3 facilities · ACQSC-listed

Best Aged Care for Australian Defence Force Veterans (2026)

Australian Defence Force veterans and their dependents access aged care through both the standard My Aged Care pathway and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) framework. Several providers have ex-service heritage and explicit Veterans programs — including Bolton Clarke (descended from RSL Care), Vasey RSL Care (Victoria), Anzac Healthcare, and Returned & Services League aged-care affiliates. DVA Gold Card holders are entitled to additional support. Below: providers in our directory with explicit Veterans programs.

The Health Desk · Editorial team, aged care + dental + plastic surgery + dermatology + weight-loss + psychology · Updated 13 May 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

★Key takeaways

✓3 listed Veterans-tagged aged-care facilities across 3 cities.
✓0 have the maximum 5-star ACQSC rating; 3 are rated 4 stars or higher.
✓380 total beds across listed facilities.
✓Every facility cross-referenced against the My Aged Care register. Independent ranking — no paid placements.
✓Refundable Accommodation Deposits (RAD) and ACQSC ratings change quarterly — verify before applying.

Trusted resources

DVA aged-care information — Department of Veterans' Affairs aged-care guidance
Veterans' Home Care program — In-home support for Gold + some White Card holders
Bolton Clarke (heritage RSL Care) — Australia's largest charitable aged-care provider, descended from RSL Care
Vasey RSL Care — Victoria's veterans-only aged-care provider

Best Aged Care for Australian Defence Force Veterans (2026) — quick compare table · Click any header to sort
Provider ⇅	Facility (suburb) ⇅	City ⇅	ACQSC ⇅	Beds ⇅	RAD from ⇅	Specialty ⇅
Bolton Clarke	Bolton Clarke Tarragindi (formerly Trinder Park)	Brisbane	4/5	153	$550k	Dementia, Veterans
Vasey RSL Care	Vasey RSL Care Frankston South (RSL Park)	Melbourne	4/5	120	$390k	Dementia, Veterans
Bolton Clarke	Bolton Clarke Greenwood (Normanhurst)	Sydney	4/5	107	$1015k	Dementia, Palliative

Top 3 by ACQSC star rating then bed count. Independent — no paid placements.

Bolton Clarke

Not-for-profit (community) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care 140+ years Bolton Clarke Tarragindi (formerly Trinder Park)

Bolton Clarke (not for profit community) operates from Bolton Clarke Tarragindi (formerly Trinder Park), Brisbane. 4/5 ACQSC · 153 beds. Specialty programs: Dementia, Veterans. Founded 1885. Australia's oldest charitable aged-care provider (founded 1885 as the Royal District Nursing Service), operating 88 residential homes nationally and originating in Queensland with deep RSL/veterans heritage.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

153

Daily fee from

$63.57/day

RAD from

$550k

Services: Residential aged care, Respite, Dementia-specific, Palliative, Home care packages.

Specialty programs: Dementia, Veterans.

Best for: Australian Defence Force veterans + DVA gold-card holders

Australia's oldest charitable aged-care provider (founded 1885 as the Royal District Nursing Service), operating 88 residential homes nationally and originating in Queensland with deep RSL/veterans heritage.

Provider website → 1300 22 11 22 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Sourced from My Aged Care register; verification window 2026-05-11.

Vasey RSL Care

Not-for-profit (community) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific 99+ years Vasey RSL Care Frankston South (RSL Park)

Vasey RSL Care (not for profit community) operates from Vasey RSL Care Frankston South (RSL Park), Melbourne. 4/5 ACQSC · 120 beds. Specialty programs: Dementia, Veterans. Founded 1926. Established by RSL Victoria in 1926. Strong veterans, war-widows and DVA-funded resident focus; non-veterans also welcome subject to availability.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

120

Daily fee from

$66.8/day

RAD from

$390k

Services: Residential aged care, Independent living units, Respite, Dementia-specific.

Specialty programs: Dementia, Veterans.

Best for: Australian Defence Force veterans + DVA gold-card holders

Established by RSL Victoria in 1926. Strong veterans, war-widows and DVA-funded resident focus; non-veterans also welcome subject to availability.

Provider website → (03) 9810 4400 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: RSL Victoria 1926 founding; non-veteran admissions per vaseyrslcare.org.au. Vasey RSL Care Frankston South (85 Overport Rd, formerly RSL Park) — 120-resident veterans-focused flagship across 5 linked houses, 18.5 sqm single ensuite rooms, adjacent to ~80 ex-service rental units. ACQSC overall rating 'Good' (4 stars) Nov 2024. Max RAD $390,000 (DAP $67.95/day). Basic daily fee = $66.80/day.

Bolton Clarke

Not-for-profit (community) ACQSC 4/5 Dementia-specific Palliative care 140+ years Bolton Clarke Greenwood (Normanhurst)

Bolton Clarke (not for profit community) operates from Bolton Clarke Greenwood (Normanhurst), Sydney. 4/5 ACQSC · 107 beds. Specialty programs: Dementia, Palliative, Veterans. Founded 1885. Australia's largest not-for-profit aged-care provider. Lineage to RSL Care + Royal District Nursing Service Australia (RDNS) since 1885. Acquired Allity in 2022.

ACQSC rating

★★★★☆

Beds

107

Daily fee from

$66.8/day

RAD from

$1015k

Services: Residential aged care, Home care packages, Retirement living, Respite, Dementia-specific.

Specialty programs: Dementia, Palliative, Veterans.

Best for: Australian Defence Force veterans + DVA gold-card holders

Australia's largest not-for-profit aged-care provider. Lineage to RSL Care + Royal District Nursing Service Australia (RDNS) since 1885. Acquired Allity in 2022.

Provider website → 1300 22 11 22 Verify on My Aged Care ↗

Note: Largest NFP designation per Bolton Clarke; ACN verifiable on ABR. Bolton Clarke Greenwood, Normanhurst — Sydney upper North Shore Signature home opened 2016 (formerly Allity Greenwood, acquired Feb 2022). 107 beds across 5 neighbourhoods. ACQSC overall rating 'Good' (4 stars) per Caring Co; RAD range $550,000–$1,015,000 max. Basic daily fee = $66.80/day.

Common questions

What does a DVA Gold Card cover for aged care?

A DVA Gold Card holder receives all medical, dental, optical, hearing and pharmaceutical services free of charge — including those delivered within an aged-care home. The aged-care fees themselves (basic daily fee, means-tested fee, RAD/DAP) are NOT waived by Gold Card; they are funded under the same My Aged Care framework. DVA Gold also gives access to specialist veterans' counselling and rehabilitation.

Is there a DVA-specific aged-care program?

Yes — the Veterans' Home Care (VHC) program provides additional in-home support for Gold Card and some White Card holders. For residential aged care, DVA contributes to subsidies through the standard means-tested framework. Some providers have specific Veterans-only homes (Vasey RSL Care in Melbourne; Bolton Clarke's heritage RSL homes across QLD/NSW).

How do I apply for veterans aged care?

Standard pathway: ACAT assessment via My Aged Care first. Then identify whether you want a veterans-affiliated provider. Bolton Clarke, Vasey RSL Care, Anzac Healthcare, RSL Care SA, and Whiddon (NSW veterans heritage) are major options. Contact DVA on 1800 555 254 for help understanding entitlements.

Can my non-veteran spouse/partner live with me in veterans aged care?

Yes — most veterans-affiliated providers accept non-veteran spouses (and accept their fees on the standard means-tested framework). Some have specific couples accommodation. Vasey RSL has explicit couples options; Bolton Clarke equivalently accommodates spouses.