
one risk factor, such as:
• Lifestyle (e.g. smoking, inactivity, poor nutrition)
• Biomedical (e.g. high cholesterol, high blood pressure,
impaired glucose metabolism or excess weight)
• Family history of chronic disease

4. DVA Exercise Physiology Services
To utilise this DVA exercise physiology initiative, you must be
referred by your GP via a D904 referral to an exercise
physiologist accredited with the Exercise and Sports
Science Australia (ESSA), based on clinical need. For white
card holders this should be for the accepted condition of
white card.

5. Fitness Connection Exercise Physiology Services
Fitness Connection Exercise Physiology Services
provide 100% bulk billed exercise physiology services
with DVA, providing you individualised and group
gym conditioning and rehabilitation programs at no
cost.
Fitness Connection Exercise Physiologists are university
trained health professionals accredited with ESSA
and Medicare, specialising in Veterans Affairs
services. Fitness Connection provides a friendly,
supportive and professional service working with your
GP to assist you to improve your health outcomes.

6. What the Program Includes
The program includes at no cost to you:
• Individualised exercise sessions based in a gym
• Gym membership (funded by Fitness Connection)
• Organise eligible free/funded transport to & from
sessions
Coming soon:
• Group exercise sessions
These services are also available to your partner if
they attend with you (funded by Fitness Connection)

7. What to expect
Initial appointment: Pre-exercise health screening and
fitness/functional assessment
Exercise Sessions: Exercise tailored to your individual’s
requirements (e.g. health needs, injury history, goals)
Exercise Programs: Tailored programs to utilise in between
exercise physiology sessions, updated following re-assessments
Re-assessments: To assess improvements compared to initial
results and to review exercise sessions and programs
GP Reporting: To provide your GP with assessment results and
improvements and to advise of the appropriate exercise
methods implemented

8. What you need
To commence this program, a GP or specialist D904
referral is required (vouchers available at Fitness
Connection). Referrals for white card holders must
identify that exercise will assist in the management of
the specific condition for which the card is issued.
If your GP has identified that this service is
appropriate for you and has provided you with the
D904 referral, you can contact Fitness Connection to
schedule an appointment at the nearest practice
location.
Your partner should also obtain a GP check up and
approval prior to commencing the exercise program
(medical approval forms are available from Fitness
Connection).

9. Any questions?
For further details on DVA Exercise Physiology
services:
• Download the Exercise Physiology Fact Sheet from the
DVA website (www.dva.gov.au/factsheets/default.htm)
or contact your local VAN office
For further details on Fitness Connection Exercise
Physiology Services or to make an appointment:
• Call (07) 5679 0045
• Visit www.fitnessconnection.com.au

10. We are pleased to be able to
recommend Fitness Connection
gym to all veterans and their
partners. The staff have always
provided a friendly and
professional environment and have
encouraged and personally
assisted us in managed programs,
which have resulted in significant
health and fitness gains.
As a veteran with 20 years service I
generally understand veterans'
health and fitness needs and would
be pleased to discuss our
experiences with any veteran and/
or partner,
Alan & Rhonda Brandt
Fitness Connection Exercise Physiology participants